The Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) Burned Down in an Air Raid

2024/04/11

The ruins of the Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) amidst rubble, exposing a cruel wasteland. And beyond the slope of the "Maboroshi no Mon" towers the octagonal tower with its roof missing—this photograph, taken immediately after the air raid on May 25, 1945, is far too shocking for those of us today who know the peaceful days at Mita. One might say it vividly conveys the devastation brought by war—but in fact, these photographs require considerable annotation.

First, the photo of the library amidst the rubble. At first glance, it looks as if the rubble is piled up all the way to the library in the back, but in fact, the rubble is only in the foreground. By standing in a lower spot and releasing the shutter from a viewpoint nearly horizontal to the ground, the photographer succeeded in creating an illusion of depth in the rubble. In other shots, students are gathered and chatting in the rubble-free plaza in front of the library.

What about the photo near Maboroshi no Mon? Even though the library in the background has burned down, many people appear to be entering and leaving the university. However, please compare the left and right sides. The pedestrians shown here, both those going up and those going down, are exactly the same people. In other words, it is a staged photo.

These photographs were taken by a cameraman from "Tohosha," a publishing house directly under the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office, known for publishing the overseas propaganda magazine "FRONT" and employing big-name photographers such as Ihei Kimura and Yoshio Watanabe. They should be viewed as having been taken on the premise of being used for propaganda.

So, what was the intention behind them? The former ruins were likely an emphasis on the indiscriminate nature of the U.S. military in burning down a center of learning. The latter could be seen as an indirect criticism of the U.S. military by showing brave students seeking knowledge even after an air raid. There are 37 photos in total, and they should be considered photographs that, whether consciously or unconsciously, were fundamentally intended to tell a story that condemned the U.S. military and invited sympathy for Japan.

What is captured is the fact in front of the lens at the time of shooting, but is it a "true" reflection? The photo of the ruins is installed in the permanent exhibition of the Keio History Museum, and other photos are scheduled to be introduced in the museum's special exhibition "50 Materials Concerning 'Keio University and the War'" starting June 18. There is no doubt that these are valuable wartime records. In addition, by drawing auxiliary lines for background explanation, they are important materials that provide a perspective on the relationship between modern media, the state, and the individual.

(Takeyuki Tokura, Associate Professor, Keio Institute of Fukuzawa Studies)