Toho Bunka Eiga

Background

Toho Bunka Eiga (bunka eiga meaning "culture film") was the documentary film department of Japanese film company Toho. In May 1941, Toho Bunka Eiga as well as Shochiku Bunka Eiga (Shochiku's documentary film department) were absorbed into the newsreel company Nippon Eigasha (formerly Nippon News Eigasha).

1st Logo (February 1-20, 1938)

Visuals: On a gray background, the Toho emblem is seen, casting a shadow to the left. The company name in handwritten Japanese is seen below (how it looks like depends on the film).

Technique: A still printed image.

Audio: Opening theme to the film.

Availability: Seen on the documentaries Shanghai and Nanjing.

2nd Logo (1939)

Visuals: Superimposed over the opening scene, the Toho emblem is seen with the company name (also handwritten) below.

Technique: Just the opening scene.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

Availability: Seen on the controversial film Tatakau Heitai, which was criticized by authorities as a potentially "anti-war" film and was banned in Japan. Because of this, the film's original negative was disposed of, and the film was considered lost for many years until one print of it resurfaced in 1975.

Toho Bunka Eiga

Nippon Eigasha

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