By YASUYUKI ONAYA/ Staff Writer
August 27, 2025 at 16:52 JST
The NHK broadcasting center in Tokyo (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
A former Japanese ambassador to France has criticized a Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) drama, saying it depicts his grandfather as a “despicable person” who tried to suppress information during World War II.
Yutaka Iimura, 78, whose grandfather, Lt. Gen. Jo Iimura, was the real-life director of the “total war research institute” established before the Pacific War, held a news conference on Aug. 26 and said the NHK drama was problematic.
He said he is considering filing a complaint with the Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO).
The total war research institute, which was under the direct control of the prime minister, conducted research on Japan engaging in all-out war and educated and trained officials for such a conflict.
The NHK drama, called “Simulation: Defeat in the Summer of 1941,” was broadcast in two parts on Aug. 16 and 17 as part of the broadcaster’s special coverage marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The drama shows young bureaucrats gathered at the total war research institute before Japan’s attack against the United States at Pearl Harbor.
The bureaucrats engage in tabletop exercises simulating how a war with the United States would unfold.
In the drama, they reported to the military and the Cabinet their conclusion that Japan would be certain to lose such a war.
However, the institute’s director in the drama pressures the young bureaucrats not to deliver the “inconvenient” reports to the government.
Iimura argued that his grandfather never suppressed open debate among the young officials.
“In order to make the drama more interesting, my grandfather was depicted as a despicable person, which defames his honor,” he said.
The NHK program included a documentary segment presenting historical facts. A caption displayed on the screen explained that the director’s character was not based on a historical figure.
However, Iimura expressed concern, saying, “Viewers may still believe the drama was presenting the truth.”
In response to media inquiries, NHK explained the drama was “inspired by the real total war research institute” but emphasized that the director’s character was a fictional creation.
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