The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987)

In the heartrending documentary, "The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On," viewers are thrown into an intense journey spanning five years. This chronicle trails the relentless pursuit of truth by 62-year-old Okuzaki Kenzo, a hardened survivor of World War II's gruesome battlefields in New Guinea. Okuzaki, infamous for his audacious protests against Emperor Showa, utilizes unconventional methods that include launching steel pinballs via slingshot at the ruler, whom he accuses of war crimes. Okuzaki's unwavering quest to expose the veiled atrocities of the past leads him to conduct an array of interviews with fellow survivors and bereaved relatives. However, the elusive truth only begins to unravel when he confronts the reticent ex-Sergeant Yamada. As the layers of deception peel away, shocking revelations emerge about the unnecessary executions of two fellow Japanese soldiers during the war and the unsettling source of these orders. "The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On" is a thrilling exploration of a man's tireless crusade against the sins of the past, shedding light on the dark corners of war history that are often left untouched. In this gripping narrative, the past is not just revisited, but interrogated, making for a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is enlightening.

The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On is a documentary movie featuring Kenzo Okuzaki and directed by Kazuo Hara.

The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.