I watched a movie, Hyousetsu no Mon, with my wife today. Though the film was shot in 1974, USSR (Russia) pressed the Japanese government not to show it to Japanese people at that time, and we couldn't have watched it for a long time. The story dealt with an incident that had actually happend in Karafuto (Sakhalin in Russian) in 1945, just after the surrender of Japan. The film had been put on hold until now. I'm writing about the rough plot of the film.
A few days after World War 2, the USSR abruptly invaded the southern half of Karafuto which was apparently Japanese territory. It was obviously a violation of international law. The defenceless inhabitans were slaughtered. A small Japanese army was there, but they didn't repel them in a positive manner due to strict orders from the government. They were told to obey the law. The war had ended. If they fought back, the number of victims would be increased. It was an order from Tokyo.
The evacuation of people started immediately, but nine operators, who were all women, stayed at their office to maintain communication between Karafuto and Hokkaido until the last minute. They were going to get on the last evacuation ship, but couldn't. Russian troops suddenly came up to their town by warship and the young operators couldn't get away. They chose death fearing sexual assault from the soldiers.
Japan gave up the southern half of Karafuto and all the Kuril Islands in the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the ownership of them is still up in the air now. There's no rational evidence that Russia rules this area. The USSR didn't even sign the treaty.
(Vocabulary)
be put on hold お蔵入りにされる
in a positive manner 積極的に
belongingness 所属性、帰属(意識)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karafuto_1945_Summer_Hyosetsu_no_Mon
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