POLICE are preparing for potentially violent protests by right-wing extremists when a film portraying the human side of Emperor Hirohito is released next week.

Many academics believe that the film, which supposedly breaks numerous Japanese taboos in its portrayal of the Imperial Family, may represent an important step towards the “normalisation” of Japan and its ability to debate its wartime past. However, scenes that depict Hirohito as weak-willed and suggest that he bore moral responsibility for the Pacific War are likely to enrage Japan’s belligerent and vocal lobby of arch nationalists, who see anything that damages the Emperor’s image as deeply offensive.

The film, Solntse (The Sun), is the critically acclaimed work of the Russian director Aleksandr Sokurov, who has also made films about Hitler and Stalin. It has been around for almost two years but, fearing the kind of violent reaction anticipated by police, Japanese distributors have been reluctant to buy the screening rights. Just two cinemas — one in Tokyo, the other in Nagoya — are scheduled to show Solntse and instances of violence are certain to hamper a wider release.

“People were really worried about the chance of violence from right-wing groups, so companies were fearful of buying the rights,” said Michio Koshikawa, who is distributing Solntse in Japan. “But I think the movie will be a good chance to discuss the whole issue of Emperor Hirohito.”

The film catches Japan at an ideological crossroads, where deeply divisive issues such as the Yasukuni war shrine and school history textbooks are increasingly important in domestic politics. Many believe the country is heading to the Right.

The film’s release on August 6 will coincide with the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. A week later the Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, may visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which will infuriate China and South Korea, both victims of Japan’s wartime past.

Hirohito, who died in 1989, reigned as Emperor during and after the Second World War. Soldiers fought to the death in the belief that he was divine, but that image was, for most Japanese, shattered by defeat.

Sokurov said in a recent interview that he was interested in Hirohito as a person, and his film reminds viewers that after the war Hirohito was a strong proponent of pacifism.

Right-wing violence has tainted the Japanese political scene for decades and perceived insults to the Imperial Family have long been its flimsy pretext. Last week the business newspaper Nikkei was targeted after it published memos showing that Hirohito had disapproved of the enshrinement of 14 war criminals at Yasukuni.

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