ETV’s new Japanese POW documentary challenges historical views

By grespa on June 18, 2024

‘Shuriken – Prisoners of Culture’ is a documentary that explores a Second World War incident just outside the Wairarapa town of Featherston that left dead 48 Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) and one guard. The video and related learning resources are available free from ETV.

In early 1943, a group of recently-arrived prisoners refused to work and staged a sit-down strike. A guard fired a warning shot, which may have wounded Lieutenant Commander Toshio Adachi, prompting the prisoners to rise to their feet and leading the guards to open fire.

Vincent O’Sullivan explores the implications of this event in his play, performed in Hamilton in 1995 and in Japan shortly after. ETV has been gifted the documentary ‘Shuriken – Prisoners of Culture’, which covers the play’s production and the subsequent challenges when businesses were discouraged from sponsoring the event.

Cross-curricular learning

This documentary is ideal for investigating different perspectives on a historical event in secondary schools. The play is also available on Playmarket for schools wanting to explore cross-curricular learning experiences with their senior students using a local historical event.

Collaborating with Adrienne Livingston, the daughter of former Hamilton mayor and Shuriken play producer Lois Livingston, has enabled ETV to provide educators with a comprehensive collection of articles, activities and images related to the documentary.

This has been an immensely rewarding project, allowing us to work with numerous individuals to highlight the significance of this often-overlooked historical event.

“The cast for Hamilton’s production of Shuriken about the Featherston Prisoner of War camp during World War II says the controversy about the play has helped its publicity. The Waikato Chamber of Commerce has said the play could harm business relations with Japan.” New Zealand Herald, 1995.

“Adachi has made it his mission to make sure these events are not forgotten. He attended a 50-year reunion at the former site of the camp and plans another trip to New Zealand to try and have a monument erected in memory of the officers who died under his command.” The Japan Times, 1995.

“Shuriken producer Lois Livingston said while she could understand the ex-POWs would feel sensitive towards the play’s contents, it was 50 years after the event and time to move forward.” Waikato Times, 1995.

Resource pack

All schools can access the Shuriken resource pack, which includes supplementary videos, NCEA history assessment booklets, and activities designed to support active learning while viewing the documentary. Additionally, ETV subscribers can access an interactive version of the documentary that bookmarks various conflicting perspectives throughout the film.