Exploring the Anti-War Origins of Battle Royale

When we think of the most influential films of recent years, it’s impossible not to mention the 2000 Japanese thriller. battle royale. Protected by people like Quentin Tarantino battle royale has become an integral part of popular culture. Not only has it influenced filmmakers working in the same genre, Kinji Fukasaku’s masterpiece has also had an ongoing impact on other fields, from manga and anime to video games.

An adaptation of the novel of the same name by Koushun Takami. battle royale is a satirical commentary on the problem of juvenile delinquency in Japan. He represents a society that tackles important issues such as skyrocketing unemployment and economic recession by arresting teenagers and constantly traumatizing them. The military forces naughty children to participate in a deadly game of survival from which only one winner survives.

This is a sharp attack on the ideological repression that underlies the functioning of the education system, presenting an absurd vision of children killing each other in the most brutal ways. Although often interpreted as a film that deals with the universal theme of teenage boredom, battle royale is rooted in the anti-war framework that influenced Fukasaku’s creativity.

Though it may be hard to see battle royale Pacifist philosophical undercurrents due to his highly stylized approach to violence are what motivated Fukasaku. During World War II, a Japanese director worked at a munitions factory that was attacked by American warships. Since there was no proper way to escape, the children working with him were forced to use each other for cover from artillery fire. This unimaginable cruelty remained in the mind of the director.

Fukasaku once said (via Archive): “I immediately identified with the 9th graders in the novel, battle royale. I was fifteen when World War II ended. By that time, my class had already been drafted and was working at a military factory. In July 1945 we came under shelling. Prior to this, the attacks were air raids, and you had a chance to escape from them. But there was no way out with artillery. It was impossible to run or hide from the falling shells.”

Speaking about the socio-political climate, he added: “We survived by diving for cover under our friends… After the attacks, my class had to dispose of the corpses. For the first time in my life I saw so many dead bodies. When I lifted my severed arms and legs, I was fully awake…everything we were taught in school about how Japan was waging war for world peace was a complete lie. Adults can’t be trusted.”

Even though the film may seem a little dated to modern audiences, battle royale retained much of its biting political poignancy. Plus, it’s always fun to watch Takeshi Kitano play the part of an incomprehensibly charming lunatic.