Abstract
The second part of the series analyzes the texts of Nihon no sugao (Japan Unmasked) (1957-1964), from the launch of the series in November 1957 to April 1960 in order to elucidate the production methods. A great number of texts were analyzed quantitatively, which was followed by a qualitative analysis of each text based on the results of the quantitative analysis. As a result, it is revealed that while Japan Unmasked during that time was influenced by preceding radio programs called “rokuon kosei” (audio documentaries: recorded sound compositions) as well as documentary films, the series gave birth to a number of basic production methods for TV documentaries. Among them, a method of identifying separate, individual realities as a specific social issue and developing an argument has been inherited by TV documentaries of today such as NHK Special and Close Up Gendai (Today's Close-up). A method of delicately portraying each individual reality as it is, inducing non-verbal feelings, has been handed down to programs such as Tsurube no kazoku ni kanpai [Tsurube's salute to families] and Document 72 Hours. As the paper discusses these production methods, the author also looks into some related topics from a new perspective, namely a concept of “TV documentary” advocated by Yoshida Naoya in 1960 and so-called “Nihon no sugao debate.”
