Letters from Iwo Jima (硫黄島からの手紙, Iō Jima Kara no Tegami^?) is a 2006 Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning critically-acclaimed^[1][2][3] war film whose cast includes Ken Watanabe and Kazunari Ninomiya. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Letters portrays the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers and is a companion piece to Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers which depicts the same battle from the American viewpoint. The film is almost entirely in Japanese but was made and co-produced between an American and Japanese production company. Image File history File links Letters_from_iwo_jima_ver8. ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ... Paul Edward Haggis (born March 10, 1953 in London, Ontario) is an Academy Award-winning Canadian screenwriter, producer, film director, and a director/producer of television programs working in Hollywood. ... Robert Lorenz is an Academy Award-nominated producer, best known for his collaborations with Clint Eastwood. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director and producer. ... Iris Yamashita is a Japanese-American screenwriter. ... Paul Edward Haggis (born March 10, 1953 in London, Ontario) is an Academy Award-winning Canadian screenwriter, producer, film director, and a director/producer of television programs working in Hollywood. ... Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Japanese: 栗林忠道 Kuribayashi Tadamichi) (July 7, 1891 in Nagano city, Japan – March 23, 1945 on Iwo Jima, Japan) was a General in the Imperial Japanese Army, best known as overall commander of the Japanese garrison during most of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Assigned by... Ken Watanabe , born October 21, 1959) is a Japanese Oscar-nominated stage, film, and television actor. ... Kazunari Ninomiya , born June 17, 1983) is a member of Arashi, a Japanese boy band formed in 1999, under the management of Johnny & Associates. ... Tsuyoshi Ihara , birth name: 伊原 剛 Ihara Tsuyoshi) is a Japanese actor, born on November 6, 1963 in KitakyÅ«shÅ«, Fukuoka Prefecture, and who grew up in Ikuno-ku, Osaka. ... Ryo Kase (加瀬 亮 Kase Ryō, born November 9, 1974 in Yokohama, Japan) is a Japanese actor. ... Shidō Nakamura (中村 獅童 Nakamura Shidō; born 14 September 1972) is a Japanese actor and Kabuki actor. ... Kyle Eastwood is a jazz musician and the son of actor Clint Eastwood. ... “WB” redirects here. ... This article is about the film studio. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... is the 88th day of the year (89th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Marines raising the US flag on Iwo Jima in a publicity still from Flags of Our Fathers. ... // Please note that following the tradition of the English language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the United States and Canada in 2006; because they may have made most of their income in a later year, they may not be the top-grossing... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... The war film is a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. ... Ken Watanabe , born October 21, 1959) is a Japanese Oscar-nominated stage, film, and television actor. ... Kazunari Ninomiya , born June 17, 1983) is a member of Arashi, a Japanese boy band formed in 1999, under the management of Johnny & Associates. ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ... Combatants  United States  Empire of Japan Commanders Holland Smith Tadamichi Kuribayashi â€  Strength 110,000 21,000 Casualties 6,821 dead 19,189 wounded,[1] 494 missing[1] Total: 26,504 20,703 dead,[1] 216 captured[1] Total: 20,919 yeah it was touching. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) (KyÅ«jitai: 大日本帝國陸軍, Shinjitai: , Romaji: Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun), or more officially Army of the Greater Japanese Empire was the official ground based armed force of Imperial Japan from 1867 to 1945. ... Marines raising the US flag on Iwo Jima in a publicity still from Flags of Our Fathers. ... Production company refers to a company responsible for the development and physical production of performing arts, film, radio or a television program. ...

The film was released in Japan on December 9, 2006 and received a limited release in the United States on December 20 in order to compete for the 79th Academy Awards. It was subsequently released in more areas of the U.S. on January 12, 2007, and was released in most states by January 19. is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 79th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best in film for 2006, took place on February 25, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Source

The film is based on the nonfiction books Picture Letters from Commander in Chief ^[4] by General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (portrayed on screen by Ken Watanabe) and So Sad To Fall In Battle: An Account of War ^[5] by Kumiko Kakehashi about the Battle of Iwo Jima. While some characters such as Saigo are fictional, the overall battle as well as several of the commanders are based upon actual people and events. Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Japanese: 栗林忠道 Kuribayashi Tadamichi) (July 7, 1891 in Nagano city, Japan – March 23, 1945 on Iwo Jima, Japan) was a General in the Imperial Japanese Army, best known as overall commander of the Japanese garrison during most of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Assigned by... Ken Watanabe , born October 21, 1959) is a Japanese Oscar-nominated stage, film, and television actor. ...

Detailed story

The film begins in the present on Iwo Jima. Japanese archaeologists, exploring tunnels dug prior to the American invasion, find a site and the scene changes to Iwo Jima in 1944. For other uses, see Iwo Jima (disambiguation). ... Archaeology or sometimes in American English archeology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains, including architecture, artefacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ...

General Kuribayashi inspecting the island defenses in Iwo Jima.

Private First Class Saigo, a baker conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, and his platoon are grudgingly digging beach trenches on the island. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi arrives to take command of the garrison, accompanied by his ADC, Lieutenant Fujita. Met by the island's naval commander, Rear Admiral Ohsugi, and the deputy army commander, Major General Hayashi, he immediately begins an inspection of the island defenses. In particular, he orders the men to stop digging trenches on the beach and begin tunnelling defenses into Mount Suribachi. Kuribayashi encounters Captain Tanida beating Saigo and his friend, Kashiwara, for their disloyalty. Tanida is ordered to stop, with the reminder that a good commander uses his head more than his whip. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... A baker prepares fresh rolls A baker is someone who primarily bakes and sells bread. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) (KyÅ«jitai: 大日本帝國陸軍, Shinjitai: , Romaji: Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun), or more officially Army of the Greater Japanese Empire was the official ground based armed force of Imperial Japan from 1867 to 1945. ... Platoon of the German Bundeswehr. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Japanese: 栗林忠道 Kuribayashi Tadamichi) (July 7, 1891 in Nagano city, Japan – March 23, 1945 on Iwo Jima, Japan) was a General in the Imperial Japanese Army, best known as overall commander of the Japanese garrison during most of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Assigned by... An aide-de-camp (French: camp assistant) is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state. ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Iwo Jima (Japanese 硫黄島 Iōjima, meaning sulfur island) is a volcanic island in Japan, part of the Volcano Islands (also known as the Ogasawara Islands), approximately 650 miles (1046 km) south of Tokyo (24. ...

On another evening, Lieutenant Colonel Baron Takeichi Nishi, a famous Olympic gold medalist show jumper, now commanding the 26th Tank Regiment, joins Kuribayashi for dinner. The two men are cavalry officers who do not follow the fanatical militarism of many of their comrades. Nishi tells Kuribayashi that the prospect of the Imperial Japanese Navy supporting Iwo Jima is non-existent; much of the Japanese Combined Fleet under Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa has been destroyed at the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Kuribayashi evacuates the civilian population of Iwo Jima to mainland Japan. He clashes with some of his senior officers, including Hayashi and Ohsugi, who do not agree with his strategy of defending the inland areas instead of the beaches. Kuribayashi believes the Americans will quickly take the beaches. In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... For other uses, see Baron (disambiguation). ... Baron Takeichi Nishi (西竹一 )) (July 12, 1902 - March 22, 1945 (?)) was a Japanese Imperial Army officer, equestrian show jumper, and Olympic Gold Medalist at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. ... An Olympic medalist is the winner of a medal in one of the Olympic games. ... Show jumping is a form of competition in which horses are jumped over a course of fences, low walls, and other obstacles (e. ... Not to be confused with Golgotha, which was called Calvary. ... For Combined Fleet, please see that article. ... Combined Fleet was the ocean-going branch of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was ruled under General Staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy (e. ... For other uses, see Admiral (disambiguation). ... Jisaburo Ozawa (小沢治三郎 Ozawa Jisaburō, October 2, 1886 – November 9, 1966) was a Japanese admiral during World War II. He was the last Commander-in-Chief of Combined Fleet. ... Combatants United States Navy Imperial Japanese Navy Commanders Ray Spruance Jisaburo Ozawa Kakuji Kakuta Strength 7 fleet carriers, 8 light carriers, 7 battleships, 79 other ships, 28 submarines, 956 planes 5 fleet carriers, 4 light carriers, 5 battleships, 43 other ships, 450 carrier-based planes, 300 land-based planes Casualties...

Poor nutrition and unsanitary conditions take their toll on the garrison; many die of dysentery. Japanese troops begin using the caves as barracks. A young soldier, Superior Private Shimizu, arrives for duty on the island, replacing Kashiwara, who has died of dysentery. Saigo and his friends suspect that Shimizu is a spy sent from Kempeitai to report on "disloyal" soldiers. Dysentery (formerly known as flux or the bloody flux) is frequent, small-volume, severe diarrhea that shows blood in the feces along with intestinal cramping and tenesmus (painful straining to pass stool). ... The following graphs present the rank insignia of the Japanese military during World War II. These designs had been used between the years 1938 to 1945, but were discontinued after World War II, when the Imperial military had been dissolved. ... The Kempeitai (憲兵隊, Corps of Law Soldiers) was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. ...

The first American aerial bombings occur shortly after, forcing the Japanese to dig deeper into the volcanic island. Kuribayashi sends an ailing Admiral Ohsugi back to Japan, asking for and getting Rear Admiral Toshinosuke Ichimaru in his place. Almost all the aircraft on the island are withdrawn on orders from headquarters. The battle for Iwo Jima begins.

The Japanese beach defenses are quickly overcome and the attack turns to the defensive positions on Mount Suribachi. Tanida dispatches Saigo to carry a message to Mount Suribachi's commander, Colonel Adachi, requesting more machine guns. Saigo overhears General Kuribayashi, speaking over radio, ordering Colonel Adachi to tell his men to retreat northward, but Adachi instead gives Saigo a note ordering Captain Tanida and his men to commit suicide. Captain Tanida obeys this order, shooting himself in the head. One by one, most of the remaining soldiers, including Nozaki, kill themselves with their own hand grenades. Saigo, however, runs away and leaves the cave with Shimizu, convincing him that it is more productive to continue the fight rather than to die. Iwo Jima (Japanese 硫黄島 Iōjima, meaning sulfur island) is a volcanic island in Japan, part of the Volcano Islands (also known as the Ogasawara Islands), approximately 650 miles (1046 km) south of Tokyo (24. ... For other uses, see Colonel (disambiguation). ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... Grenade redirects here. ...

The two men flee through the tunnels, eventually encountering more troops who are ambushed by American troops. They come across several soldiers beating and killing a captured American soldier. Eventually they make it to another cave system commanded by Lieutenant Ito, the former commander of the island's naval air forces. Ito is about to behead them with his sword for leaving Suribachi, when General Kuribayashi appears and saves Saigo for a second time. Kuribayashi says that he ordered the retreat.

The soldiers from the caves attempt a futile attack against American positions. Nishi's men capture a wounded U.S. Marine, Sam, and Nishi orders his medic to give him aid despite the Japanese's dwindling medical supplies. Despite their efforts, the Marine dies. Nishi reads a letter the American received from his mother. They are reminded that the Americans are men like themselves, with families, hopes, and fears.

As a bomb hits Nishi's cave, he looks, trying to shoot U.S. Marines, who return fire. Nishi is badly wounded and blinded. His men bind his wounds, and Nishi orders them to another position on the island. After leaving that position, they hear the shot of Nishi committing suicide with his rifle.

Boy band singer and actor Kazunari Ninomiya as Private First Class Saigo.

Shimizu divulges to Saigo that he had been dishonorably discharged from the Kempeitai after five days' service because he refused to obey a superior's order to kill a family's barking dog. He was then reassigned to Iwo Jima. This causes Saigo's attitude towards Shimizu to soften considerably. Shimizu breaks down and fearfully asks Saigo to surrender with him. He flees the cave with another soldier, but before Saigo can follow, Lieutenant Okubo appears and shoots the other soldier for desertion. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A boy band is a type of pop group featuring three or more young male singers. ... Kazunari Ninomiya , born June 17, 1983) is a member of Arashi, a Japanese boy band formed in 1999, under the management of Johnny & Associates. ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... The Kempeitai (憲兵隊, Corps of Law Soldiers) was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. ...

Soon, Shimizu surrenders to a U.S. Marine patrol and finds himself in the company of another Japanese soldier who had surrendered. One of the American guards, who does not want to be burdened with POWs, later shoots them. The dead soldiers are discovered by the Japanese and Lieutenant Okubo points it out as a lesson for anyone else who wishes to surrender. Saigo puts Shimizu's senninbari on his dead body. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Senninbari was Japanese for Thousand-person-stiches, a charm belt more commonly known in the west as the Thousand Stitch Belt. Some of these belts were called Tiger belts as Tiger images were often embroidered into them. ...

Saigo and the remaining survivors eventually meet up with Kuribayashi, who recognizes Saigo. One last attack with all the remaining men is planned. Kuribayashi orders Saigo to stay behind and destroy all the documents, including his own letters to his family. Kuribayashi saves Saigo's life a third time. Kuribayashi and his remaining troops launch their final, fateful attack, and Kuribayashi is critically wounded.

The loyal Fujita drags Kuribayashi away from the battle. The next morning, with defeat looming, Kuribayashi orders Fujita to behead him. However, as Fujita raises his sword the lieutenant is shot dead by an American sniper. Kuribayashi asks Saigo, "Is this still Japanese soil?" Saigo assures him, "Yes, it is still Japan." Summoning his last reserves of strength, the very weak Kuribayashi then draws his sidearm, a Colt 1911 pistol that was a gift from American military friends during his stay in the United States in the late 1920s. The general shoots himself in the chest and dies. Saigo carries away the dead general and buries his body off-screen (Kuribayashi's body was never found). Seppuku (Japanese: 切腹, belly-cutting) is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. ... M1911 The M1911 is a . ...

Upon his return, Saigo finds that a patrol of American soldiers have claimed Kuribayashi's pistol and Fujita's sword as war trophies. Upon seeing the unique pearl-handled Colt 1911 tucked into a Marine officer's belt, he swings wildly at the Americans with his shovel. Eventually Saigo is knocked unconscious by a Marine with a rifle butt to the back of the head and is eventually taken on to a U.S. aid station on the beach. He sees the sinking sun and grins weakly. M1911 The M1911 is a . ...

The scene shifts back to the Japanese archaeologists in the cave in 2005 who uncover the bag of letters written by Japanese soldiers on the island, never sent, that Saigo buried in 1945. As the letters fall from the bag, the voices of the fallen Japanese are heard reading from them.

Production

The film was originally entitled Red Sun, Black Sand (see Letters from Iwo Jima, DVD version, Disc 2). Image File history File links Question_book-3. ...

Clint Eastwood directing Ken Watanabe through an interpreter.

Although the film is set in Japan, it was filmed primarily in Barstow and Bakersfield in California. Filming in California wrapped on April 8, and the cast and crew then headed back to the studio in Los Angeles for more scenes before Eastwood, Watanabe and a skeleton crew made a quick 1-day trip to Iwo Jima for some on location shots. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. ... Bakersfield redirects here. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year (99th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ...

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) operates a naval air base on Iwo Jima, which is used by the United States Navy for operations such as nighttime carrier landing practice. Civilian access to the island is restricted to those attending memorial services for American and Japanese fallen soldiers. The location was used under a special permission from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, because more than 10,000 missing Japanese soldiers still rest under the soil. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ), or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan and formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II.[1] The force is based strictly on defensive armament, largely lacking... For other uses, see Iwo Jima (disambiguation). ... USN redirects here. ... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ...

Filming finished in late 2006.

DVD release

Letters from Iwo Jima was released on DVD by Warner Home Video on May 22, 2007. It was also released on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc. It was also made available for instant viewing with Netflix's "Watch Instantly" feature where available DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... HD-DVD disc HD DVD (for High Density Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical media format which is being developed as one standard for high-definition DVD. HD DVD is similar to the competing Blu-ray Disc, which also uses the same CD sized (120 mm diameter) optical data... A Blu-ray Disc (also called BDray) is a high-density optical disc format for the storage of digital information, including high-definition video. ...

The Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition DVD is also available in a Five-Disc Commemorative Set which also includes the Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition of Flags of Our Fathers and a bonus fifth disc containing History Channel's "Heroes of Iwo Jima" documentary and To the Shores of Iwo Jima, a documentary produced by US Navy and Marine Corps. DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Marines raising the US flag on Iwo Jima in a publicity still from Flags of Our Fathers. ... The History Channel is a cable television channel, dedicated to the presentation of historical events and persons, often with frequent observations and explanations by noted historians as well as reenactors and witnesses to events, if possible. ... To The Shores of Iwo Jima was a 1945 short war film produced by the US Navy and Marine Corp. ...

Critical reception

The film received highly positive reviews in the American sphere, with the review tallying website Rotten Tomatoes reporting that 168 out of the 184 reviews they tallied were positive for a score of 91% and a certification of "fresh."^[6] Lisa Schwartzbaum of Entertainment Weekly, Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times, and Richard Schnickel of Time were among many critics to name it the best picture of the year. In addition, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone and Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune both gave it 4-stars, and Todd McCarthy of Variety praised the film, assigning it a rare 'A' rating. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ... Kenneth Turan is an American film critic, currently writing for the Los Angeles Times. ... This just IN !!!:paris hiltons new dog. ... Look up time in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Peter Travers is the film critic for Rolling Stone magazine. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Michael Phillips is a prominent Canadian psychiatrist known for his work in mental illness and suicide prevention. ... // The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ... Variety is a daily newspaper for the entertainment industry. ...

On December 6, 2006, the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named Letters from Iwo Jima the best film of 2006. ^[7][8] On December 10, 2006, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association named Letters from Iwo Jima Best Picture of 2006. Furthermore, director Clint Eastwood was runner-up for directing honors.^[9] In addition, the American Film Institute named it one of the 10 best films of 2006. It was also named Best Film in a Foreign Language on January 15 during the Golden Globe Awards. It had been nominated for Best Film in a Foreign Language; and Clint Eastwood held a nomination for Best Director. is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures was founded in 1909 in New York City, just 13 years after the birth of cinema, to protest New York City Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) was founded in 1975. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ...

CNN.com's Tom Charity in his review described Letters from Iwo Jima as "the only American movie of the year I won't hesitate to call a masterpiece."^[10] On the "Best Films of the Year 2006" broadcast (December 31, 2006) of the television show Ebert & Roeper, Richard Roeper listed the film at #3 and guest critic A. O. Scott listed it at #1, claiming that the film was "close to perfect." At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper is a movie review television program featuring film critic Roger Ebert and columnist Richard Roeper, both of the Chicago Sun-Times. ... Richard Roeper (born October 17, 1959)[1] is a columnist/film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and, since September of 2000, has co-hosted the television series At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper with fellow film critic Roger Ebert. ... Anthony O. Tony Scott (born July 10, 1966) is a Jewish (1) film critic for The New York Times newspaper. ...

On 23 January 2007, the film received four Academy Award nominations. Eastwood was nominated for his directing, as well as Best Picture along with producers Steven Spielberg and Robert Lorenz. The film also received nominations for Original Screenplay and Sound Editing. is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director and producer. ... Robert Lorenz is an Academy Award-nominated producer, best known for his collaborations with Clint Eastwood. ...

The film has been far more commercially successful in Japan than in the U.S., ranking number 1 for five weeks. Though mostly appreciated for its empathetic view, the film has, however, received criticism from some Japanese moviegoers, including several staff members of the Association for the Advancement of Unbiased View of History (自由主義史観研究会, Association for the Advancement of Unbiased View of History^?), who question the historical accuracy of its depiction of the Japanese military police, or the use of the gairaigo terms like ライフル (rifle, ライフル^?) or ジープ (Jeep, ジープ^?) by Japanese Army soldiers, at a time when such practice was generally frowned upon.^[11] Renowned nationalist and Prefectural Governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, whose efforts and influence played a significant role in allowing the film's crew to shoot on Iwo Jima, criticized director Clint Eastwood's portrayal of American marines. He stated that he believed I Go to Die for You, a film for which he wrote the screenplay and acted as executive director, was far superior to the Hollywood blockbuster.^[12] Gairaigo (外来語) is Japanese for loan word or borrowed word, and indicates a transliteration (or transvocalization) into Japanese. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... Shintaro Ishihara (right) in a typical election poster pose with local lawmaker Ichiro Akita (left). ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ...

Furthermore, several non-U.S. reviews, such as that of the Independent of the United Kingdom, took offense at the characterization of good officers solely as those having had experience in the U.S. Those viewers believed that these characteristics make it an American film presenting a vision of the Japanese that reflects American cultural values and perceptions, in stark contrast to its framing in the American press as a film in the "Japanese point of view".^[13]

The film is also criticized for only focusing on the life and death of soldiers of Japan and the United States, while neglecting the damage done on civilian population and conscripted workers from Korea and Taiwan.^{[citation needed]}

Cast

Ken Watanabe , born October 21, 1959) is a Japanese Oscar-nominated stage, film, and television actor. ... Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Japanese: 栗林忠道 Kuribayashi Tadamichi) (July 7, 1891 in Nagano city, Japan – March 23, 1945 on Iwo Jima, Japan) was a General in the Imperial Japanese Army, best known as overall commander of the Japanese garrison during most of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Assigned by... Kazunari Ninomiya , born June 17, 1983) is a member of Arashi, a Japanese boy band formed in 1999, under the management of Johnny & Associates. ... Tsuyoshi Ihara , birth name: 伊原 剛 Ihara Tsuyoshi) is a Japanese actor, born on November 6, 1963 in KitakyÅ«shÅ«, Fukuoka Prefecture, and who grew up in Ikuno-ku, Osaka. ... Baron Takeichi Nishi (西竹一 )) (July 12, 1902 - March 22, 1945 (?)) was a Japanese Imperial Army officer, equestrian show jumper, and Olympic Gold Medalist at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. ... Ryo Kase (加瀬 亮 Kase Ryō, born November 9, 1974 in Yokohama, Japan) is a Japanese actor. ... Shidō Nakamura (中村 獅童 Nakamura Shidō; born 14 September 1972) is a Japanese actor and Kabuki actor. ... Hiroshi Watanabe (わたなべひろし) is an anime director and animator. ... Yuki Matsuzaki is a Japanese-born actor who has appeared in movies and on television. ... Mark Moses (born February 24, 1958 in New York City) is an American actor. ... Roxanne Hart born July 27, 1952 in Trenton, New Jersey, USA. She is an American television, film and stage actress. ...

Awards

Won

• 79th Academy Awards:
  • Best Sound Editing (Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman)
• Berlin Film Festival:
  • Cinema for Peace Award
• 12th BFCA Critics' Choice Awards:
  • Best Foreign Language Film
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards:
  • Best Foreign Language Film
• 13th Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards:
  • Best Foreign Language Film
• 64th Golden Globe Awards:
  • Best Foreign Language Film
• 32nd Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards:
  • Best Picture
• 78th National Board of Review Awards:
  • Best Picture
• 11th San Diego Film Critics Awards:
  • Best Director (Clint Eastwood)
  • Best Picture

The 79th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best in film for 2006, took place on February 25, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. ... The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the Berlinale, is one of the most important film festivals in Europe and the world. ... 12th BFCA Critics Choice Awards January 20, 2007 Best Picture: The Departed The 12th Critics Choice Awards are given on 20 January 2007 to honor the finest achievements in 2006 filmmaking. ... 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards December 28, 2006 Best Picture: The Departed The 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, given by the CFCA on December 28, 2006 honored the best in film for 2006. ... 13th Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards December 19, 2006 Best Picture United 93 The 13th Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards, given by the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association on 19 December 2006, honored the best in film for 2006. ... The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards were aired on 2007-01-15. ... For the main article see Golden Globe Awards. ... 31st Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards December, 2006 Best Picture: Letters from Iwo Jima The 32nd Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, given by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), honored the best in film for 2006. ... 77th National Board of Review Awards December 6, 2006 Best Picture: Letters from Iwo Jima The 77th National Board of Review Awards, honoring the best in film for 2006, were given on 6 December 2006. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Nominated

• 79th Academy Awards — Best Picture - Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, & Robert Lorenz
• 79th Academy Awards — Best Director - Clint Eastwood
• 79th Academy Awards — Best Original Screenplay - Iris Yamashita
• 64th Golden Globe Awards — Best Director - Clint Eastwood
• 12th BFCA Critics' Choice Awards — Best Picture
• 12th BFCA Critics' Choice Awards — Best Director - Clint Eastwood
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards — Best Picture
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards — Best Director - Clint Eastwood
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards — Best Original Score
• 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards — Best Screenplay, Original - Iris Yamashita
• 2007 MPSE Golden Reel Awards — Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film: Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement
• 2007 MPSE Golden Reel Awards — Best Sound Editing in Sound Effects and Foley for a Feature Film

The 79th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best in film for 2006, took place on February 25, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director and producer. ... Robert Lorenz is an Academy Award-nominated producer, best known for his collaborations with Clint Eastwood. ... The 79th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best in film for 2006, took place on February 25, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ... The 79th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best in film for 2006, took place on February 25, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. ... Iris Yamashita is a Japanese-American screenwriter. ... This is a list of nominees for the 2007 Golden Globe Awards. ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ... 12th BFCA Critics Choice Awards January 20, 2007 Best Picture: The Departed The 12th Critics Choice Awards are given on 20 January 2007 to honor the finest achievements in 2006 filmmaking. ... 12th BFCA Critics Choice Awards January 20, 2007 Best Picture: The Departed The 12th Critics Choice Awards are given on 20 January 2007 to honor the finest achievements in 2006 filmmaking. ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ... 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards December 28, 2006 Best Picture: The Departed The 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, given by the CFCA on December 28, 2006 honored the best in film for 2006. ... 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards December 28, 2006 Best Picture: The Departed The 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, given by the CFCA on December 28, 2006 honored the best in film for 2006. ... This article is about the actor/producer/director. ... 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards December 28, 2006 Best Picture: The Departed The 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, given by the CFCA on December 28, 2006 honored the best in film for 2006. ... 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards December 28, 2006 Best Picture: The Departed The 19th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, given by the CFCA on December 28, 2006 honored the best in film for 2006. ... Iris Yamashita is a Japanese-American screenwriter. ...

See also

• Tora! Tora! Tora!
• None But the Brave

For the Melvinss album, see Tora Tora Tora (album) Tora! Tora! Tora! is a 1970 American-Japanese film that dramatizes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the series of American blunders that unintentionally improved its effectiveness. ... Released in 1965, None But the Brave was the first, and only, film to be directed by Frank Sinatra. ...

References

Box Office Mojo is a website that tracks box office revenue in a systematic way. ... The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ... Amazon. ... Headquarters of Shogakukan in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Shogakukan ) is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, nonfiction, childrens DVDs, and other media in Japan. ... Shinchosha headquarters. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Japanese trailer
• Letters from Iwo Jima Official Site
• Letters from Iwo Jima at the Internet Movie Database
• Letters from Iwo Jima at Rotten Tomatoes
• Letters from Iwo Jima at Metacritic

• Letters from Iwo Jima at Mutant Reviewers From Hell
• Video interview with Letters from Iwo Jima special effects artist Vincent Guastini at Interviewing Hollywood