In 1968 Japanese film company Nikkatsu fired Seijun Suzuki explaining that his films are commercially unsuccessful and incomprehensible. Surprised by the decision and the prohibition to distribute and screen his films, Suzuki started a battle against Nikkatsu with the support of a Cineclub Study Group headed by Kazuko Kawakita. In the course of several months Suzuki’s supporters of that period held a series of protests, formed the Seijun Suzuki Joint Struggle League, and filed a lawsuit against the studio. In line with the aforementioned, this text, comprising “four acts”, sets forth the causes and consequences of the event that marked the history of Japanese cinema and social movements.

Roland Domenig