Manchukuo Film Association

Man'ei grew out of the Southern Manchurian Railway's Photographic Division, which was initially charged with producing industrial and educational films about Manchukuo for Japanese audiences.

[2] In 1939, Nobusuke Kishi enlisted Masahiko Amakasu, head of Manchukuo's Ministry of Civil Affairs, to replace Negishi.

As a result of a 1936 tour of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, Amakasu was able to see visit the studios Universum Film AG (UFA) and Cinecittà.

After taking up his post at Man’ei, Amakasu was determined to reform the studio's production system after UFA's in order to compete with both Hollywood and the Japanese film industry.

[4] This included using staff from the Towa Company to assist him in procuring the latest German movie cameras and production techniques.

Amakasu also hosted notables from the Japanese film industry including movie stars, directors, and orchestral conductors such as Takashi Asahina.

Although Amakasu was considered right-wing, he hired many left-wing and Communist sympathizers at a time when they were being purged from the Japanese film industry.

According to a 1939 survey of educated Manchurian viewers, Man'ei films were found to be dull and implausible, reflecting little knowledge of real life in Manchukuo.

Later, the company decided to utilize a new method, which combined familiar elements of life with an imperial ideology in order to reach a propagandistic goal.

Man'ei established a film magazine entitled Manshū eiga (満州映画), and its first publication was in December 1937, in Japanese and Chinese versions.

[citation needed] However, Amakasu responded, "the films of [Man’ei] are primarily targeted at the uncultured masses... We must treat and educate them like children, and explain things to them slowly and in plain language.