OGAWA Shinsuke
The fifth work of Sanrizuka 7. The opposing alliance plans to build up a pylon at the Southern end of the airport runway to interrupt the new airport construction. There is a fierce debate not only on whether it violates the aviation law but also being physically dangerous. In the end, the students and the farmers join forces and decide to build it anyway. The 60-meter pylon is built in 15 days, during this dire process, each of them struggles with the meaning of the fight that has been going on for 6 years.
The fifth work of Sanrizuka 7 series Narita: The building of Iwaryama Tower records the Sanrizuka struggle that entered a new phase in 1972. The plan of disturbing the flight screening of the runway is discussed by building an iron pylon on the alliance-owned land. Because it is a violation of aviation law, a fierce debate ensues within the opposing alliance. At the beginning of the film, a young man reveals his emotions and the pressures he¡¯s feeling. The 20-minute long take, panning back and forth through the discussion site highlights the speed and dynamism of the pylon construction process. The students, farmers and craftsmen gathered from all over the country build a 60-meter iron tower in just fifteen days. With significant risks, Ogawa production captures the entire construction process. The people have their understanding of the action in making the pylon a product of struggle and labor. The construction of the tower becomes a practice to revive the long-established relationship between the farmers and their land of Sanrizuka.
OGAWA Shinsuke
Ogawa Shinsuke is one of the most influential Japanese documentarians after the war. His filmmaking collective, OGAWA PRODUCTION, was created in the late 1960s and produced a number of films, such as the NARITA and MAGINO VILLAGE series, which dealt with political conflicts and grassroots culture in Japan. In addition, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.