Memoirs Of A Geisha II

The Woes

In early January 2006 the movie was banned in mainland China. After tarrying for awhile the Chinese authorities has made up their mind: Memoirs Of A Geisha is not to be released in China.

Why? The main reason must be found in the fact that celebrated Chinese actresses such as Zhang Zhiyi and Gong Li are casted for the key characters in the movie. They played a role as a geisha in pre-war Japan. Since there is a strong anti-Japanese resentment among the Chinese audience the Chinese government was nervous that the movie might trigger a new wave of anti-Japanese protests.

Another reason belies in the story itself. Zhang Zhiyi being a geisha fell in love with a businessman who was sent as a soldier of the Japanese army to Manchuria. Since it refers to the brutal Japanese occupation of China during the Second World War it would absolutely not acceptable to the Chinese audience.

The thing that may be the most sensitive is the fact that those Chinese actresses being geishas served and entertained Japanese men. It easily recalls the memories of the socalled comfort women: Chinese women who were forced into sex slavery and to render sex services to Japanese military during the war. It is still a matter that anger the Chinese nowadays. Especially, the lack of repentance by the Japanese on the issue further fuels the anger and resentment towards Japan.

The release of The Memoirs Of A geisha in China may scratch open the old wounds.

Yee Chuen Leung
Chief Editor