Fumiki Watanebe Arrested

Fumiki Watanebe, one-time winner of the New Director Award from the Director's Guild of Japan, and a female accomplice were spotted putting up posters for his new film Tenno densetsu (The Imperial Tradition) by police at around 4am in Tokyo’s Koto Ward.   They tried to escape by car but were caught and arrested.   The film, which was without a distributor, criticised the country’s Emperor system and claimed that Emperor Akihito was not the son of his predecessor, Hirohito.  

 A screening of the film due to take place at a public hall in Tokyo from the 17^th to 19^th September was subsequently cancelled.

 Watanebe, who, according to police, had no fixed abode, regularly put up illegal posters advertising his films, often with controversial headlines such as ‘Everyone, pass out!’ and ‘Puke bags available.’

 It was the second time in six months that he had been arrested.   On 14^th May 2008 he was arrested for non-payment of a hotel bill in Matsushima Azuma City in Miyagi Prefecture. [ADD]

Further Reading:

2008

Japan: 2008