Japan: The Secret Empire

A Q&A with the filmmakers
Edited for Applause Online by Anna Christopher

Japan The three-hour program Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire, airing Wednesday, May 26 at 8 p.m. on TV12, brings to life the story of a secluded kingdom, its relationship with the West and the forging of a nation that would eventually emerge as one of the most important countries in the world.

Lyn Goldfard and Deborah DeSnoo -- who served as producers, writers, and directors of the film -- have unparalleled insight into the research, planning, and hours of camerawork that when into its creation. In the following interview, these veteran filmmakers reflect on penetrating the "Secret Empire" and what it was like to film on location in Japan.

What is Japan's "Secret Empire" and why is it important?

Lyn: Japan was a closed society, shrouded in mystery. The first westerners didn't arrive until the 16th century. When they came, they were amazed by the sophistication of the Japanese society: commanding shoguns, warrior samurai and exquisite art.

Deborah: Japanese and westerners viewed each other with both fascination and revulsion. The Japanese were astounded by the westerners' guns, but appalled at their personal hygiene and table manners. The westerners were impressed with Japanese order, but baffled by their strict rules and their willingness to die for honor. In many ways, it was a collision of two alien worlds.

How do you get inside this "Secret Empire"?

Lyn: Surprisingly, there is a wealth of letters, diaries and journals, many of which have only recently been translated. Through these, we can join these remarkable people as their personal stories unfold.

Who are some of the more interesting characters from the period?

Lyn: Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of Japan's "founding fathers." A brilliant warrior, he unified Japan after a century of civil war. He laid the ground for the emergence of a more evolved society, but he did so at great personal and moral cost. His dynasty lasted, unsurpassed in power, until the arrival of Admiral Matthew Perry's American warships in the 1850s.

Deborah: A couple of westerners are worth mentioning: William Adams, the first Englishman in Japan, was shipwrecked, nearly executed and imprisoned. Amazingly, he later became an advisor to the shogun and was awarded the honorary title of samurai. Engelbert Kaempfer was a German physician who served the Dutch trading post of Dejima in 1691. His accounts of Japanese life and customs provide an incredible inside view of Japan during this time.

What was it like working in Japan?

Lyn: Fortunately, Japan is a country where people love watching television and films about their past. We had stunning period costumes available to us and were able to outfit soldiers and generals with authentic uniforms, swords and helmets for our large-scale battle scenes.

Deborah: The Japanese were very excited to learn that western television was doing a series on this time. Almost everyone in Japan is a history buff. But outside of Japan, little is known about this Edo period. For the West, it's a voyage of discovery and an opportunity to better understand the cultural roots of this important land.

Filmmaker Bios

Lyn Goldfard , an award-winning filmmaker specializing in history and social issue documentaries, began her career as producer and historian for the Academy Award-nominated documentary With Babies And Banners . For PBS, she has written, directed and produced "Total War" for The Great War series; "We Have a Plan" for The Great Depression series; "Ways To Move" and "Without Barriers or Borders" for People In Motion series and many other titles. During her career, Goldfard has won two Emmy Awards, two duPont-Columbia Awards and a Peabody.

Veteran director Deborah DeSnoo , who is fluent in Japanese, holds the distinction of being the first and only foreign director invited to join the Nippon Enshutsusha Kyokai (Japan Directors' Association), and has performed in more than 30 theatrical and television productions in Japan since 1984. She has produced and directed for film, video, theater, opera, musicals and television during her notable career, and is a member of the Director's and Writers Guilds of America. DeSnoo is president of Plug-In, Inc., a Japanese production corporation which she established in 1986.