Hitomi Kamanaka (鎌仲㠲㠨㠿, Kamanaka Hitomi) (born 11 June 1958,
Toyama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese documentary filmmaker known
particularly for her films on nuclear power and radiation.Graduating
from Waseda University in 1984, Kamanaka began working as an assistant
director for documentaries at Group Gendai, Iwanami Productions, and
other companies. She directed her first film in 1990 and between 1990
and 1995, worked and studied in Canada and the United States, first on
a grant from Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs. Returning to Japan,
she worked as a freelance director for television and film. Her film,
Hibakusha at the End of the World (also known as Radiation: A Slow
Death), was the first of several she has made on the problems of
nuclear radiation. It won several awards, including one from the
Agency for Cultural Affairs for excellence in documentary. Her next
film on nuclear issues, Rokkasho Rhapsody, covered the problems
surrounding the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant. Her most recent work,
Ashes to Honey, about residents fighting the construction of a nuclear
power plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture, opened in theaters only a month
before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. After the disaster, her
work has garnered increased attention and she has been asked to
present her work at numerous venues at home and abroad.
Toyama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese documentary filmmaker known
particularly for her films on nuclear power and radiation.Graduating
from Waseda University in 1984, Kamanaka began working as an assistant
director for documentaries at Group Gendai, Iwanami Productions, and
other companies. She directed her first film in 1990 and between 1990
and 1995, worked and studied in Canada and the United States, first on
a grant from Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs. Returning to Japan,
she worked as a freelance director for television and film. Her film,
Hibakusha at the End of the World (also known as Radiation: A Slow
Death), was the first of several she has made on the problems of
nuclear radiation. It won several awards, including one from the
Agency for Cultural Affairs for excellence in documentary. Her next
film on nuclear issues, Rokkasho Rhapsody, covered the problems
surrounding the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant. Her most recent work,
Ashes to Honey, about residents fighting the construction of a nuclear
power plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture, opened in theaters only a month
before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. After the disaster, her
work has garnered increased attention and she has been asked to
present her work at numerous venues at home and abroad.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.