Nippon Eigasha (East Indies)

Credits

Descriptions by
Logoarto

Captures by
Logoarto

Video captures courtesy of
Logoarto

Background

Following the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in 1942, a local branch of the newsreel film company Nippon Eigasha (commonly known as "Nichiei") was established, taking over the Dutch-owned studio of Multifilm-Batavia. Nichiei was not the first Japanese film company in the occupied Indies as an earlier film company, Djawa Eiga Kosha, was established beforehand.

The Indies branch of Nichiei mainly produced propaganda films and newsreels, with Berdjoang (1943) being their only known feature film. After the Japanese surrender and following the Indonesian proclamation of independence in August 1945, Nippon Eigasha's studio was taken by the newly-formed Indonesian government and became Berita Film Indonesia (BFI). This did not last long however, as the Dutch would take over BFI. Only after the official recognition of Indonesia did the Dutch gave BFI back to Indonesia, becoming Pusat Produksi Film Negara.

1st Logo (1943-1945)

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Visuals: On a black background is the Nichiei emblem (a circle with the characters 日央日 inside). Below the circle is "NIPPON EIGASHA", with "DJAKARTA" (the pre-1972 spelling of "Jakarta") below said text.

Variants:

• On Berdjoeang, their only feature film, no text is seen.
• On Heiho Angkatan Laoet, "CELEBES" is seen below the company name instead of "DJAKARTA".
• On Indonesia Raya, the year "2605" is seen below "DJAKARTA".
  • The year "2605" is the Japanese imperial calendar (Kōki) equivalent to 1945, as the Gregorian calendar was outlawed during the Japanese occupation.

Technique: A still, printed image.

Audio: None.

Availability: It was seen on short films produced by the company such as Kesehatan Badan, Indonesia Raya, and various others.

2nd Logo (1943)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a blurry Nichiei logo zooming in. The logo gets much clearer as it zooms into position.

Technique: Camera-controlled animation.

Audio: A patriotic fanfare which usually continues to the title card, or the opening theme.

Availability: Seen on the first few issues of the Berita Film di Djawa newsreel.

3rd Logo (1943)

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Visuals: On a gray background, there is a large Nichiei emblem. The company name is not shown.

Technique: A painting filmed by a camera.

Audio: Same as before.

Availability: Seen on some early issues of the Berita Film di Djawa newsreel. It is also seen on the propaganda film Perdjoempaan kaoem moeslim Soematera Baroe.

4th Logo (1943-1940s)

Visuals: A giant 3D Nichiei logo is placed face down on a glimmering background. Below is "製作", with "ジャワ社団
法人日本映画社" underneath.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: Same as before.

Availability: This was seen on the Berita Film di Djawa newsreel. It is also seen on the propaganda film Djagalah Tanah Djawa".

◄ Multifilm-Batavia

Nippon Eigasha (East Indies)

Berita Film Indonesia ►