Oppenheimer, a film about the first atomic bomb, finally hits theaters in Japan

The film 'Oppenheimer' directed by renowned American filmmaker Christopher Nolan, has finally been screened in Japan after about eight months of international release. This work, which recently won seven awards at the Oscars, including Best Picture, is being released in Japan amidst significant criticism due to its controversial subject matter. Oppenheimer depicts the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American physicist who managed the project to create the first atomic bomb in the U.S. The explosion of two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki devastated these cities, left over 200,000 dead, and led to Japan's surrender in World War II. Oppenheimer has grossed nearly one billion dollars at the box office, but due to sensitivities in Japan, a significant market for Hollywood, it had not been released there until now. Kawai, a 37-year-old resident of Hiroshima, told Reuters that Oppenheimer is an 'amazing' film deserving of an Oscar. He added that the film portrays the atomic bomb in a 'praiseworthy' manner, making it 'difficult' for him to watch as someone rooted in Hiroshima. Kawai, a government employee and a die-hard fan of Christopher Nolan's films, went to see Oppenheimer on its opening day in a theater just one kilometer from the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima. He told Reuters that he is not sure if this is a film that Japanese people should make a 'special effort' to see. Images shared on social media show that at the entrances of some cinemas in Tokyo, there are messages warning about images of nuclear tests and the damage caused by the atomic bomb. Another Hiroshima resident had mixed feelings after watching the film. This 65-year-old retired man told Reuters that the film was worth watching, but some scenes, including Oppenheimer's trial in the U.S., upset him. Universal Pictures, the global distributor of Oppenheimer, removed Japan from its release schedule due to criticisms, but the film was eventually screened in the country through an independent Japanese distributor after the Oscars. Tohru Yahata, a survivor of the atomic bombing, told Reuters that he is eager to see the film, hoping it will reignite discussions about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Yahata, 86, added that he feels empathy for the physicist behind the bomb. Other Japanese viewers shared similar sentiments, including Risho Kanemoto, a 19-year-old student who watched the film. He emphasized that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are definitely victims of the atomic bombing, but Oppenheimer, as the inventor of the bomb, is also a 'victim of war.' The 96th Academy Awards were held on Sunday, March 11, in Los Angeles, where Oppenheimer was named Best Picture, and its director Christopher Nolan was awarded Best Director. Cillian Murphy also won the Best Actor award for his role in the film. Oppenheimer won the Best Picture Oscar; Christopher Nolan won the Best Director award. Atomic scientists: 'The Doomsday Clock' is closer to midnight than ever. The historical drama 'Oppenheimer' swept the Golden Globe Awards. Christopher Nolan's latest film hits the silver screen; 'Oppenheimer' depicts the father of the atomic bomb.