Karafuto 1945 Summer (1974)
A shattering Japanese war drama recounting the true story of nine telephone operators who chose death over surrender during the Soviet invasion of Karafuto.
Karafuto 1945 Summer - Movie Information
- Original Title: 樺太1945年夏 氷雪の門
- Release Year: 1974
- Directed by: Mitsuo Murayama
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, War, History
- Runtime: 1h 59m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 17, 1974 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: Karafuto 1945 Summer Hyosetsu no mon (JP)
- Production Companies: Toei Company
- Production Countries: Japan
Karafuto 1945 Summer - Plot
The film is set in Karafuto after the radio broadcast of the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War. On August 15, 1945, Soviet forces invaded Karafuto. On August 20, the postal telegraph office in Maoka suspended operations and nine of the twelve telephone operators committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide while the city was being invaded.
Karafuto 1945 Summer - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see this haunting wartime story come to life:
Karafuto 1945 Summer - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Mitsuo Murayama
Main Cast
- Terumi Niki
- Keiko Torii
- Kawai Okada
- Yumiko Fujita
- Hiromi Kurita
- Midori Kiuchi
- Sanae Kitahara
- Go Wakabayashi
- Toshio Kurosawa
- Yōko Minamida
Writers
- Takeo Kunihiro
Karafuto 1945 Summer - FAQs
Is Karafuto 1945 Summer based on a true story?
Yes, the film is rooted in real historical events. On August 20, 1945, nine telephone operators at the Maoka postal telegraph office in Karafuto chose to take their own lives with potassium cyanide rather than surrender as Soviet forces invaded. Their story became one of the most haunting episodes of the war's final days.
What is Karafuto 1945 Summer about?
Set in the final days of World War II, the film follows the telephone operators of Maoka's postal telegraph office in Karafuto. After Japan's surrender broadcast on August 15, 1945, Soviet forces pressed forward. Rather than face capture, nine of the twelve operators took their own lives — a devastating act of defiance and despair.
Who are the main actors in Karafuto 1945 Summer?
The film features Terumi Niki as Ritsuko Sekine, Keiko Torii as Nobue Fujikura, Kawai Okada as Natsuko Saito, and Yumiko Fujita as Ayako Sakamoto, alongside Hiromi Kurita, Midori Kiuchi, Sanae Kitahara, Go Wakabayashi, Toshio Kurosawa, and Yōko Minamida.
Why did the telephone operators die in Karafuto 1945 Summer?
The operators chose death over capture as Soviet troops stormed Maoka on August 20, 1945. Continuing to transmit distress calls even as the city fell, nine of the twelve women took potassium cyanide. Their final transmissions — and their refusal to abandon their posts — have made them enduring symbols of wartime sacrifice in Japan.
When was Karafuto 1945 Summer released?
Karafuto 1945 Summer opened in Japan on August 17, 1974, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the end of World War II. Directed by Mitsuo Murayama and produced by Toei Company, it brought a largely forgotten wartime tragedy to wide public attention in Japan.
Who directed Karafuto 1945 Summer?
Mitsuo Murayama directed the film, working from a screenplay by Takeo Kunihiro. The production was handled by Toei Company, one of Japan's major film studios, and the score was composed by Seitaro Omori.
What genre is Karafuto 1945 Summer?
The film blends Drama, War, and History into a deeply emotional portrait of wartime tragedy. It sits alongside other Japanese films that grapple honestly with the human cost of World War II, focusing on civilian suffering rather than battlefield action.
What are similar movies to Karafuto 1945 Summer?
If this film moves you, consider exploring Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle (2021), The Forgotten Battle (2021), Waiting for Anya (2020), The Pilot: A Battle for Survival (2021), and For a Lost Soldier (1992) — all films that examine war's human toll with similar depth and sincerity.
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