Earlier this summer, Japanese cinema goers got to savor a Hollywood-produced war movie. This one, titled “Emperor,” tackled a topic that virtually no Japanese director dares to touch — Japan’s own experience during World War II. Focused on the period immediately after Japan’s surrender, “Emperor” places one character between the representatives of the two nations — an interpreter named Takahashi. Played by Masayoshi Haneda, Takahashi is assigned to General Bonner Fellers (Matthew Fox), as Fellers is tasked to assess the role of the Emperor in the war, by General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones).

BLOUIN ARTINFO Japan sat down with Haneda to discuss his own views on the time period, and the need for the Japanese film industry to examine Japan’s history so that new generations can learn for themselves about the effect that their nation’s actions have on modern day relationships.