'Oppenheimer' Premiere in Japan Sparks Mixed Reactions and Debate

The film's focus on its titular character and omission of Hiroshima and Nagasaki victims' experiences has ignited discussions on historical representation and memory.

'Oppenheimer' premiered in Japan amid mixed reactions, highlighting the film's focus on J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb, while largely omitting the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki victims.
Former Hiroshima Mayor Takashi Hiraoka and other critics argue that the film fails to adequately depict the horrors of nuclear weapons and the suffering of the victims, suggesting it validates the use of atomic bombs.
Japanese viewers expressed discomfort with the film's perspective, with some leaving theaters in distress and others questioning the absence of Japanese narratives and the portrayal of the atomic bomb.
The film has sparked discussions on the politics of memory, with critics emphasizing the need for more inclusive narratives that do not glorify the perpetrators or overlook the victims.
Despite the controversy, some Japanese viewers felt empathy for Oppenheimer, viewing him as a victim of war, while others appreciated the film for educational purposes, reiterating the importance of a future without nuclear weapons.