Letters From Iwo Jima Trivia Quiz

Answer: Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood is a well-known actor, director and producer. He directed such movies as "Million Dollar Baby" for which he received the Oscar and the Golden Globe. His other works include the "Mystic River", "Unforgiven" and "A Perfect World".

Eastwood directed "Letters From Iwo Jima" together with "Flags of Our Fathers". Both films depict the Battle of Iwo Jima. However "Letters From Iwo Jima" shows it from the Japanese perspective, while "Flags of Our Fathers" from American.

For his "Letters From Iwo Jima" Clint Eastwood received the Best Director San Diego Film Critics award and was nominated for an Oscar.

Answer: Damn this island! The Americans can have it.

Private First Class Saigo's first words were "Damn this island! Americans can have it." In his opinion the island smelled and had too many bugs. When his friend Nozaki replied that "This island is part of Japan's sacred homeland", Saigo said that there was nothing sacred about it.

The senior officer overheard him saying this and punished both Nozaki and Saigo for being unpatriotic by beating them with the stick.

Answer: Ken Watanabe

Ken Watanabe is a famous Japanese actor. His most notable roles were as the Chairman in the "Memoirs of a Geisha" and Katsumoto in "The Last Samurai". For the latter role he was nominated for the Oscar and the Golden Globe awards.

In "Letters From Iwo Jima" Watanabe starred as General Kuribayashi, who was sent to the island by Prime Minister Hideki Tojo to command the army there. While preparing for the role Watanabe read the actual letters sent by the General from Iwo Jima to his family.

Takashi Yamaguchi plays Private Kashiwara who later dies of dysentery.
Tsuyoshi Ihara plays Baron Nishi, the lieutenant colonel and the gold medal winner of the Olympic Games.
Nobumasa Sakagami plays Admiral Ohsugi who is not happy with General Kuribayashi's plans and is later replaced by Admiral Ichimaru.

Answer: horse jumping

Baron Nishi, portrayed by Tsuoyoshi Ihara, was a gold medalist in show jumping at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In the movie, Nishi is a close friend of General Kuribayashi. When they first meet on the island Nishi shows the general a picture of his horse Uranus who helped him to win the gold medal. Later that day they have a meal together at which Nishi tells Kuribayashi that Admiral Ozawa's carrier and planes were destroyed and that they will not be getting any help from the Navy. The general is shocked at the discovery and says that the Imperial Headquarters are not only deceiving the people but also the high rank officers like him.

Answer: Colt 1911

Towards the end of the movie General Kuribayashi has a flashback about his farewell party that he had in the United States before the war. There, he received a present from his American colleagues - 1911 Colt. One of the women at the party asked him how would he feel if America entered the war with Japan.

He replied that he would serve his duty to his country despite the fact that he was fond of America, thinking that the US is the last country Japan should fight with.

Answer: hand grenades

Tanida as an officer used his handgun, however his men used hand grenades. They pulled the pins, placed the grenades to their hearts and blew themselves up. Private Saigo believed that is was pointless to die this way and he followed General Kuribayashi's order to retreat. Superior Private Shimizu went with him.

Answer: He did not carry out the order to kill a dog.

Shimizu had only been in the Kempeitai for five days. During night duty with the senior officer, Shimizu was ordered to kill a dog that was barking and according to the officer was "disruptive of Army communications". The dog was taken to the back yard, however Shimizu shot in the air and told the woman who owned the dog to hide it in the house.

But when he and the senior officer were about to leave, the dog barked again. The officer entered the house and killed it. After that he hit Shimizu in the face and then kicked him while he was lying on the ground.

Answer: shoot them

Saigo tells Shimizu that he wants to surrender and offers him the opportunity to come along. Shimizu fakes stomach pains from dysentery and exits the cave. The soldier who was on guard realises what Shimizu really wants to do and decides to go with him.

The senior officer, however, saw them and shot the former guard. Shimizu managed to escape and reached the Americans. They put him with the other surrendered Japanese soldier. Two Americans were left to watch them but they did not want to stay with prisoners all night so they shot the Japanese.

Answer: mother

Despite the lack of morphine, Baron Nishi ordered the medics to treat the injured American soldier. He also tried to talk to Sam. Nishi told him about his staying in the USA and his participation in the Olympic Games. Sam was surprised to hear the story, every time repeating "no kidding?".

He then told Nishi that he was from Oklahoma. Later, however, the American died and while covering Sam's face, Nishi saw a letter. He translated it to his soldiers who stood up and listened in silence.

Answer: The American took General's gun.

General Kuribayashi was wounded in the battle and he ordered Lieutenant Fujita to behead him. However Fujita was shot by an American soldier. Saigo soon arrived and the General asked him to bury him "so that no one will find me". Then Kuribayashi shot himself.

After Saigo buried the General, the US Marines appeared and one of them took the General's handgun. When Saigo saw the gun tucked in a belt of one of the Marines he attacked the Americans with a shovel. He was then hit with the rifle by the Marine and brought to the beach, where he was given medical care.