Letters from Iwo Jima
Movie Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
General Tadamichi Kuribayashi
Ken Watanabe
Private First Class Saigo
Kazunari Ninomiya
Lieutenant Colonel Baron Takeichi Nishi
Tsuyoshi Ihara
Superior Private Shimizu
Ryô Kase
Lieutenant Ito
Shidô Nakamura
Lieutenant Fujita
Hiroshi Watanabe
Captain Tanida
Takumi Bando
Letters from Iwo Jima Flags of Our Fathers Clint Eastwood , this film depicts the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers defending the island as told through their own letters. The film would go on to receive four Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director.
The following weapons were used in the film Letters from Iwo Jima :
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Rifles/Carbines Arisaka Type 99 Most of the Imperial Japanese soldiers are armed with Arisaka Type 99 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Arisaka Type 99 - 7.7x58mm Arisaka Error creating thumbnail: File missing Arisaka Type 99 substitute standard ("last ditch" Type 99) - 7.7x58mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Japanese soldiers fire their Type 99 rifles at the shooting range. The soldiers standing in the rear also carry Type 99 rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) with a Type 99 rifle at the shooting range. Note the late war style bolt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Private First Class Nozaki (Yuki Matsuzaki ) fires the Type 99 rifle from a bunker. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Type 99 rifles are used by Japanese soldiers during a Banzai charge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lieutenant Colonel Takeichi Nishi (Tsuyoshi Ihara) holds a Type 99 rifle after he is blinded by shrapnel. He uses this rifle to commit suicide off-scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lieutenant Okubo (Eijiro Ozaki) fires a Type 99 rifle at U.S. Marines. M1 Garand Many Marines are armed with M1 Garand rifles, and some of them are equipped with M1 bayonets. When Shimizu (Ryô Kase ) surrenders, a merciless Marine uses his M1 Garand rifle to execute him and another Japanese POW. In the final scene, when Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) was surrounded by several Marines, most of them hold M1 Garand rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Garand with leather M1917 sling - .30-06 Error creating thumbnail: File missing A U.S. Marine shoots a Japanese prisoner with his M1 Garand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same Marine executes Shimizu (Ryô Kase ) with his M1 Garand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A U.S. Marine fires his M1 Garand from a defensive position. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Several U.S. Marines point their M1 Garands at Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya). M1 Carbine US Marines are armed with M1 Carbines , they most notably use them during the Japanese Banzai charge. A U.S. Marine lieutenant also carries an M1 Carbine while finding the M1911 pistol of General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing World War II era M1 Carbine with dark walnut stock, 'L' peep sight, no bayonet lug, khaki sling, oiler and a period magazine pouch - .30 Carbine Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two U.S. Marines fire their M1 Carbines during a Japanese Banzai charge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A U.S. Marine lieutenant with his M1 Carbine as he finds General Kuribayashi's M1911. M1903A1 Springfield When Lieutenant Fujita (Hiroshi Watanabe) attempts to behead General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe ), a distant Marine sniper is seen firing a shot and then operating the bolt action of his rifle. The rifle is an M1903A1 Springfield , the predominately bolt action sniper rifle used by the Marines (and other US forces) during World War II.
A source from ISS (which supplied the weapons for the film) has confirmed that the rifle, which was supplied by key armorer David Fencl, was indeed an M1903A1 Springfield fitted with a 7.8x (8x) Unertl scope, and that the Marine sniper using the weapon was one of the film's technical advisors, Master Sergeant Tom Minder.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of M1903A1 Springfield sniper rifles with 7.8x Unertl scopes - .30-06. The guns pictured here were the actual rifles used in Letters from Iwo Jima (one is primary, another one is a back-up), and the rifle was fired by Master Sergeant Tom Minder, one of the film's technical advisors. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close-up of the 7.8x scopes on the rifles from the film. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close-up of the butts of the rifles used in the film. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A distant shot of the Marine sniper operating a bolt on his Springfield. The rifle was fired by Master Sergeant Tom Minder, one of the film's technical advisers. Submachine Guns M1A1 Thompson A US Marine can be seen firing the M1A1 Thompson at fleeing Japanese soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1A1 Thompson - .45 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing On the right, a Marine fires his M1A1 Thompson at Japanese soldiers while another Marine fires an M1 Garand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same Marine reloads his M1A1 Thompson. Machine Guns Nambu Type 92 The Type 92 heavy machine gun is used by many Japanese soldiers in bunkers and caves.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 92 - 7.7x58mm Arisaka Error creating thumbnail: File missing Japanese soldiers in a bunker fire a Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun at the Marines. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun in a bunker. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Superior Private Shimizu (Ryô Kase ) mans a Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun in a bunker. Nambu Type 99 The Type 99 Light Machine Guns are used by many Japanese soldiers in bunkers and caves. Some of them are equipped with Type 30 bayonets.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 99 - 7.7x58mm Arisaka Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese machine gun crew firing a Type 99 Light Machine Gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier with a Type 99 Light Machine Gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese machine gun team lays down fire with the Type 99. Type 93 A Type 93 Heavy Machine Gun is used by a Japanese soldier to defend the island from an air raid.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 93 - 13.2mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing The remains of the machine gun in a bunker. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier opens fire with a Type 93 Heavy Machine Gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same soldier fires the Type 93 Heavy Machine Gun. M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle An M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle is carried by one of the Marines when Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) is surrounded by them.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06 Error creating thumbnail: File missing On the right, an M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle is carried by one of the Marines when Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) was surrounded by them. Browning M1919A4 During the night assault led by Lieutenant Ito (Shidô Nakamura ), US Marines utilized Browning M1919A4 machine guns to counter the Japanese charge. A Marine also fires an M1919A4 at fleeing Japanese soldiers in another scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M1919A4 on M2 tripod - .30-06 Error creating thumbnail: File missing On the left, the Browning M1919A4 is manned by a Marine during the night assault. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine machine gun team fires a Browning M1919A4 at fleeing Japanese soldiers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two Marines reloading the Browning M1919A4. Pistols Colt M1911 General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe ) is presented with an original Colt M1911 pistol by an American Officer (Mark Moses ) in a flashback to his time in the United States. Near the end of the film, a U.S. Marine finds the pistol and places it in his belt. On a side note, the M1911 model in this film had ivory grips (possibly to differentiate its significance from the other M1911A1s with wooden grips that the Marines used).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt M1911 with pearl grips - .45 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe ) is presented with an M1911 pistol in a box at a dinner party during his time in the United States. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kuribayashi takes a look at his M1911 pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An M1911 pistol in Kuribayashi's hip holster. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kuribayashi unholsters his M1911. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kuribayashi's M1911 pistol taken by a Marine lieutenant (Jeremy Glazer). Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine lieutenant places the pistol in his belt. Note that he doesn't even engage the safety or push the hammer to its safe position, which would be a dangerous way to holster a firearm, assuming that the firearm doesn't have a grip safety as the M1911 does. Nambu Type 14 The Nambu Type 14 pistol is the standard handgun carried by Japanese officers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 14 - 8x22mm Nambu Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lieutenant Okubo (Eijiro Ozaki) fires a Nambu Type 14 pistol at Shimizu (Ryô Kase ) and another Japanese soldier as they attempt to desert and surrender to the U.S. Marines. Nambu Small-Model The Nambu Small-Model pistol, or "Baby Nambu", is used by Captain Tanida (Takumi Bando ) as Japanese soldiers take up grenades in a cave.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Small-Model "Baby Nambu" - 7x20mm Nambu. This is the screen-used firearm handled by Takumi Bando in the film Letters from Iwo Jima Thanks to James Georgopoulos . Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Small-Model "Baby Nambu" - 7x20mm Nambu. This was Takumi Bando's gun used on-set in Letters from Iwo Jima Error creating thumbnail: File missing Captain Tanida raises the "Baby Nambu" to his head. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A slightly different view of the scene before Captain Tanida (Takumi Bando ) fires the pistol. Nambu Type 94 Shimizu (Ryô Kase ) and other Japanese soldiers are seen using the Type 94 pistol .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 94 - 8x22mm Nambu Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nozaki (Yuki Matsuzaki ) fires Shimizu's Type 94 pistol when the Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun runs out of ammunition. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shimizu (Ryô Kase ) threatens Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) when he tries to escape instead of committing suicide. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shimizu fires a Type 94 pistol in his flashback. Hand Grenades Type 97 Hand Grenade Several Japanese soldiers use the Type 97 Hand Grenade to commit suicide.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 97 Hand Grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing A box of Type 97 hand grenades on the floor of a cave. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese officer prepares to commit suicide with a Type 97 hand grenade. Mk 2 Hand Grenade Several U.S. Marines use the Mk 2 Hand Grenade to clear out Japanese positions.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mk 2 Hand Grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing A U.S. Marine is shot by a Type 94 pistol while trying to clear out a bunker. You can see the Mk 2 hand grenade in the air to his right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A U.S. Marine drops an Mk 2 hand grenade into a cave. Other Type 96 25mm AT/AA Gun The Type 96 AT/AA Gun on the twin mount can be seen at the airfield.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 96 AT/AA Gun on twin mount - 25x163mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Type 96 on twin mount is seen. Type 98 320mm Mortar Type 98 320mm mortars are used by Japanese soldiers to destroy some US tanks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 98 Mortar - 320 mm (12.6 in) Two Japanese soldiers prepare the Type 98 mortar to fire at incoming Sherman tank. Type 97 81mm Infantry Mortar Japanese soldiers can be briefly seen with Type 97 mortars .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 97 Infantry Mortar - 81mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Japanese soldiers fire the mortars. Type 41 75mm Cavalry Gun Japanese soldiers fire a Type 41 75mm cavalry gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 41 Cavalry Gun - 75x185mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing The gun is seen during the tunnel excavation. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The gun is fired. Type 93 Landmine Lieutenant Ito (Shidô Nakamura ) carries three Type 93 Landmines .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 93 mine Error creating thumbnail: File missing Feeling desperate, Lieutenant Ito drops his mines to the ground. Type 41 4.7 inch/40 (12cm) Coastal Gun Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Coastal Gun is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing This scene was also used in Flags of Our Fathers Type 3 8 cm/40 naval gun At the beginning of the film, some remains of Japanese defense guns can be seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 3 8cm/40 naval gun after the Battle of Iwo Jima. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Possible 14cm/40 11th Year Type naval gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Possible 8cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun. M2 Flamethrower Sam (Lucas Elliott), a US Marine, carries an M2 Flamethrower until he was captured by the Japanese. During the landing, two Japanese soldiers were burnt by an M2 Flamethrower.
M2 Flamethrower Error creating thumbnail: File missing A U.S. Marine burns out a Japanese heavy machine gun position with an M2 Flamethrower. This appears to be footage from Flags of Our Fathers Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sam with an M2 Flamethrower before being wounded and captured by Baron Nishi (Tsuyoshi Ihara). M116 75mm Pack Howitzer U.S. Marines are seen with an M116 75mm Pack Howitzer on the beach.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M116 “Pack” howitzer - 75x272mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing The howitzer in deployed in the center. See Also 
