ΠΑΤΡΙΩΤΙΣΜΟΣ

Yukio Mishima (14/1/1925-25/11/1970)

Patriotism (憂国 Yûkoku) is a 1966 Japanese short drama film directed by Yukio Mishima and Domoto Masaki. The English-language release was originally entitled The Rite of Love and Death.
Mishima wrote Yûkoku four years before his death. The book reflected many of Mishima's warlike instincts as it follows the story of the young Japanese army lieutenant Shinji Takeyama (played by Mishima) and his new wife, Reiko (played by Yoshiko Tsuruoka). Mishima's fascination with death and the samurai also come into the book when the lieutenant commits seppuku, the Japanese ritual suicide. The book was a tribute to the emperor and the Ni Ni Roku incident. Patriotism is an example of Mishima's thematic treatment of death, violence and politics.