51爆料

When we study the history of war, what perspectives have been considered? We often see events through the eyes of soldiers, politicians, and civilians at home. However, another viewpoint has long been overlooked: that of animals who lived through conflicts alongside humans but could never articulate their stories in words.
 
Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, the photo collection Wartime Photos Tell the Stories: The War Through the Eyes of Animals is a profound attempt to re-examine this tumultuous period through the gaze of these "voiceless beings." From an extensive archive of approximately 60,000 wartime photographs held by the Mainichi Shimbun, this single volume meticulously curates powerful images of animals that lived and served humans. These include not only military horses, dogs, and carrier pigeons, but also camels and elephants employed in war theaters.
 
A key feature of this collection is the revival of vivid monochrome photographs achieved through a combination of cutting-edge AI technology and rigorous historical verification. The process begins with AI-based colorization, which is manually refined by human hands. This "human-AI collaboration" involves cross-referencing the initial outputs with historical documents and expert knowledge to ensure the tones and shades are authentic. The result is a series of images that felt as immediate and visceral as if they had been taken tomorrow, powerfully conveying the breath and gaze of the animals.
 
However, enhanced realism introduces a critical line of inquiry. For instance, the AI might color the plumeria flowers in the cover photograph pink in one iteration and yellow in another. Although both versions appear plausible, the true color remains lost in history. This reveals that AI colorization is not merely a "visual intervention" into the historical record but also an act that can generate a form of "fiction." This dynamic shares a common thread with wartime propaganda, which used images of "heroic warhorses" for nationalistic purposes, and is relevant to the contemporary issue of fake news. By intentionally placing the original black-and-white photos alongside their colorized counterparts, the book challenges each reader to question the nature of truth.
 
Each chapter is enriched with commentary by Professor Toshihiko Kishi, a specialist in Asian history (Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, Professor Emeritus at Kyoto University, and Professor at Notre Dame Seishin University), who offers deep insights into the historical context of animal mobilization. The foundation for this research and publication was laid by Miyuki Nakajima (Visiting Researcher at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies and a journalist at Mainichi Shimbun), who was central to the development of a wartime photo database. Furthermore, students from the Hidenori Watanave Laboratory actively participated in the book's planning and production. A roundtable discussion featured students from different generations sharing their candid reflections on their engagement with the photographs. A supplementary QR code provides access to enhanced content, including videos generated from still images that offer an immersive learning experience that transcends printed pages.
 
By stepping away from a human-centric view of history and adopting the perspective of animals, we can gain a more tangible understanding of the devastating impact of war on entire ecosystems and the foundations of life. This book stands at the intersection of history, information science, media studies, and animal studies, offering a wealth of insights. As you gaze upon the war through the eyes of the animals, we invite you to listen closely to their silent, and unheard voices.
 

(Written by WATANABE Hidenori, Professor, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies / 2025)

Related Info

Review:
Reviewed by OKA Mihoko “Wartime Photos Tell the Stories: The War Through the Eyes of Animals."  (The Yomiuri Shimbun  August 17, 2025)

 
Book Information:
“Animals Were Also Used for Propaganda”—What Does “War” Mean as Shown Through “Animal Photos” Colorized by AI and Human Effort?  (Tech Insider  August 14, 2025)

 
Book: The War Through the Eyes of Animals by Hidenori Watanave, Toshihiko Kishi, and Miyuki Nakajima (Kobunsha Shinsho)  (The Hokkaido Shimbun  August 10, 2025)

 
Media Appearances:
Future of Peace Activities Exhibition.  (J-WAVE, INNOVATION WORLD  August 15, 2025)

 
Kikuo Hayashiya Discusses His War Experience: Memories Evoked by Records.  (BS Fuji Prime News August 15, 2025)

 
“War” as Told Through the Latest AI Technology.  (Fuji Television Shuukan Fuji TV Hihyo (Weekly Fuji TV Critique)  August 16, 2025)
 
Related Articles:
Reading Wartime Photographs / 51: To the Future Generation, War as an Individual Experience, Depicting Diverse “Ordinary People”.  (The Mainichi Newspapers  August 19, 2025)

 
80 Years After the War, How Are “Wartime Animals” Revived in Color? A Pioneer Discusses the Colorization of War Photos Using AI and Human Effort.  (ITmedia AI+  August 15, 2025)

 
“Just Like the Real Thing”: 'Moving Wartime Photos' Created by Generative AI. The “Value” and “Terror” Felt by a University of Tokyo Professor.  (Business Insider Japan  August 15, 2025)

 
Reading Wartime Photographs / 49: To the Future Generation, The War Through the Eyes of Animals, A New Perspective Through Colorization.  (Mainichi Shimbun  July 15, 2025)

 
Events:
Talk event at Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum  (Hidenori Watanave Lab. UTokyo, Kobunsha, The Mainichi Newspapers Co.  August 15, 2025)

 
Book launch event with wildlife photographer, Mitsuaki IWAGO  (Hidenori Watanave Lab. UTokyo, Kobunsha, The Mainichi Newspapers Co.  July 27, 2025)
/focus/ja/events/z0115_00084.html
 

Try these read-alike books: