'Yasukuni' begins playing in Japan

TOKYO, May 4 (UPI) -- The controversial Japanese documentary "Yasukuni" has begun playing at a Tokyo theater and will soon be distributed throughout Japan, its distributor says.

Distributor Argo Pictures said Tokyo's Cine Amuse theater began showing the movie, which focuses on Japan's annual World War II surrender day celebrations at the Yasukuni Shrine, despite worries of possible protests, The Japan Times reported Sunday.

An unidentified official with the distributor said there was "no problem" showing the movie Saturday.

"We will just screen it using the normal procedure," the official said. "For example, (we) are not being called by the court to be told to delete or not to screen."

The documentary has been labeled by some as anti-Japanese due to its coverage of the annual celebrations, which recognize the day that Japan officially surrendered during World War II.

The Times said the film will show at the Tokyo theater until Friday and will then be distributed to more than 20 other Japanese theaters.