The Beatles in Japan rare video released after years of court battles over censorship
- Silent black-and-white 1966 footage of the British band’s only visit to the country shows them wearing kimonos and performing to a rapturous audience in Tokyo
- All the faces of everyone except the Beatles have been pixelated for privacy reasons, and pleas from freedom-of-information advocates were rejected by the court
Beatles fans have hailed the release of never-before-seen footage showing the Fab Four on tour in Japan, following a fierce court battle over the 35-minute video.
The silent black-and-white footage of the British band’s only visit to the country in 1966 was recorded by police as a security measure.
It shows the musicians descending from a plane in matching kimonos and performing to a rapturous crowd at the Budokan arena in Tokyo, as well as behind-the-scenes police operations.
The footage has a noticeable quirk, however: the faces of everyone except the Beatles – from crying admirers to officers facing off with right-wingers protesting the tour – have been pixelated for privacy reasons.
This had been a key sticking point for fans and freedom-of-information advocates, who fought a long and winding battle demanding that the footage remain uncensored.
