In 1961 Oshima fiercely objected against the decision made by Shochiku Co.,Ltd to stop the release of his film "Night and Fog in Japan" (1960), which was based on the student movement against the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, and left the company.
1961年、日米安全保障条約に反対する安保闘争を舞台にした作品『日本の夜と霧』（1960年）を、松竹が大島に無断で自主的に上映中止したことに猛抗議し、同社を退社。