The above leaflet attempted to place guilt on the soldier for abandoning
his woman for the war. The leaflet depicted a woman lying in bed clutching a picture of
her man. The leaflet reads:
The above leaflet attempted to persuade the Australian "Diggers"
to abandon New Guinea and go home because their real threat were the American soldiers, to
include black soldiers, staged in Australia who were seducing the Australian women while
they were dying in the jungle. The leaflet reads:
Still another leaflet played on the theme that any defense of New Guinea
was hopeless and for nothing. Why die for a jungle. The leaflet reads:
Sometimes the Japanese used sexual images in order to influence Allied soldiers to
pick up surrender leaflets. The leaflet above depicts a bare-breasted female in an
inviting pose. The English-language text is text is:
This leaflet was mailed to by an Australian airman to his father at home. He wrote on
the back:
Dear Dad,
I am sending you this Jap propaganda leaflet. The Nips often drop these, but of
course we know about all these promises of his. I received your letter and will answer it
during the week.
Your loving son
John
Other Campaigns
The Japanese also dropped leaflets on Burma, Thailand and Indochina. These campaigns
were not as extensive as those mentioned above and in most cases the leaflets were more
plain, either black and white or a dull monotone.
Burma Monster Leaflet
An obvious exception to my description of "dull" leaflets are those for
Burma. They are quite colorful. Some leaflets show the British as monsters. One dropped
over Burma depicts a green toothed demon wearing a Union Jack devouring Burmese civilians.
Burmese attack leaflet
Another shows a Burmese leader on horse back attacking British troops. A very similar
image was used on a leaflet to the Indians.
This Man is Wrong
The leaflets to Indochina are written in French and depict images such as a lone French
officer looking at swarms of Japanese bombers and tanks on the horizon with the text
"This man would be wrong to think of resistance to the Japanese!"
This Woman Wishes
Another depicts a wife and children trying to pull a French soldier away from a
battlefield covered with skeletons with the text "This woman wishes that you
live."
Another leaflet is in the form of a hand-written letter and entitled in French
"Proclamation of the Japanese Army in Indochina." Other leaflets teach the
French and the colonial troops how to surrender by using a white flag, and one contains a
safe conduct pass from the Supreme Commander of the Japanese Army.
Safe Conduct Pass
Another safe conduct pass shows a classic nude on the back. The text is standard,
telling the finder that he may use the pass to go over safely to the Japanese Army.
Some of the leaflets picture wartime photographs of Japanese bombers with the text,
"Japanese bombers over Indochina! Do you know what they will do to you? In another
leaflet, the bombing of Chungking, China is depicted. One long horizontal leaflet depicts
five beautiful women on one side, and five scenes of Japanese military might on the other
with the title "Impossible to Resist."
Hong Kong Leaflet
A Japanese leaflet dropped on Hong Kong depicts crossed rifles bearing the flags of
Japan and China over a table set with drinks and glasses. The Chinese text is:
FOR BETTER FOR WORSE. It is essential that the relationship between China and Japan
must grow closer because of the war in East Asia. The victorious results of Imperial Japan
will be advantageous to China and provide her with prosperity and happiness. Chinese and
Japanese should be like brothers and sister and should join together to understand each
other and work towards the future prosperity of East Asia. Do remember the date; December
8th. JAPANESE ARMY
English text on the back is:
British Officers and men! What do you expect in your useless resistance after
having been cornered in this small island of Hong Kong? If you are waiting for the
Chungking troops to stir up the Japanese rear, it will only end in a fool’s dream,
the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines are now under the way of the Japanese Forces and
their fate is completely sealed. Your comrades brought to Kowloon, have already been to
Samchun and they are calmly enjoying a peaceful Xmas. You are at the crossroads now.
It’s all up to you whether you prefer death or save your life for the future. We will
give you the last chance for your reconsideration, if you surrender to us, the ultimatum
ends at the midnight of Dec. 26. JAPANESE ARMY.
Farewell American Soldiers!
Some leaflets are difficult to date and seem to be more general in nature. This leaflet
was prepared just before the American invasion of the Philippines and warns the American
soldiers against taking part in the attack. The monotone leaflet depicts a skull-like face
missing a right eye and wearing a helmet. The title of the leaflet is "Farewell,
American Soldiers!" The propaganda text is extensive so we will just quote the
opening and ending lines to give the reader an idea of what the Japanese were saying to
their enemies in the later stages of the war.
You are still alive! What a miracle! And marching, too. But WHERE? To the
Philippines? To Tokyo? But do you know what awaits you in the Philippines? Let me tell
you. It is the Japanese forces with the combined support, both moral and material, of all
the awakened Asiatics - the Manchukuwans, Chinese, Filipinos, Annamese, Thailanders,
Burmese, Indians, Malayans and Indonesians.
The leaflet ends:
General Marshall and General MacArthur can enjoy their reputations as heroes only
because they are alive. But you... you continue to march westward to sure death, to keep
your rendezvous with the grave. The same holds true for your comrade-in arms who are
pathetically struggling to escape their ultimate fate. The graves await you, and you, and
ALL OF YOU! So, officers and men, I bid you a pitiful goodbye. Today, you are with the
living - tomorrow with the dead. So, again goodbye American soldiers! Farewell! Farewell!
Other Japanese Propaganda
Besides leaflets, the Japanese also prepared hundreds of propaganda posters, postcards
and matchbooks. Perhaps the most famous wartime poster, "The Samurai," is at the
top of this article.
Independence is Almost here (1945)
The Japanese army's occupation of the Dutch East Indies from 1942 to August 1945 was
made easier by the promise of "liberation" from Dutch colonialism and national
independence. Here a Japanese soldier celebrates the new freedom with the people of
Indonesia.
Postcards
Numerous postcards were prepared for both home and foreign consumption. They were meant
to strengthen the resolve of the Japanese people and to show the occupied nations the
strength of the Japanese military. Perhaps the most infamous of all the postcards is a set
of three that were printed in 1943 and sold in a fancy decorated folder. One million postcard sets were printed. The cost of the set was 30
sen.
Pearl Harbor Attack
The first of three "Commemorative postcards of the Greater East Asia War,"
issued by the Postal Forwarding Bureau of Japan, entitled "The Ferocious Bombing of
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii." The caption is, "This picture shall always be remembered
by all Japanese. On the morning of Showa 16th year, 8 December, planes from our carriers
attacked the U.S. Navy's principal base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It depicts the moment
prior to the attack on the airfield at Ford Island during the second wave of the
attack." The illustration was from a painting by Yoshioka
Kenji, which was inspired by an official Japanese Navy photograph of Pearl Harbor.
Hong Kong Attack
The second card is entitled "The Capture of the Anti-Aircraft Battery at Wong
Neichong." The caption is, "On Showa 16th year, 19 December, our Imperial Army
attacked the anti-aircraft battery in the vicinity of Wong Neichong Gorge. The British
base in Hong Kong on the Jardine hilltop, was one of the fortifications possessed by the
British in Greater East Asia. From it, the intense battles on the waters of the South
China Sea could be observed." The illustration was from a
painting by Koiso Yoshihira.
The Fall of Singapore
The third postcard caption is, "The fall of Singapore - The East Asian fortress
under the intrusion of the British for more than a century - fell on Showa 15th year, the
2nd month, on the 17th day at 6:40 p.m. In a single file, bearing white flags, the British
officers of the Malayan Command approached our mighty army to surrender. From the right:
Commanding Officer Malaya, Lieutenant General Percival; Chief of the General Staff,
Brigadier General Torrance; Staff officer, Colonel Sugita; Interpreter, Ling-zhuan; Chief
Administrator of the British High Command, Malaya, Major General Newbiggen, who is holding
the Union Jack; and Captain Wylde who serves as interpreter." The illustration was from a painting by Miyamoto
Saburo.
It is worth noting that the Japanese made use of PSYOP in their Singapore victory.
Japanese General Yamashita was outnumbered three-to one and was nearly out of ammunition
by the time he reached Singapore. Instead of acting cautiously, he cut off Singapore's
water supply and dropped leaflets demanding immediate surrender. The leaflet read:
The Japanese Commander to the British Commander.
In the spirit of chivalry, we have the honour of addressing you to surrender. Your
Army founded on the traditional spirit of Great Britain, is defending Singapore which is
completely isolated and raising the fame of Great Britain by the utmost exertions and
heroic fighting. I disclose my respects from my innermost feelings.
Nevertheless the war situation is already determined and in the meantime, the
surrender of Singapore is imminent. From now on, resistance is futile and merely increases
the danger to the 1,000,000 civilian inhabitants without good reason, exposing them to
infliction of pain by fire and sword.
Furthermore, we do not feel you will increase the fame of the British Army by
further resistance. From first to last our counsel is that Your Excellency will cease to
think of meaningless resistance, and from now on yielding to our advice promptly and
immediately suspending the action extending over the whole British battlefront.
It is expected that you will take measures to dispatch an Army messenger as stated
below . If on the contrary you continue resistance as previously, it will be difficult to
hear with patience from a humanitarian point of view and inevitable, we must continue an
intensive attack on Singapore.
Ending this advice, we show respect to your Excellency.
1. The Army messager's route of advance shall be by Bukit Timah Road.
2. The Army messenger hoisting a white flag as well as the British flag will be
escorted by a number of soldiers as protection.
It was signed by Yamashita.
His bluff worked. When General Percival met with him hoping to negotiate, Yamashita
blustered, demanded unconditional surrender and yelled, "Yes or no? Surrender of
fight?" Percival had no idea that he had the stronger hand, and simply said
"Yes."
Patriotic Matchbooks
A great number of patriotic matchbooks showing military scenes were prepared by the
Japanese. We show some samples above.
POSTERS
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Keep Lips Silent |
Japan as Asia's Liberator |
Japanese Subjugation of the Philippines |
