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 depicts an American soldier kissing an
Australian wife while dead bodies are shown in the foreground and background. The text is:
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
Japanese Leaflet to the Local Natives
Americans tend to think of the Japanese soldiers as tyrannical and inhumane.
However, in some cases they seem to have treated the locals better than their former white
masters, paying them a fair wage and giving them limited freedom. There seem to have been
some cases where the tribesmen actually felt a loyalty to the Japanese. One individual who
knows the Papuans well said in regard to this leaflet:
The Japanese occupiers of northern Papua / New Guinea were, for the most part,
liked by the Papuans. In general, the Japanese hired the Papuans to work for them;
teaching them to drive trucks, perform rudimentary maintenance on vehicles and equipment,
etc. and paying wages in the occupation currency. Better treatment than they received from
their pre-war Australian administrators. From the Papuans' point of view, they just
changed one occupier for another.
In this Papua / New Guinea Pidgin-language leaflet the Japanese encourage the
natives to report on the whereabouts of any Allied troops. The leaflet depicts two natives
standing on a hill above American troops making an amphibious landing on their island. One
comments on the foolishness of the Americans and the second native points and tells him to
run and tell the Japanese troops. Text on the front of this very colorful leaflet is:
GO QUICKLY AND TELL THE JAPANESE SOLDIERS
Oh! The American soldiers are very dumb! They don’t know that
the strong Japanese soldiers will kill them.
Hello! Run quickly and tell the Japanese soldiers. The Japanese soldiers
are there!
We read more of the Japanese techniques in New Guinea in War by Stealth: Australians and the Allied
Intelligence Bureau, Alan Powell, Melbourne University Press, 1996:
Japanese propaganda was very extensive in this district during their occupation
and seems to be rather effective. Natives were told that the war started because Japan and
Germany and native (spirit) ancestors were sending goods to New Guinea and the English
would not let them get through.
Japan and Germany would win the war and then would kill all
the English in New Guinea and any natives who helped them…Natives who helped Japan
would be well cared for and paid well at the end of the war.
The Japanese preyed on the members of the Cargo Cult (who prepared airfields for the
coming of the aircraft bringing treasure to the natives) and called on the spirits to help
their war effort. An Australian sergeant added:
The enemy staged singings and during the proceedings they would kill a pig, cut
it down the center, and then eat the right side. The left side would be left in the sun
until it rotted. This side represented the Australians who were not strong enough to win.
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.
The text is:
The British Monster and Us
Burmese attack leaflet
Another shows a Burmese leader on horse back attacking British troops. In this case
the flag they carry was a Japanese sponsored organization that allegedly wanted to revive
the Burmese monarchy. A very similar image was used on a leaflet to the Indians. The text
is:
Join the Revolutionary Army to route out the British
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.
Wolf Boy
A colorful Japanese leaflet was dropped on the Chinese troops allied with the
British. It shows a wolf-faced British soldier leading a Chinese soldier to a cliff where
he will surely fall off and into massed Japanese bayonets depicted below. The text on the
front is:
Do you really want to sell your soul to the British white ghost and see the Liao
Zhai tragedy befall you?
Why does the British soldier have the face of a wolf? In China the wolf represented
rapacity and greed or an official who exacted money unfairly from the people in the shape
of unauthorized taxation. In fact, Chinese propaganda sometimes showed the Japanese as
wolves. The term “white Ghost” was an insult used for Caucasians. The Liao Zhai
tragedy relates to famous tales from Chinese history and can be translated to
“Strange stories from the Chinese Studio.” This is a collection of nearly five
hundred mostly supernatural tales published during the early Qing Dynasty. These tales are
about being deceived or led to death in some way. The Japanese seemed to have done their
homework here and this would appear to be an excellent propaganda leaflet.
The back of the leaflet is all text. The first two columns say that anyone who
surrenders with the leaflet will not be treated as a captive but as an ally. He will also
be given cash in exchange for working for the Japanese. The leaflet then explains how it
is to be used. It is not necessary for each person to have a leaflet; a group may
surrender with one leaflet. When approaching, wave a white flag, hold your hands high, and
have any guns pointing downwards. Hand over the leaflet to the Japanese. If you have
killed a British or American soldier who had some documents, you will get promotion to a
high office in the newly formed government. The leaflet is signed by the Japanese
Commanding General and there is a section that gives instructions to the Japanese soldiers
who are handed the leaflet.
Chinese Dupe
This leaflet is so clearly drawn and the message so plain that it can be used for
both literate and illiterate Chinese. It consists of four vertical panels. In the first,
American and British soldiers see an unknown object on the ground. In the second panel
they push a Chinese soldier ahead toward the object. The object turns out to be explosive
and the Chinese soldier is killed in the third panel. In the final panel, the British and
American soldiers march away quite satisfied with themselves. The moral is clear; to fight
alongside the Allies means death to the Chinese. The text is:
The British and Americans are not your allies and will betray you.
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.
The Japanese pretended to be interested in Indonesian freedom. A 1942 proclamation
said in part:
Nippon has no thought of establishing any regimented sphere of imperialism in East
Asia. That would be contrary to her principals. Fundamentally, it is to be a union of
neighboring states, sharing to a greater or lesser degree common racial and cultural
origins and geographical propinquity.
The Indonesians strongly supported the Japanese who promised them complete
independence. In 1943, a volunteer army raised to defend Java attracted 34,000 men.
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."
As the Japanese Army moved relentlessly across the Pacific a number of postcards
were prepared to be used by the soldiers to show their love for the children of the
nations they conquered. In all cases the face of the Japanese soldier was left blank so
that each man could draw an image that he thought represented him. The card above shows
the soldier holding four children representing Vietnam, China, Malaya, and either Borneo
or the Philippines.
Wong Hon Sum says in The Japanese Occupation of Malaya and its Currency:
The Japanese held the education of the young in high regard and emphasis was given
to the children’s “reformative program.” During the first
anniversary…photographs of children were put on display.
…postcard depicting the tenderness and warmth between the Japanese soldier
and the children…The face of the soldier was left out to be filled at sender’s
own discretion.
A second postcard from the same series depicts a Japanese soldier coming ashore on a
turtle while three native children watch.
These cards portray the Japanese Army as friends of the children whose countries
they have invaded. They reinforce the concept of the Asian Co-prosperity Sphere.<
Malay leaflet
On the subject of Malaya, the leaflet above was dropped by the Japanese in both the
Malay and Chinese languages. It addresses the Malayans as “brethren” and asks
that they inform on the British and Americans, It offers rewards for worthwhile
intelligence. Some of the text in Malayan and Japanese is:
The Japanese Army is your friend unlike the foreign British and Americans. We are
all of a common ancestry and are Asian brethren. As such, we have a common enemy in the
British and Americans.
If you see any British or Americans, please capture or report them to the
Japanese Army and do not let them escape. If you can transport them to the Japanese Army
then do so.
The Japanese Army will not harm you and you will be paid a reward.
Signed: Japanese Army Commander.
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 |
