Valiant Americans this hurts me more than it does you. I am forced to do this in order to maintain my prestige and honor. Also it's good for my figure you see -- So here we go again -- Alley oop -- who's next?

Its Yours for the Asking!

This Japanese message is short and to the point. A soldier is seen at the left with a Japanese bomb in his plate. At the right a civilian is depicted with a steaming roast chicken on his plate. The meaning is simple: To fight is to die. To stay home or to surrender is to be safe and well fed. The text is:

Its Yours for the Asking

Iron-rationed Stranded

This Japanese leaflet depicts Americans stranded on an island while Japanese bombers sink American ships in the distance. The Japanese try to entice the soldiers with a delicious plate of food but not understanding the American diet, instead of a steak or a hamburger they tempt the troops with a cold salad. They imply that for a change of mind (actually a surrender), the soldiers can have that fine salad. The text is:

Iron-rationed stranded.

Nothing but dog-biscuits.

Day after day, positively.

How about a dish of salad like this?

For a change of diet...Just a change of mind

You are wanted

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:

Why did you leave me like this--? Why must I suffer alone this unbearable loneliness--this silence--this welling unsatisfied passion--? Why--Why--? Why don't YOU come back?

We were the Happiest of Couples

This leaflet depicts a happy Australian husband and wife. The husband is called up and we see him kissing his wife goodbye. In the next picture a civilian, looking a lot like the Jewish slackers that the Germans caricatured in their propaganda, is seducing the wife while "Death" looks on. The text is:

We were the Happiest of Couples

Until our tearful parting, oh how she wept!

But no sooner had I left, my wife was told that Id never come back.

Behind your back

This is a relatively common leaflet showing a soldiers wife with a slacker, a civilian not in the military. The soldier is obviously at the front and the man avoiding the war is enjoying the good times back home with lots of lonely women and no men around as competition.

Remember? This Japanese leaflet tugs on the heartstrings of American and Australian troops by depicting very kissable lips in full color on the front along with the word: Remember? The back has a short text message in a womans handwriting: Darling, cant you find a way to come back to me? I miss you so. I send all my love, and my kisses are on the other side of this card. The finder of this particular leaflet mailed it home with the following comment: This is what the Japs dropped for Christmas. They want to make us more homesick than we are. I wish that was really you on the other side. [Authors Note] The New Guinea campaign was fought from 24 January 1943 to 31 December 1944. So, although we cannot be sure, it seems likely that this leaflet was dropped in December 1944.

You Above All Men

Another leaflet tells the Australians that their women are being tempted while they are at war. It depicts a woman thinking of her soldier at the front while between them a couple is kissing. She is contemplating having an affair with Tom, another soldier who has returned from the war. The text is:

You Above All Men

Do you have to bear the brunt of this war alone and for so long? You never seem to think of me. Im lonesome without you. Tom has come home months ago. And, Thomas still admires me as you know. Sometimes I really do lose confidence in myself

Diggers

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. Just in case the finder is not too smart, notice that the Japanese have placed little American flags on the back of the soldier and on his hat. The text is:

Hey! you Diggers! He came he saw conquered! Thinking you diggers will never come back alive The BLACKS and the YANKS are raping your wives, your daughters and your sweethearts --they are helpless without your protection. Your future happiness is at stake! One last Aussie simply means one more Yank safely in the house. Surely you'll not give up your lives to make this possible.

Aw! Heck!

Another full-color leaflet to the Australians depicts a formally dressed man and woman in the foreground, while three injured Aussies are in the background. The text is:

Aw! Heck! Whats the use of thinking of those ugly looking cripples? Youre sound and Im sound, so lets .

Ratio of Marriageable men

Looking at the way the faces of the men and women are portrayed, this leaflet seems to have been prepared by the same artist who did Aw! Heck! above. This leaflet is aimed at the Americans and uses a little sex, a little home-sickness, and a little divide-and-conquer to imply that while the soldiers are at the front, the slackers and draft-dodgers back home have an excess of available women to choose from. Three women smile at a civilian while American ships are sunk by the Japanese in the background. The Japanese math says that where the ratio of men to women was once equal back home, it is now 10 to 1 in a mans favor. The back is blank. Some of the text is:

What a life to be at home where a man is the idol of millions of beautiful girls! Its great to be alive! And what a time you would have!

Ticket to Meet your Wife and Kid

This Japanese leaflet depicts an Aussie holding his child with his wife close behind. The text on the front is:

Ticket to Meet your Wife and Kid

The back is all text and in the form of a safe conduct pass. It says in part:

HERES ALL YOU DO!

Come towards our lines waving a white flag.

Strap you gun over your left shoulder, muzzle down and pointed behind you.

Show this ticket to the sentry.

Any number of you may surrender with this one ticket.

JAPANESE ARMY HEADQUARTERS

Please! Please come back

Another safe conduct back depicts a lonely wife thinking of her husband and the text:

Please! Please come back dont die. Its terrible to be dead. We need each other. It would be awful if you were crippled .I wouldnt know what to do if you were.

The back of the leaflet is a safe conduct pass identical to the Ticket to Meet your Wife and Kid immediately above.

Killed in Action

Still another leaflet played on the theme that any defense of New Guinea was hopeless and for nothing. Why die for a jungle. The 7-inch by 5-inch Japanese leaflet depicts a dead Australian soldier chained to the island of New Guinea holding a citation from U.S. General Douglas MacArthur. The text reads:

KILLED IN ACTION! Died that the jungles of New Guinea might again rest in peace.

Notice the teeth in the above leaflet. The next leaflet shows the same sort of teeth on the dead body so I suspect the same Japanese artist did both.

What Price Glory!

This leaflet depicts a dead soldier with his skin rotting away. He almost seems to be crawling out of the ground of a military cemetery. The back is blank. He asks:

What Price Glory!

Mother! Dad! Sis! Bud! Friends! Would you look at me now Would you?

To hell with this bloody war!

In this leaflet a soldier stands surrounded by Allied dead and waves a white flag. He has had enough. The text is:

To hell with this bloody war! I aint going to be on that fools list!

Im coming home alive Mary.

I assume the list is that of all the soldiers killed defending the island. Mary is a wife or sweetheart of course.

Island of Deceit

Another leaflet that stresses the soldiers on New Guinea are helpless depicts two giant Japanese soldiers to the left and right of three small Allies troops. The text is:

Island of Deceit

They were a pushover -- were they?

Supplies were coming -- did they?

Enforcement were on the way  are they?

NOW, where are you?

You stand between horrible DEATH

and  reasonable surrender.

I believe the Japanese writer meant to say Reinforcements rather than Enforcement, but I suppose the recipients of the leaflets got the general idea.

Siren

Another full-color Japanese leaflet to Australians in New Guinea is entitled Siren. The 7-inch by 5-inch leaflet depicts an Australian soldier in the grasp of a female figure with a skull for a face that surely represents Death. The back is blank. The text is on the front is:

SIREN

Beware young man. The lady will get you if you don't watch out. You'll never see those green hills at home again once her clutches tighten on you... and she's got a fairly good grip right now...There is only one way out.

Jilted, Rejilted

Several of the leaflets dropped on Australia and New Guinea were long vertical strips, sometimes meant to be folded. The leaflet above is made up of five cartoons and depicts an American soldier seeing a U.S. Navy ship on the horizon and then seeing it sunk; then seeing a Japanese battle fleet and finally throwing a temper tantrum as he realized he is trapped on the island. The text is:

Jilted, Rejilted

Elation

Deflated

Anticipation

Perdition

Exasperation that blankety-blank president

and his two cent promises---

Rabaul Leaflet

I did not want to add this plain text leaflet in this section with all the full-color images. However, it is very interesting because we know it was dropped on Rabaul, and we know the date. That is very rare on a propaganda leaflets. The Japanese wanted Rabaul and intended to make it a Pacific fortress. The attack was called Operation R and launched against the Australian troops known as Lark Force. Japanese forces landed on 22 April 1942 and attacked the following day. They were victorious and held the island until August, 1945. The leaflets were dropped by seaplane. The text is:

To the Officers and Soldiers of This Island!

SURRENDER AT ONCE!

And we will guarantee your life, treating you as war prisoners. Those who RESIST US WILL BE KILLED ONE AND ALL. Consider seriously, you can find neither food nor way of escape in this island and you will only die of hunger unless you surrender. January 23rd 1942.

Japanese Commander in Chief

Fake Japanese Propaganda Leaflets

As we have done in so many other articles, we must warn the reader to only purchase leaflets from trusted veterans that brought them back from the Pacific. Australia seems to have become a hotbed for counterfeits and forgeries and here a dealer offers nine fake Japanese leaflets for $8.32 U.S. I do not see any mention of reproduction on the individual leaflets. Each of these leaflets could be resold for $30 to 40, so the danger of these being resold as genuine for profit is clear.

REPRODUCTION WW2 Japanese Produced Leaflets

Dropped on the Australian Troops in New Guinea. Set Includes Nine (9) Reproduced Leaflets from the war. All are reproduced from Originals of Wartime Make - All are Full Color. Set Includes Three (3) that Fold Out to reveal a further message

Ticket to Armistice

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:

TICKET TO ARMISTACE

USE THIS TICKET, SAVE YOUR LIFE AND YOU WILL BE KINDLY TREATED.

Follow these instructions:

Come towards our lines waving a white flag. Strap your gun over your left shoulder muzzle down and pointed behind you. Show this ticket to the sentry. Any number of you may surrender with this one ticket.

This is followed by Japanese text:

Surrender ticket

The bearer(s) of this ticker has surrendered.

It is strictly forbidden to kill him (them).

Commander, Japanese Army forces

The leaflet ends with the English sentence:

Sing your way to Peace pray for Peace.

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

The Japanese Propaganda Movie Calling Australia.

The Japanese are known to have made on very interesting propaganda movie for use against the Australians. The movie used Australian prisoners-of-war and it is unsure if they took part voluntarily or under duress. The movies shows all the prisoners in clean, starched uniforms, eating hot meals in recreation clubs, drinking various beers and liquors, being paid a monthly stipend and even swimming in a country-club style pool. It is an amazing propaganda piece. Considering that something like 27% of Japanese POWs did not survive the war, I doubt that many Australians were fooled by this motion picture. Prisoners of war from Australia held by the Japanese were subject to murder, beatings, summary punishment, brutal treatment, forced labor, medical experimentation, starvation rations and poor medical treatment. No access to the POWs was provided to the International Red Cross.

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 horseback 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 rout out the British

This Man is Foolish

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:

Those who think of resisting the Japanese would be foolish!

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."

Malaya Leaflet

The Japanese swept across Malaya quickly after their 8 December 1941 invasion, moving through what was thought to be impassable jungle. In this leaflet that the finder has dated 5 February 1942, the Japanese tell the Empire soldiers that British and Australian soldiers are secretly leaving Singapore while the people riot. It warns the Malayan and Indian soldiers that they will soon be alone and encourages them to cooperate with the Japanese. Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, Commander of Allied forces in Singapore surrendered about 130,000 Allied troops to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. The fall of Singapore was the largest surrender in British military history.

We shoot at the enemy

This strange Japanese leaflet to the Malays shows a Polish soldier (one assumes a Free Pole who fled to Britain after his nation fell), forcing a tearful Malayan to attack the Japanese. Notice that the soldier holds a semi-naked Malay woman under his left arm. The Japanese carefully shoot at the Pole with rifles, artillery and aircraft. They are trying to show that if a Malayan is hit it is purely by accident. The text is:

The Polish army claims to support you, but instead is your enemy.

We will be shooting only at the enemy

England and America

This leaflet would appear to be for India since it has the message in Hindi and Bengali. It depicts Japanese fighter-bombers attacking land and sea targets as Churchill weeps at the top and Roosevelt weeps at the bottom. The text is:

Malaya

England and America are finished

Air [Power?]

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.

Stop Useless Resistance

Another Japanese leaflet for Hong Kong, this one aimed solely at the British. A Japanese bomb drops toward a lone British soldier and the text that says in part:

When the Japanese force makes it attack, Hongkong cannot be escaped from the most fierce bombardment by the Japanese Air Armada. Even with no aid from the land force, it is certain that Hongkong will be smashed into pieces from the air. British officers, we appeal you to consider the very fact. Do not kill your men in meaningless resistance!

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.

Cooperation with Japan

This amazing leaflet looks almost like a gambling den. My translator suspects it was used in one of the old British colonies like Hong Kong or Singapore. Chinese are seen gathering around a Japanese business where the money flows like water. To their left is a boarded up British establishment with perhaps Churchill on the balcony doing no business at all. The text tells the Chinese that working with Japan will make them wealthy, staying with England will make them poor. The text is:

Cooperate with England and youll lose all your money

Cooperate with Japan now and make a fortune

The power of England in East Asia has completely collapsed

English goods trading company

Pro-Japanese store

Japanese goods

Make fortune by cooperating with Japan

Chun Guis Dream

I love this Japanese leaflet to the Chinese because it reminds me of other leaflets. At the top we see soldiers dead in the barbed wire. The Germans produced similar leaflets for the French showing both French and American soldiers dead in the wire. To the left of the Chinese soldier is a question mark. In Vietnam the United States produced a very similar leaflet coded Q-237 showing a Viet Cong wondering about the war with a large question mark to his right. This leaflet and the one following both seem to have been used in the same place; Guangdong province. The text on the front appears to be a parody of an old Tang dynasty poem:

Pitiful bones by the river on Yunnans frontier - Just like the man in Chun Guis dream.

This refers to an ancient story about a woman whose newlywed husband was drafted into the forces of a warlord. She dreamed that he had died in battle. The site of the scene (Yunnans border) indicates that in both cases the leaflets were aimed at soldiers drafted from Guangdong province for fighting in the south. The back of the leaflet has directions for surrender, offering to let the holder either enroll in the army of the "ew China" (the Japanese puppet state in Nanjing) or return home to Guangdong. Those who have killed American, British, or Chiang Kai-shek troops are offered favorable terms, as is also the case with anyone carrying important documents when they defect. There is also Japanese text at the back left instructing Japanese troops to respect the terms of surrender.

No Sooner has one of us Fallen

This Japanese leaflet clearly shows the Chinese soldiers that the British see them as nothing better than shields to be used as protection against Japanese fire. The British soldier hides behind the bodies of two dead Chinese soldiers. He lives as the soldiers are shot to pieces. The text on the front is:

No sooner has one of us fallen than another enters the breach!

The leaflet targets men from the Guangdong provincial fishing villages who had been drafted into the Republican forces. The image implies that they are dying like flies for the sake of the foreigners. As in the leaflet above, the back of the leaflet has directions for surrender, offering to let the holder either enroll in the army of the "New China" or return home to Guangdong.

Hankou is Rioting

This strange Japanese leaflet to the Chinese depicts Chang Kai-shek fleeing with stolen money while the Japanese citizens of Hankou are beaten and killed by members of the Chinese Revolutionary Army. The text is:

The Chang Kai-shek government is completely collapsing

Chang Kai-shek is fleeing with bribe money

Hankou is rioting

Refugees are flooding into Wuhan. Huangs army is robbing refugees. All of Hankou has become Hell.

This leaflet might be in reference to the Hankou (AKA Hankow) Incident. It occurred on 3 April 1927 when the National Revolutionary Army of China invaded the Japanese concession in Hankou, engaged in vandalism and looting, and attacked Japanese residents and consular staff. Some reports suggest that the incident occurred at the instigation of the Chinese Communist Party; however the riots were initially sparked by an altercation between Japanese marines and Chinese workers. The Japanese would seem to be claiming that they were the injured party and justify their invasion and occupation of much of China. General Huang Xing was a Chinese revolutionary leader and statesman, and the first army commander-in-chief of the Republic of China.

Chang Kai-sheks wish

The second leaflet of this trio is a bit more colorful but I believe it is also from the same artist. Once again it mentions Hankou and it seems to be a divide and conquer" leaflet. Chang Kai-shek is at the center with a whip. He apparently wants to bring all the Chinese military under his control. At the left we see his happy Central Army smiling and eating. At the right he sacrifices the local armies and sends them to the front to fight the Japanese. The text on the leaflet is:

Chang Kai-sheks wish  Keep the Central Army  Reform the Local Armies

To his troops:

You can have a fulfilling meal. The local armies will be wiped out by the Japanese soon. Lets prepare to leave Hankou quickly.

To the local armies:

Go! You must hold the line to the death or face the firing squad.

This sort of divide and conquer leaflet is quite common. In WWII we told the German Army that Himmlers Waffen SS was better treated and better armed. In the Korea War we told the North Koreans that the Chinese were using them as cannon fodder. We told the Serbian Army that they were being besmirched and their reputation smeared by the actions of the Interior Ministry Police. Here the Japanese attempt to split the Chinese forces by telling them that the Central Army sits and rests while the local forces are killed.

Bai Chongxi

This leaflet appears to be from the same artist that did the one above. Bai Chongxi was a Muslim general who had a tumultuous relationship with Chiang Kai-shek but ended up a powerful figure in the post-1949 government on Taiwan. He had apparently fought Chiang during the 1930s and then sided with him during the war with Japan. Perhaps the Japanese were courting the friendship of the Muslims. It seems they were working on a divide and conquer strategy with this leaflet. It features a Muslim Kuomintang general (Bai Chongxi), with the support of Muslims and regional military heads, fighting Chiang Kai-shek who was portrayed as Stalin's puppet.

The leaflet depicts the two men fighting, Bai Chonghi on the left and Chang on the right. Chang is held on a string by Stalin. Muslim and local military leaders watch the fight at the left. The text is:

The Red Devil controls Chang Kai-shek in order to eat away your lands and ruthlessly oppress the people

Bai Chongxi stands up against Chang Kai-shek

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.

Happy New Year

This colorful Japanese poster to China depicts U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek in his inside pockets. Japanese bullets fly through the coat and both Churchill and Chiang are injured.

The back of the poster bears two cartoon-like pictures, the first showing American planes and vehicles trying to move through a mountain pass and being attacked by the Japanese. The title of the picture is Supporting Chiang Route and refers to the supply routes used by Britain and the U.S. to get arms and munitions to Chiangs Nationalist Army. The second picture depicts Europeans and Chinese trying to climb walls carrying heavy bags (booty?) to escape the approaching Japanese. It says Street of Physical Strength Improvement as if it were an exercise routine. The leaflet is in the form of a New Years Greeting and says Happy New Year.

To Chongqing's Expeditionary Force

During WWII, Chungking was Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's provisional capital. Today the city is known as Chongqing. This Japanese all-text leaflet attacks the workforce trying to repair the Burma Road and asks them to defect to the Japanese forces. The Burma Road was a road linking Burma with the southwest of China. Its terminals were Kunming, Yunnan, and Lashio, Burma. This 717-mile road was a main supply route for the Chinese. The road was not freed from Japanese occupation until 28 January 1945. There is a map of the Chinese-Burmese border on the other side of the leaflet. The leaflet code is AB.116. The text is:

To Chongqings Expeditionary Force

Everyone! What will you obtain by fighting or being incited to fight for the Anglo-American forces in the plague-ridden Chinese-Burmese borderland under the sugar-coated slogans of Open Up the Burma Road and Take Back Burma? All you get is death by fighting, death by illness, suffering wounds, getting diseases, and death by starvation. These are the only things the Anglo-American forces give you as compensation for your activities. Everyone! Give up this meaningless war of resistance and flee to the virtue-abiding Sino-Japanese allied force now, and build a new China together! Army of Greater Japan

On the back of the leaflet is a map showing Kweilin in the center, Sichuan to the northwest, French Indochina to the southwest and Canton to the southeast. The text is:

The Japanese army has captured Kweilin and Liuchow

Japanese Imperial General Headquarters Communiqué (November 11, 1630 hrs) In the Central China area very powerful Japanese military units undertook combat operations beginning in the last ten days in May, to the final days in June, in quick succession operations were completed at Liuchow November 10 at 10 am, and on the same day at noon, Kweilin was completely occupied; in addition, at the same time in the said area, a number of American air bases were totally destroyed, protecting our position of strength.

(Reported: Chungkings 31st Army defending Kweilin has completely surrendered)

A Japanese Leaflet to the People of Okinawa

As the war neared its inevitable end, the Japanese military was forced to propagandize its own subjects. The first American large-scale use of PSYOP in the Pacific was the Okinawa campaign. U.S. forces on Saipan printed more than six million leaflets to be dropped on Japanese troops and Okinawan civilians. Loudspeaker teams were used in depth. The result was the surrender of 11,409 prisoners of war. Up until the Okinawa campaign it was believed that Japanese troops could not be convinced to surrender. The Okinawan PSYOP campaign proved the fallacy of that theory.

The Japanese prepared a propaganda leaflet in an attempt to lift the morale of the people of Okinawa and enlist them in the defense of the island. It is written in an archaic Japanese and very difficult to translate today. The leaflet says:

Announcement

Beyond a doubt the hateful, ugly Americans will land on Okinawa . Swear on the Imperial Graves; pledge to die a martyr. Citizens of Okinawa , you want to protect the empire!! Once the enemy comes you have to follow the five provisions on the left and endeavor with your life to annihilate them. Dont give the enemy even one drop of water.

Dont let the enemy help themselves to stores of provisions.

Dont permit the enemy to make use of your fields and rice paddies.

Dont permit the enemy to peacefully sleep in even the most humble dwelling.

Dont permit even one enemy to remain on the island. Citizens of Okinawa , all together, with every stick and stone shielded with the support of the Imperial Throne, destroy the ugly Americans. The militarys divine secret plan is to annihilate the American enemy. Continue to charge.

April 1, 1945

Local Military Commander

Other Japanese Propaganda

Indonesia

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.

Do Not be a Victim

This Japanese leaflet depicts a British soldier firing from behind a pile of dead Indonesians. It says:

Do not be a victim for the British

Thus, despite

This leaflet tells the Indonesians that the British will always treat them like dogs. Although they have worked for the British and tried to obey the laws, the British will always beat them down. Here, a British soldier stomps the men down with a big hob-nailed boot. The text is:

Thus, despite working for British

These were his supporters

This leaflet depicts what appears to be an Australian soldier who has killed an Indonesian man and is in the process of taking his woman. The message implies that those that supported the British have been betrayed. The text is:

These were his supporters among you. Look at how things are going now

Devil

The Japanese leaflet to the Indonesians depicts a British soldier sitting back and drinking whiskey while the Indonesians pray. Notice that the Cross is displayed prominently. The message is short and to the point:

Devil

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 by the Ministry of Communications and Transportation and sold in a fancy decorated folder. That is the only war-related postal card set issued by that ministry. 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."

We will Never stop Attacking

This official patriotic postcard printed by the Japanese Army Art Association depicts an infantry Senior Private with fixed bayonet attacking forward followed by tanks while stepping on the American and British flags. The text on the front starts with a line from an 8th Century Japanese poem followed by some data about usage and the artist:

We will never stop attacking

The 38th Army Memorial Day

Ministry of the Army

Painted by Saburo Miyamoto

Japanese Patriotic Seals

The Japanese produced an 8-page booklet containing 48 patriotic seals that could be placed on envelopes or just about anywhere you wanted to show your zeal for victory. The booklet says on the front:

Practice the Path of Loyalty

Please use these patriotic seals on letters and parcels.

The back of the booklet bears the Japanese Rising Sun flag and the text:

Imperial Assistance

Please use these patriotic seals on letters and parcels.

There are six seals in all, with the text reading from the top left to right, top to the bottom.

Be grateful to the spirits of the war dead. Praise forever the immortal loyal soul

National Defense - sacrifice for the country. Patriotic seal.

Comfort to the wounded soldiers. Care for the honorable wound.

Practice the path of loyalty. Imperial assistance.

Counter-intelligence. The spy takes advantage of negligence.

Comfort to the soldiers in the battle front. Comfort bag. The battle front relies on a secure home front.



Japanese Propaganda Postcard for Occupied Nations

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.

Never get caught in the enemy's conspiracies

This anti-Allies Japanese Army Quartermaster Department postcard depicts President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill as spiders capturing Japanese people in their nets. Japanese propaganda often depicts enemy leaders as spiders. We show an example for the Indians in part 3 of this story. The text in the center and bottom is:

Never get caught in the enemy's conspiracies!!

Espionage Prevention depends on each persons awareness rather than authoritative control

Black-marketing and purchase in excess is the first step on the way to conspiracies

The text around the characters on the card is:

Irresponsible rumors; Demagogy; Leak of confidential information; Black-marketing; Luxury; Excessive purchases.

The Song of Air Raid on the Mainland of the United States

During WWII the Japanese would hold contests for the best patriotic song. In this case the winner of the competition by the magazine Business World was The Song of Air Raid on the Mainland of the United States. The song was printed on this propaganda postcard that depicted the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C being bombed by Japanese airplanes while President Franklin D. Roosevelt looks out the window in tears. The lyrics are:

At last, we have accomplished the great air raid.

Look at New York & Washington.

Black smoke making a cloud

White walls scattering in the skyscraper.

The Japanese Sun Flag raised in the enemy ruined capital city,

Banzai , Banzai , the great air raid.

During WWII, the Japanese planned a potentially devastating air raid against New York City and Washington, DC. The classified Japanese program required a squadron of top secret submarines, the Sen-toku or I-400 class, designed as underwater aircraft carriers. Each submarine carried three Aichi M6A1 attack bombers painted to look like U.S. aircraft. The bombers, called Seiran (storm from a clear sky), were tucked in a huge, water-tight hanger on the subs deck. The mission was to travel around the world, surface on the U.S. coast, and launch their deadly air attack. It would have been a terrific moral victory and morale booster if the Japanese could have accomplished this mission.

Captured U.S. V-Mail

During WWII, American soldiers were issued very thin letter blanks known as V-mail (Victory mail). The idea was that the letters were very light and thus more could be carried in an airplane raising the morale of both the soldiers and their civilian families. During the American invasion of the Japanese island of Okinawa in April 1945, several of these letters were apparently captured by the Japanese and propaganda messages were placed on them. I have seen two such letters. One letter blank has the message:

Dear American Komerad

Think of your old mother gazing at west sky and longing to see you! Think your darling embracing your portrait and crying hot tears! You must be alive by all means. Dont you want to enjoy your youth, dance, wine and jazz again?

It is interesting that the Japanese writer used the German Kamerad instead of the English Comrade. I wonder if he was motivated by his German allies. The second captured V-letter says:

Dear American Soldier

Dont you know that this operation to Okinawa is destroying your glorious mother land? Your useless battle will fat the dogs in Okinawa by yourselves corpse. Imagine to your wife crying at the sad news.

Besides all the obvious grammatical errors, I find it interesting that the Japanese writer uses the term Mother land. The German use of Fatherland was well known during the war, but I have never heard the term Motherland used in Connection with the United States of America . It is just not a term that Americans use.

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.