[JAPANESE PROPAGANDA FOR CHILDREN].

支那事変エマキ. [Shina Jihen emaki].
[Picture Scroll of the China Incident].

東京. [Tokyo]. 小学館. [Shōgakukan]. Showa 13 [ 1938]. Stock ID #176066

Accordion style propaganda booklet illustrated on one side in colour and on the reverse with photographic illustrations printed in blue ink, 19 x 235 cm, fold into 19 x 13.5 cm. A little light wear at edges but overall in very good condition.

This colour accordion booklet was issued as a supplement to "Shogaku 1-Nensei" (1st Grade Primary School Student), a children's monthly magazine, published by Shogakkan. The publisher issued educational magazines for each grade of primary school from 1922 and the abundant supplements with each issue attracted many readers. This booklet extends to over 200cm in length, with traditional Japanese accordion folds, so that parents could read stories to their children.

Published in February 1938, about 6 months after the China Incident the front cover shows a Japanese commanding officer entering a Chinese city on his horse with a Japanese flag and his soldiers behind him. The back cover shows Japanese soldiers giving away caramels to Chinese children. The booklet starts with a story of the Empress' kind and generous visit to injured soldiers in hospital visit. Eight illustrated panels follow, each panel tells a story of the brave soldiers who fought against the Chinese. The last panel shows Chinese farmers working in fields with Japanese national flags on their sleeves. The text says that the farmers were so grateful to the Japanese troops that they showed their appreciation by wearing Japanese flags! On the reverse there are stories about Japanese innovations in weaponry, photographs of their attacks, and scenes of fraternisations with the Chinese public. The last two panels show Army and Navy soldiers in their daily routine.

This interesting example of Japanese 1930s propaganda was aimed at teaching young children how brave Japanese soldiers were while at the same legitimising Japanese expansion into China. Another aim was to encourage young children to join the military either as conscripts or volunteers.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 176066.

Price: $325.00 AU

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