[TSUCHIKURA, SŌMEI]. 土倉宗明.

大東亜戦争図. [Daitōa Sensōzu].
[1942 General Election Campaign Leaflet for Tsuchikura Sōmei with a Pacific War Map].

[Japan]. 土倉宗明. [Tsuchikura, Sōmei]. Showa 17 [ 1942]. Stock ID #176772

Black and white map, black and white photographic illustration, 38 x 53 cm, Japanese text on reverse. Small closed tears at margin, neatly repaired with archival washi. Evenly browned with a central vertical fold, this scarce campaign leaflet is in very good condition.

During the 1942 general election in Japan the government tried to control the number of candidates and their political positions. This election is generally known as the Yokusan (翼賛) Election. This campaign leaflet featuring a Pacific War map was distributed by one of the candidates, Tsuchikura Somei. It illustrates the atmosphere and social situation of the period vividly.

Tsuchikura entered politics in 1914 after joining Rikken Seiyukai which was founded by Ito Hirobumi. He was elected to the national diet four times in the period before this campaign leaflet was printed. In the 1942 election, he stood as an independent because he could not obtain a party ticket under the government controlled election. He was unsuccessful, however in the post-war period, he was successful in returning.

This leaflet features a large map of the Pacific War as at April 1942 with many Japanese flags showing Japanese victories throughout the Southeast Asia and bombs indicating locations such as Darwin that had been attacked. National territories and occupied areas are coloured in black and friendly nations, such as Thailand, are indicated with a series of diagonal lines. The message of this campaign leaflet is to vote for Tsuchikura so that Japan could win the war by defeating the US, Britain and Chongqing (forces in China). On reverse, two messages to the voters are printed. The first tells voters that Tsuchikura should be re-elected to the Diet because of his broad experience in national politics. Below this there is a joint recommendation by eight prominent citizens assuring voters that Tsuchikura would work hard to achieve victory in the Greater East Asia War.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 176772.

Price: $500.00 AU

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