[WAKASAYA SHŌTEN]. 若狭屋商店.

愛国行進曲. [Aikoku kōshin kyoku].
[Propaganda Poster of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere].

[Japan]. 若狭屋商店. [Wakasaya Shōten]. Circa 1941. Stock ID #176805

Colour poster advertisement, 38 x 51 cm, a few small closed tears and chip on upper section neatly mended with archival washi, a little light soiling and barely visible creasing. Good copy of a very striking image.

This beautiful colour poster features many significant images for Japan in the early 1940s, just prior to the outbreak of the Pacific War. The central figure is a Japanese boy in military uniform with a sash which appears to indicate that he is an ambassador of peace in East Asia. He is shaking hands with a German boy who stands alongside an Italian boy clearly representing the tripartite alliance between Japan, Germany and Italy which was finalised in 1940. Behind the Japanese boy, four children from Manchuria, Mongolia, China, and Thailand are waving their own national flags.

In the background a world map shows military power of Japan, and its allies. The military strength of Britain, France, USA and Soviet are also shown. Next to the rising sun, the lyrics of Aikoku Koshinkyoku (the Patriotic Marching Song) are written. This song became very popular after 1937 and was sung almost as the semi-national anthem till the end of the Pacific War. The poster was distributed by a local grocer, Wakasaya, as an advertisement.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 176805.

Price: $750.00 AU

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