"Fight until we win!"─
The entire country was caught up in the war structure.
In 1938, the government enacted the National
Mobilization Law to enable it to make war the highest priority for
the utilization of all persons and things. Denied the right to criticize
the war, the majority of the Japanese believed the government's announcements
and the government-controlled newspaper and radio news. Life was very
difficult. School instruction was tailored to implant the desire to
help win the war. The desire to "Fight until we win" pervaded the
entire country.
Poster announcing the "Order to Collect Metals"
As metals essential to weapons manufacture grew scarce, the military
took all metal products, from temple bells to household pots.
Around 1942
Collection: Hiroshima Municipal Archives
Young Air Force Pilots Small Citizens Weekly, Nov. 12, 1944 issue
Courtesy: Asahi Shimbun
Youth Tankman Small Citizens Weekly, March 11, 1945 issue
Courtesy: Asahi Shimbun
* All rights reserved by the Asahi
Shimbun.
In 1941, elementary schools became
"national schools."
Children were called "small citizens" and the content
of children's books was designed to foster support for the war.
