Images of Militarism and Modernity in Japanese Wartime Propaganda in the Tribune

Abstract

Japanese propaganda in the Philippines during the Pacific War (1941–1945) was focused on enticing the Filipinos to cooperate with Japan, a stronger and more dependable ally than the Western Allies. Medical, military, engineering, and other marvels of Japanese technology were showcased to reinforce this image. The Japanese also championed a modern mindset packaged as uniquely ‘Asian’ – if not ‘Japanese’ – frequently juxtaposing themselves to their Filipino counterparts to emphasize their connection. This article examines the use of propaganda through a content analysis of images from the Tribune, the principal organ of propaganda of the Japanese in the Philippines. The analysis has identified two themes among the images presented in the Tribune: images of war and the military and images of Japanese modernity in technology and mindset. The article argues that these themes were instrumental in forwarding an image of Japanese supremacy. Studying Japanese propaganda is an opportunity to look at media strategies employed by the Japanese during the war and an attempt to investigate the ideas of militarism and modernity in relation to their discourse of superiority. Ultimately, this study is an exercise on the use of alternative historical sources and an application of critical perspectives in analyzing wartime propaganda.