Hon sen'eki wa torô nomi [This war is useless]

Accession Number RC04867
Collection number Leaflets Collection (Far Eastern Liaison Office Leaflets) J8
Collection type Published Collection
Record type Item
Item count 1
Measurement Overall: 14 x 17 cm
Object type Leaflet
Maker Far Eastern Liaison Office
Date made 22 September 1942
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copying Provisions Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.
Description

A propaganda leaflet produced by the Far Eastern Liaison Office (FELO) during the Second World War. This leaflet is written in Japanese and was distributed to Australia. An English translation of the text is attached. The message on the leaflet states that Japanese people no longer have the spirit to fight and to win the war, and the war goes on because of the military cliques. It reports that Japan cannot win the war without invading the US, but Japan's strength is not at all sufficient to achieve the task. The message urges Japanese soldiers to follow the example of the Shogunate retainers at the time of the Meiji Restoration, who surrendered to the Satchô (pro-Emperor states) and survived to serve the country.