Japan entered the War with her surprise attack on the American air base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941 and overran the entire South East Asia within a few weeks. The Japanese Imperial General Headquarters in October set up the Fujiwara Kikan, or the F-kikan, in Bangkok, Headed by the Major Fujiwara Iwaichi, chief of intelligence of the 15th army. Tasked with intelligence gathering and contacting the Indian independence movement, the overseas Chinese, and the Malayan Sultan with the aim of encouraging friendship and cooperation with Japan, Fujiwara's staff included five commissioned officers and two Hindi-speaking interpreters.
Japan entered the war through its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, and swiftly captured all of Southeast Asia. In October, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters established the Fujiwara Kikan in Bangkok, headed by Major Fujiwara Iwaichi, who was tasked with intelligence gathering and communication with Indian independence activists, overseas Chinese communities, and Malayan sultans to encourage friendship and cooperation with Japan. His staff included five commissioned officers and two Hindi-speaking interpreters.