This week we have something a little different. In the Lafayette College Libraries’ East Asian digital collection, there are images from a set of 48 “Japanese History Study Cards” from 1935. Aiming to “make entrance examination preparation truly fun,” it was supposed to teach elementary school children phrases about Japanese national history. Of course, Japan was gearing up for Super Fun War Times, so all the cards are related to “soldiering and martial values.” And thus you get some bizarre blending of children’s drawings and implied brutality.
Some of my favorites:
"The bomb-dropping flying corps."
See? Dropping bombs is a friendly activity. The little green pellets of friendship rain down from a happy little bluebird. Well, maybe happy is the wrong word. Those eyes kind of suggest “mind control technology.”
"The Yell that Accompanies a Bayonet Thrust."
You should always keep your mouth wide open while bayoneting someone, the better to catch the spray of blood and gore and consume your enemy’s power.
"Octopus-shaped gas mask"
Poison gas attacks are adorable.
"In the blink of an eye, it takes only a single blow."
What is this soldier striking down in a single blow? Is it a beaver? A giant squirrel? I did not realize these things were major national security threats in Japan.
"Heave-Ho! The artillery squad pushes the gun carriage."
A naked baby leads a rabbit, a masked monkey and a bear in a cannon charge. Note that both the rabbit and the monkey are more clothed than the commanding baby. I am not sure that promoting infants to commanding positions is a wise tactical strategy, but then giving a cannon to a bear is also questionable.
"The Robotic Soldier Works Splendidly."
Holy crap, Japan had robot soldiers in WWII? And they were evil robot soldiers, from the look of things. How did they not win? Also, I suppose those are supposed to be bullets hitting it, but they look kind of like angry cotton spiders.