Singapore fell so quickly that most of the locals were stunned. It took some time before they realised that the colonial regime had collapsed. The Japanese proclaimed themselves the "liberators" of Singapore when they took control on Feb 16, 1942. Singapore was renamed Syonan - Light of the South. The Japanese completely changed the face of the towns, replacing all signs with Japanese symbols and propaganda. Within days, the streets of Singapore could have easily passed off as a Japanese city.
300 tons of ‘banana’ notes in Kuala Lumpur (ST, Oct 10, 1945)	The clocks were put forward by 1½ hours in line with Tokyo time. Major newspapers were taken over by the Japanese, and radio broadcasts were made up mainly of Japanese propaganda and cultural programmes. The Japanese language was introduced in schools, and the Japanese currency, replaced the British currency. It later became known as valueless ‘banana money’. The Syonan Sinbun, Feb 2, Koki 2603: Major newspapers were taken over by the Japanese On the anniversary of the fall of Singapore, the Syonan Times was replaced by Syonan Shimbun The Japanese asked the locals to transfer their loyalty to Japan. They were not given a choice. Obey or die.
Tapioca production in Malai greatly increased (The Syonan Shimbun, March 2, Syowa 19) Tapioca -- a war-time staple My father said he ate tapioca, tapioca and tapioca!   For dessert he had...what else?	The 3½ years of Japanese occupation were years of hunger, and making-do for the ordinary people. Rationing became a fact of life. You could not buy what you wanted. You got only a fixed amount of things, like rice. The scarcity of goods soon sent prices sky-rocketing and a flourishing black market sprang up. The people started growing their own vegetables. Tapioca was a hot favourite. Those with bits of backyard reared poultry for their meat and eggs. Order was strictly maintained by the Kempeitai (the Japanese Military Police). The Kempeitai were brutal and cold-blooded. People lived in constant fear of them. In many cases, ordinary people were tortured or executed on mere suspicion, or for disrespect to Japanese soldiers. Yet, hunger and poverty forced some to steal food from shops. Those caught were dealt with harshly -- the Kempeitai cut their heads off and displayed them in public. As the days dragged on, many were not sure if they would survive the Occupation as the Japanese became more harsh, cruel and erratic in the way they ran the country. Looters were executed and their heads displayed in public
	The Europeans and the Chinese suffered the most under Japanese rule. Civilians were forced to do the long march from Katong to Changi Prison, without food or basic conveniences. Treatment of PoWs was harsh -- prisoners were often tortured and forced to do manual labour at construction sites and at the harbour. It included working on the infamous Burma-Siam (Thailand) Railway. Few returned from this hell hole. The Japanese were angry with the Chinese, because the local Chinese had provided help to the Chinese during the Sino-Japanese War. Their hatred ended in Operation Sook Ching -- a mass killing to "purge" or "eliminate" suspected anti-Japanese elements among the Chinese from Singapore. On Feb 18, 1942, many Chinese were driven from their homes and assembled at five major "registration camps" to be screened. Many were dragged out of their homes at bayonet point. No standard procedure was followed at the centres. In some centres, women and children were released while the men, and even boys, were herded into trucks and driven away, never to be seen again. In other centres, the Kempeitai condemned people at will, sometimes sending entire families to their death.
What is this chop of life?	The lucky ones were given a "chop" of life -- rubber stamped with the word ‘Examined’ in Chinese. However, many who were cleared were re-arrested at the slightest excuse and then killed. Thousands of local Chinese died in Operation Sook Ching. The official death figure was 6,000, but unofficial figures ranged from 25,000 to 50,000. The Japanese also forced a $50 million ‘gift’ out of the Malayan Chinese. The task of raising $10 million, Singapore’s share of the $50 million, fell on the Overseas Chinese Association. The Japanese had ordered that the Association be formed to convey Japanese orders to the Singapore Chinese.
Millionaires settle at Endau (The Syonan Shimbun, Feb 29, Syowa 19) A new farming village	As the war dragged on, basic food, especially rice, became extremely scarce. To solve this problem, the Japanese launched a "Grow more food" campaign. They ordered people to plant food crops on every available piece of land in Singapore. Still, the food shortage continued. Vegetable gardening a part of the school curriculum
Bahau, New Syonan settlers fast getting into their stride (The Syonan Shimbun, Feb 28 Syowa 19) Another farming village	In Aug 1943, the Overseas Chinese Association were asked to create a new farming village -- New Syonan -- in Endau in north east Johor. The Japanese wanted to resettle 30,000 people there under a voluntary migration programme. But only about 12,000 people went to Endau. The Eurasians were ordered to create Fuji Village at Bahau in Negri Sembilan, but the project failed.
Imperial rescript (The Syonan Shimbun, Aug 20, 2605) Jap report on its surrender Nippon’s acceptance of Potsdam Declaration (The Syonan Shimbun, Aug 21, 2606)	Mercifully, the horrors did not last. The Japanese could not sustain their military victories. Slowly, news of Allied victories in the Pacific and in Burma reached the people of Singapore. The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug 6 and Aug 9 ended the war. Japan was brought to its knees by the nuclear blasts. Japan formally surrendered on Aug 15, 1945. This was announced in Singapore on Aug 17. Locals celebrate the Japanese surrender Moses' start page Chee Beng's start page Leslie's start page Nura's start page Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
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