In December 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army embarked on the so-called "Nanshin-ron" or "Strike South" Campaign. The Strike South Campaign included attacks against Euro-American colonies in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, British Malaya, Singapore, and Burma (contemporary Myanmar). The Imperial Japanese Army needed to capture these colonies because of their abundance of raw materials, including rubber, tin, and oil. These resources were vital to Japan's war effort in China.​

by Austin Chen

On September 18th, 1931, Japan blew up a part of its own railroad built by the South Manchuria Railway, claimed that the Chinese installed the bomb, and outrageously attacked Manchuria. Shortly after this Invasion of Manchuria, Japan established a puppet state—Manchukuo—and invited the already deposed emperor—Puyi—as the leader of this new state. Though Japan was the actual controller of Manchukuo, Puyi was still the nominal emperor. Therefore, it is a firm question why Japan did not abolish Puyi and annex Manchuria into Japan's territory? Especially since the Empire of Japan had already annexed Korea, which indicated that annexation of Manchuria was possibly applicable. ​

by Jack Bradley 

"Nanshin-ron," Southern Expansion doctrine, was proposed by the Japanese Navy to solve Japan's resource crisis–of which the most critical resource was oil. The U.S. had just imposed an oil embargo, and as the U.S. was the supplier of 80% of Japan's oil, the Japanese economy was now effectively being held hostage by America. As a result, Japan was forced to find another source of oil quickly. Therefore, the Japanese Navy proposed a blitzkrieg expansion throughout the Southeastern Pacific. One of the most important objectives was the large oil reserves in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia).

by Evan Thompson

As mentioned in the previous post, Shiro Ishii strongly believed that biological weapons were the future of warfare. Unsurprisingly, Ishii’s doctrine resulted in extensive weapons experimentation, with various ways to deliver dangerous cultures such as bubonic plague and other virulent bacteria. One such weapon came in the form of the “Mark 7” Bomb. More details about the bomb were in declassified American documents. For example, notebooks from professors captured on Kwajalein Atoll contained information regarding a “Special Bomb Mark 7.” Another notebook belonged to a Japanese flying trainee. Otokichi also contained information relating to a “Special Mark 7  Bacillus Bomb.”

by Evan Thompson

​In 1932, Surgeon General Shiro Ishii was in charge of the Army Epidemic Prevention Research Laboratory (AEPRL). Ishii, who had had a lengthy military career up to this point, had a prominent background in medicine. After earning his medical degree from Kyoto Imperial University in 1920, Ishii joined the Imperial Army under the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant. Ishii quickly proved to be a skilled social climber as he quickly rose through the army ranks. 

Sofia Woo

by Grace Wong

With the Japanese occupation of much of Southeast and East Asia during World War II, the Allies needed a way to deliver British and American supplies to resistance fighters and the areas still free in the China-Burma-India Theater, specifically in Western China. Two main routes were used: one was crossing the Burma Road, and the other was “flying the hump” over the Himalayas.

by Grace Wong

​Vietnam during WWII existed in a curious state. It had been a colony of France since the 1880s, but the Japanese began stationing troops in the territory, then known as Indochina, in 1940. The French – fearing an all-out invasion and takeover of Vietnam and having been weakened at home in Europe by the Nazi occupation – opted for a state of coexistence with the Japanese instead. ​

by Janki Patel

The Battle of Ngakyedauk is also known as the Battle of Sinzweya, more commonly referred to as the defense of the Admin Box. This battle took place at the southern front of Burma in February 1944 in the Southeast Asian Theatre of World War II. The Allies, which consisted of British, Indian, and Chinese troops, were driven away by the Imperial Japanese Army. However, the Allied forces were not appropriately trained initially, which allowed the Japanese Army Air Force to raid Calcutta and many other Indian cities. As a result, the raids, the Imperial Japanese Army recaptured Burma.