1920's Robot & Monster Art : Japanese Menko Cards

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1920s-Robot-Monster-Art-Japanese-Menko-Cards-vintage-antique-toy-military-war-/121992167753?hash=item1c674cc149

This is how people in the 1920's thought Robots would look like. 

WW1 had changed the warfare.

Science & machinery became vital. And, war became more terrifying. 

These cards might reflect that.

Nanbokucho Era Samurai Kusunoki Masashige symbolized for patriotism in Japan / 1930's Japanese Woodblock Print Art Postcards Commemorative for the Army Special Large Scale Maneuvers in Kansai Region / Art of Samurai Battle & Shrine relating to Kansai (Osaka , Kyoto, Nara) History ( vintage antique postcards )

1930's Japanese Woodblock Print Art Postcards Commemorative for the Army Special Large Scale Maneuvers in Kansai Region / Art of Samurai Battle & Shrine relating to Kansai (Osaka , Kyoto, Nara) History

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Japanese-Woodblock-Print-Art-Postcards-Army-Drill-samurai-history-shrine-/112002653567?hash=item1a13e0dd7f

Memorial stamp saying

 "Commemorative for the Army Special Large Scale Maneuvers 14 Nov, Showa 7 (1932) The Imperial Headquarters Post "

 " Kusunoki Masashige ", symbolized for patriotism during the modern japan's wartime.

He is well known for his loyalty to the Emperor GoDaigo  in the 14th century ( so called "   Nanbokucho period ") during conflicts between the samurai government & the emperor trying to have actual & solid sovereign power back just like "their good ancient aristocracy times".

Kusunoki Masashige's hatajirushi (Flag)

( his family crest, Kikusui-mon = floating chrysanthemum)

( the Emperor Godaigo gave Kusunoki the chrysanthemum seal,

the same one as the Emperor's, as a reward for his loyalty & valor,

but Kusunoki humbly thought it was too much & he was unworthy of it,

then added floating water mark to it to show his modesty.

1910's Japanese WW1 Postcards Commemorative for Bringing the Seized German Submarines U-boat / World War I / Japanese Navy Fleet dispatch to the Mediterranean and the Cape of Good Hope at British Royal Navy request

1910's Japanese WW1 Postcards Commemorative for Bringing the Seized German Submarines

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1910s-Japanese-WW1-Postcards-German-Submarines-vintage-photo-navy-war-military-/112002658251?hash=item1a13e0efcb

Memorial stamp saying 
"Commemorative for bringing in the seized German submarines , Taisho 8 (1919) "

To reinforce the countermeasure against German destroying sea traffic with U-boats,
Britain requested Japan to dispatch a destroyer fleet to the Mediterranean and a cruiser fleet to the Cape of Good Hope.
Although those areas were not vital to the Japan's defense, 
in order to secure rights and interests in the territories under Japanese occupation.,
the leased territory of Jiaozhou and the South Sea Islands, that had been taken from Germany,
Japan dispatched Navy forces successively.
As for Army, they fought Germany in their territory, Qingdao, in which a British regiment joined on Japan's side.
By the way, Japan also was requested to send several infantry divisions to the European front, but they rejected it.

"Gashin Shotan to insult " of The triple Intervention (returning the Liaodong Peninsula ) after First Sino Japanese War that led to Russo Japanese War / 1930's Japanese Army Propaganda Postcards "Japan's Status Before & 30 Years After Russo Japanese War" "See the Japan's Progress" / Anti Russia Art , Manchukuo Manchuria Propaganda / vintage antique postcards

1930's Japanese Army Postcards "Japan's Status Before & 30 Years After Russo Japanese War" "See the Japan's Progress"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Army-Propaganda-Postcards-manchuria-manchukuo-russia-Russo-Japanese-War-/121992207609?hash=item1c674d5cf9

Cards say...

Japan was  weak to surrender to "the insult" of the Triple Intervention  in 1895 after First Sino-Japanese War, then fought against Russia, and 30 years later, had become strong to achieve the peace of the East Asia, foundation of Manchukuo and even secede from the the League of Nations in 1933, by remarking " See the Japan's progress".

The triple Intervention was perceived as an insult and fueled retaliatory sentiment against Russia among Japanese people.

Japanese government proceeded military expansion with the slogan "Gashin Shoutan" (endurance  of hardship).

Russian Civil War at Vladivostok 1910's , Gaidar , the Czech army ? / Japanese Army Vintage Antique Photo Postcards / White Russian Army vs. the Bolshevik Red Army soviet ( Japan's Siberian Intervention )

Late 1910's Japanese Army Photo Postcards Relating to the Intervention to the Russian Civil War at Vladivostok / White Russian forces vs. the Bolshevik Red Army

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Japanese-Army-Postcard-Russian-Civil-War-Vladivostok-soldiers-Bolshevik-/121992225919?hash=item1c674da47f

"Gaidar" said in these cards might be relevant to the Czech army, that fought against the Red army during the Russian civil war.

the ship Pechngar ( ex- Anekawa , Dispatch boat) ↓

Japanese Vintage Postcard : Japan and the Philippines in the 1930's / Manuel L. Quezon / Commonwealth of the Philippines

1935 Japanese Postcards Commemorative for "The Exposition of the Philippines Circumstances"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Japanese-Postcards-Philippines-Exposition-Manuel-L-Quezon-antique-rare-/112002645627?hash=item1a13e0be7b

Since the early Meiji Era, roughly speaking, there had been two doctrines of foreign policies in Japan,"Nanshin Ron" ( Southern Expansion Doctrine ) & "Hokushin Ron" (Northern Expansion Doctrine).

After the Wars with China and Russia, Japan's basic national policy became " The Northern Expansion Doctrine", and "The Southern" remained as a non-governmental and non-mainstream, civilian based foreign policy.

In the 1930's, when the Commonwealth of the Philippines was about to be established, many Japanese intellectuals began to recognize the necessity of interactions with the Philippines, and made several associations to promote it.

At that time, their policy advocated mostly economic advance and was not linked to Japan's territorial expansion and military advance.

Also , it was on civilian basis and still not Japan's mainstream foreign policy.

But, later soon, Japan officially started towards "The Southern" , that held a military aspect, as we all know.

1930's Japanese New Year Greeting vintage antique Postcard : Mickey Mouse Playing War "Happy New Year, Banzai " Disney

1930's Japanese New Year Greeting vintage antique Postcard : Mickey Mouse Playing War "Happy New Year, Banzai "

Disney films started coming to Japan in the late 1920's to early 1930's. Government & Military knew US could be Japan's future enemy because of what was happening in China, but People largely welcomed & loved this imported culture. About 10 years later, people lost this culture. Pacific War started.