1930's Japanese Politics / Postcards : Poster Art for Election of the Diet Members / " senkyo shukusei undo " (election discipline movement)

Electoral fraud or vote rigging was one of huge political issues in Japan in the 1930's.

Government bureaucrats thought big influential parties & party politics itself were causing this problem, so, carried out a political movement called "senkyo shukusei undo" (election discipline movement) in order to weaken political parties. 

And, linking this movement with patriotism worked well to appeal to people.

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.

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.

Gratitude to Military Animals ( War horses , War dogs ) / Imperial Japanese Army

[ 1939 Japanese Vintage Army Postcard Memorial for "The Exhibition of Gratitude to Military Animals" held by Higashi (East) Honganji (Buddhism Temple) ] supported by Ministry of Army

( my website category relating to military animals )

The Emperor Meiji's Waka (japanese poem) relating to military animals.

[ Horses ]
" If they were human, tokens of honor would have been given to them, Now those wild horses stand in the military garden." ( = the stone monument memorial for dead war animals)

To realize the Emperor's grace, in the 1930's, the decorations for not only horses but war dogs & pigeons have been established.
Also, army held Buddhist memorial services for dead military animals, that is still being practiced now every year at the Yasukuni Shinto Shrine.

[ 1930's Japanese Army Postcards for the War Horse Festival & the Beloved Horse Memorial Day. ]

[ 1923 Japanese Athlete , Sport Poster Art Postcard " The 6th Far Eastern Championship Games " vintage antique ]

1923 Japanese Athlete , Sport Poster Art Postcard " The 6th Far Eastern Championship Games "

Far Eastern Championship Games, proposed by American , Elwood Brown, the director of the YMCA in Asia region, the president of the Philippine Athletic Association, in the 1910's, appeared initially to be somewhat the international goodwill games, but later could not be free from much of political factors or even conflicts.

Japan unhappy about America's leadership in the Asia region for this game, China in protest against Manchukuo's participation, delicate relation between US & Philippines seeking independence, China - Japan war as we all know..etc..

Eventually the games got renamed & turned to the event for the Asia Unity led by Japan, gathering mainly Japan's puppet states.

Vintage Japanese Army Postcards : The Honorable Regiment Flags ( Japanese rising sun flag )

[1910's Japanese Army Postcard "The Regiment Flags in the 4th Division"]

Traditionally Japanese Army Regiments were very proud of worn flags like the two in top,proving they went through lots of fierce battles. They did not replace with new ones.
Flags were always in forefront in battles, and Each regiments had a special platoon for guarding the flag.
When they were likely to be altogether destroyed, they burned the flag before final charge in order for it not to be surrendered to the enemy.


[1920's Japanese Army Panoramic Postcard "Army Review Commemorative for the Emperor's Enthronement / The selected regiments & the honorable regiment flags"]

The honorable worn flags proving they went through lots of fierce battles, had the privilege to take front row close to the Emperor.