SECONDARY 2 HISTORY
Chapter 6: What Did the People in Singapore Experience During the Japanese Occupation?
Name: _Tan Jadon_____________ ( 28 )
Class: _2F______
Date: __15 September 2022__
How did the Japanese establish control in Singapore? (pg.5-19)
Using Force
Meting out harsh punishments
One of the methods the Japanese established control with is by meting out harsh punishments. The Japanese imposed harsh punishments on
criminals and other people seen to be enemies by the japanese. One example of this was when the Japanese put an end to the looting that
happened after the british surrendered by executing those that were caught.
This resulted in fear in the people which allowed the Japanese to take control of the them. The harsh punishments served as a
severe warning of the consequences of going against the Japanese, leading to people following what the Japanese wanted, giving
them control.
Another method the Japanese used was by creating the Kempeitai, the Japanese military police. The Kempeitai arrested, tortured, and beat
people such as prisoners of war, anti-japanese suspects until they revealed important information that was useful to them. As a result, those
who tipped off the Kempeitai on such suspects would be rewarded greatly, with food and cash rewards. This was done to encourage people to
support the Japanese in helping them get what they wanted, as well as to discourage the population from trusting each other and building
close ties with the japanese rulers instead. To further emphasise this point, those captured could be imprisoned or killed.
Over time, normal people learnt to mind their own business and not disturb or anger the Japanese by appearing disobedient or
rebellious. This was so as not to draw the unwanted attention of the Japanese authorities, as well as their wrath and punishments.
As a result of this, it caused those living in Singapore to be filled with a constant fear of being caught by the Japanese for doing which does not
please them, thus reinforcing the immense military-styled way that Singapore was being run by. This can be seen to the point that the
Japanese created a specific killing, tortuing and beating task force known as the Kempeitai, just keep anti Japanese sentiments under large
control, and to prevent others fro trying to rebell against them. Additionally, the Japanese still regularly maintained law and order in Singapore
by catching criminals, executing them, and then putting their heads on public display just to scare regular citizens into not going against the
law, or rather, the Japanese’s law and rule.
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In conclusion, these punishments and threats not to go against the Japanese emphasizes on the immense control that they wanted
to exert on the Singapore population, almost like a japanese military styled camp. This was a place that was controlled entirely by
the Japanese, from committing ordinary crimes, to voicing out opinions against them and being punished harshly for it. This thus
shows how much control the Japnese population had on Singapore that no one dared to do or say anything out of line with
Japanese rule, emphasising that they had near complete and authoritarian rule on the country.
Imprisoning Allied soldiers
The Japanese had imprisoned the British, Australians and Allied Europeans in Singapore after they had taken control of the island. The
soldiers were all forced to march in public from Bukit Timah Road to Changi Prison and the barracks nearby, which was where they would be
imprisoned. Many civilians passed the POWs food and money along the way despite the fact that they risked being punished by the Japanese.
By imprisoning the Allied soldiers, it had made the Allied soldiers look weak compared to the Japanese and thus the Japanese would stay in
power more easily. It would make the civilians afraid of the Japanese and this fear would cause them to feel insecure about
themselves, thus reinforcing the fact the Japanese were doing everything in their power to spread fear and control on them.
Furthermore, by doing this, it would cause the people to be even more insecure, adding to the fact that now the only protection they
use to have was gone. This combination of events and manipulation of emotions caused the people not to be fearful and trying to be
pleasing to their perpetrators who could subject them to both mental and physical torture.
As a result, this made the Japanese seem like the only law and protection that existed, thus reinforcing the control they exercised on
the population of singapore. This also shows that the control they created was extremely manipulative and strong, enough to make
people cower in fear and try to please others. (Ik this cuz i went thru it b4)
Carrying out Operation Sook Ching
The Japanese Kempeitai rounded up Chinese men aged between 18-50 years and examined them to determine if they were anti-Japanese or
not. Those that were identified as being anti-Japanese were stamped with a triangular marking and massacred while those that were
considered as ¨good¨ were stamped with a different marking and were allowed to go home. By carrying out this special operation, the
Kempeitai had hoped to eliminate the anti-Japanese sentiment in Singapore to prevent any resistance, allowing them to maintain
control.
Coercing the Chinese business community
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The Japanese Kempeitai demanded the Overseas Chinese Association (OCA) to give 50 million Straits dollars as a punishment for supporting
anti-Japanese war activities in China as well as British war efforts in Malaya and Singapore, this prevent the OCA from funding anti-Japanese
war activities, therefore, making it easier for the Japanese to establish control over the Chinese.
Winning Loyalty
Using Propaganda
In addition to using force to assert their authority, the Japanese also sought to win over the locals in order to establish control over Singapore.
One way they did so was to use propaganda to influence the minds of the people of Singapore and gain their loyalty. The Japanese portrayed
themselves as liberators who had come to free Asians from colonial rule. They tried to convince the locals to accept their vision of the Greater
East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in which Japan would free Asian nation from the control of Western colonial powers. This vision also pressed
for a united Asia that would benefit from sharing resources collectively. These messages were spread through various channels, such as
posters and radio broadcasts.
This made Japanese look very powerful and strong, thus making people in Singapore try to collaborate with the British.
Providing Benefits to the Locals
The Japanese provided certain benefits,such as schooling and accommodation,at no cost. For example, the school textbooks were provided
free of charge to 20000 students in 1944,making the people feel happy that the japanese is paying for the school fees,helping them to spend
less money.
The japanese also appealed to some ethnic groups by giving them favourable treatment.The malay nationalist organisation Kesatuan Melau
Muda(Union of Malay Youth or KMM)responded positively to japanese propaganda that promised better lives for the malays under an Asian
power.This resulted in Malays being treated less harshly by the japanese.For example,the japanese distributed rice,sugar and salt to the less
fortunate for Hari Raya Puasa.Malays and indians were also charged lower fees than the chinese to cross the crossway
All this led to the locals thinking of the Japanese more favorably.Therefore,slowly earning the locals’ trust and obedience, making it
easier for them to establish control.
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Imposing Japanese Culture: Japanese Language
Imposing Japanese Culture: Japanese Spirit
The Japanese promoted their culture through newspaper
articles that teach the Japanese language. Schools also taught
Japanese in place of English. Prizes were awarded to motivate
the people to learn Japanese.
This led to the Japanese gaining the support of the people
by teaching them to appreciate the Japanese language
and culture.
This introduction of the Japanese language was tied with promoting
the Japanese spirit to foster a sense of loyalty and identity. During
morning assembly, students had to sing the Japanese national
anthem, and bow before the picture of the Emperor. Daily mass
exercises were introduced with instructions and rhythmic music being
broadcasted.
This led to the people sacrificing their loyalty and identity to the
Japanese culture, allowing the Japanese to gain their support.
What was daily life like under the Japanese? (pg.20-25)
Dealing with shortages
Diseases & Death
Relocation
The war had disrupted trade , which limited
the import of goods into Singapore from
overseas. Furthermore, most of the available
resources were channeled to Japan’s war
effort rather than to the people. As a result,
there was a shortage of food and essential
items. After the first week of the Japanese
Occupation, essential food items such as
rice, salt and sugar were strictly rationed. The
locals were limited to a fixed quantity of
essential items that they could obtain using
ration coupons. The shortage of items drove
The Japanese occupation had worsened the
quality of healthcare and sanitation in
Singapore. It also did not help that the local
population had food shortages. These poor
living conditions along with overcrowding
caused diseases like Beriberi, Pneumonia
and Dysentery to spread. POWs were also
sent by the Japanese to clear war debris,
bury the dead and build Japanese memorial
shrines. Some were sent to construct the
¨death railway¨ in Myanmar and Thailand and
many died due to the harsh working
During the Japanese occupation, locals were
encouraged to strive for self-sufficient by
growing their own food, when this failed to
ease the fod shortage, the Japanese resorted
to relocating people from Singapore to
increase agriculture output. The Chinese
were encouraged to move to the Endau
settlement in Johor where soil is rich and the
water supply is ample, thus making it suitable
for agriculture, a few months after setting up
endau, the japanese created the Bahau
settlement in Negeri Sembilan, this is were
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prices up as shops did not have enough
goods to cater to the eeds of the people. The
prices of essential goods increased rapidly
over time, causing drastic inflation.
conditions. From the start to the end of the
Japanese Occupation, 130000 people had
died. Therefore, the people suffered and lived
in hardship.
As a result, the black market flourished.
People had to pay extremely high prices for
basic necessities. Therefore, the people lived
in poverty.
the Eurasians and Chinese Catholics live,
however since the soil was too poor to
support agriculture, the people there resulted
to eating rats and maggots, and many
perished.
Leisure & entertainment
They presented radio programs that combined news in hokkien and cantonese with music in Japanese and Malay. They also started showing
propaganda programs for free in open air theaters and introducing Japanese films and documentaries. They encouraged sports and cultural
events including baseball, football, tennis, and badminton games to help the local population deal with the stress of the wartime environment.
Additionally, there were boxing matches held near Kim Seng road, and the police band even gave a performance near the botanic gardens.
This provided entertainment for the people, in hopes of making their lives less difficult.
How did the locals respond to Japanese rule? (pg.26-27)
Collaboration
Resistance
The Japanese actively sought the support of the Malays in
administering Japanese rule. Some of the duties given to the Malays
included policing and being part of neighborhood associations that
would report on suspected hostile activity against the regime. Other
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groups were also enlisted to assist the Japanese in establishing their
authority. They included some Chinese who became informants for
the Kempeitai during Operation Sook Ching, helping to root out those
seen to be anti-Japanese. Therefore, many people were killed due to
the Japanese collaborating with Singaporean locals.
What problems did the people face immediately after the Japanese surrender? (pg. 28-31)
British Military Administration
❖ Operational Period: 5 September 1945 - 31 March 1946
❖ Established to run Singapore and Malaya
❖ Made up of:
➢ Professional soldiers
➢ Former European civil servants (who joined the army)
❖ Aims: To maintain law and order; help with reconstruction
Problems
Solutions
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Food Shortages
Rice-producing countries like Thailand could not produce enough rice
to sell overseas. Since the war had destroyed a number of merchant
ships, it was difficult for rice that was produced to reach or be
distributed in Singapore. Sunken ships also locked the harbour are
little warehouses had enough storage.
The BMA dealt the problem gradually by clearing the harbour so that
ships could enter the port. It also controlled the prices of necessities
such as sugar, fish, and vegetables, as well as providing free meals
for children under six years ld
Economic Difficulties
Schooling Disruptions
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Conclusion
Expectations
Reality
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