Weapons of Mass Destruction, 1930s Style

Nations always go to war expecting to fight the war of the previous generation. The Second Sino-Japanese War was no exception. When hostilities broke out between China and Japan in 1937, … Continue Reading →

China’s National Anthem, a Product of War

Among the national anthems of this world, China’s is one of the most stirring, and it’s heard increasingly when the country’s athtletes win at international events or its leaders go … Continue Reading →

Asians in WWII Poster Art

Since the US engagement in World War II was to a significant extent directed towards Asia, it is no surprise that a large part of American poster art of the … Continue Reading →

64 Seconds in Hell

What was it like to be a Chinese or Japanese soldier fighting for one’s life in and around Shanghai in the fall of 1937? No one who wasn’t actually there … Continue Reading →

A Songwriter’s Tribute

Christian missionary Frank Rawlinson, born in Britain and educated in the United States,  had lived in Shanghai almost his entire adult life when war broke out between China and Japan … Continue Reading →

Japanese Devils for Hire

Hirotaka Tsukagoshi is the man the Chinese love to hate. His name is not well-known in China, but his face is. Over the past few years the Japanese actor has … Continue Reading →

More Than A Thousand Characters

With their immediate impact and their appeal to the emotions, images have been used in war propaganda since ancient times. Therefore, it’s no surprise that they were employed in China … Continue Reading →

The Battle of Shanghai in the Eyes of German Cameramen

This German newsreel shows highlights of the 1937 battle of Shanghai. It’s interesting for a number of reasons. First, it features several of the weapons that were used most aggressively … Continue Reading →

Sino-Japanese War Refought on the Silver Screen

The Sino-Japanese War has been the subject of numerous movies, but to my knowledge none has so far topped the visceral authenticity of the opening scenes in the Chinese epic … Continue Reading →