When the 92nd Evacuation Hospital set up in a school in Guimba (see entries 47 - 59), my father found the above book in the school's library and asked if he could have it. It was readily given to him because it was propaganda from the time Japan occupied the Philippines. It was published in 1942 shortly after Japan had defeated the combined American and Filipino forces. The Philippines had become a territory of the United States after the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1935 the Philippine Commonwealth was established as a ten-year interim step to independence, but it was interrupted by the invasion and occupation by Japan.
The author of The Flowering of Racial Spirit, Asihei or now known as Ashihei Hino was a soldier of the Japanese Imperial Army in China in 1937 when he received a prize for one of his novels and was promoted to the information corps. The first half of the book is the English translation from the Japanese which is the last half. It was translated by Kazi-o Nisina, who stated in his preface Sincerely hoping to introduce to my beloved Filipino friends Mr. Hino's precious works, as representative illustration of the Spirit of Japan and "Busido", the warriors' code of ethics - and the reason why the Japanese Forces are so strong - and the ideals of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere; I did my best - not withstanding my meager learning and mediocre talent - to translate Mr. Hino's works into English, as faithfully as possible, comparing the translation word for word more than three times with the original manuscript in Japanese. But under the hurried circumstances natural to military operations, I could scarcely utilize reference materials and hardly had enough time for choice of diction, so I fear that there may be some inadvertent errors or mistranslations.
I will copy various portions of this interesting book.
From the Forward: I am feeling most pleasant that at present, I find myself in the midst of a New War and a New Dawn. I hope and believe that a day will come in a not very distant future, when all races of the Orient will realize the magnificent design of "Asia is One," which is being carried out by the Empire of Japan, our Fatherland, with the final object of restoring the racial spirit of the Orient that is surging among them. ... Stirring up our valour, which is steadfast and overflowing with sincerity, we must be engaged in the plan of the New Sun. Historically speaking, Japan and the Philippines have been very closely related countries. Now, before us, the Great Road of establishing a New Philippines has been opened with great possibilities by our immutable cooperation. We, Japanese, do not spare any possible effort towards the objective.
From Chapter II: Pursuing the Enemy: Our forces advanced on the trackless regions with much difficulty, but at the same time we must not forget the Takasago tribe [Aborigines from Taiwan recruited into the Japanese Imperial Army and felt to be more physically capable of fighting in tropical conditions than the Japanese] who cooperated with us. Hundreds of them were detailed here in order to prepare a way for the advance through the jungles which were hampering not only our passage but also our vision. At first sight they appear to be of very slight physique and small stature, but actually they display a fierce cleverness in manipulating their tribal swords among the forests, under which it is very dark even in the daytime. They cut promptly their way through thick woods, and lay out roads for the motor-cars through the trackless regions. They do not make any fuss at all even when the enemy's cannon shells are falling around them. They seem to be extremely jovial in sharing the tribulations of this war with the Japanese forces. On moonlit nights, we hear the sorrowful melody of their tribal songs floating from where they are encamped. And in the daytime, they also sing loudly their tribal songs as they hew their way through the jungles under the enemy's cannon shells. ...
Since that time crowds of surrenderers appeared before us from everywhere. From the mountain fastnesses, from behind the woods, from the roads between bamboo clumps, they came in endless processions, waving improvised white flags. American soldiers came. Filipino soldiers came. They came out in such big numbers that they made me wonder where they were before. They made me feel as if they were gushing out. In fact, I thought that there were not such big numbers of American soldiers in this peninsula. Such a feeling may be due to the fact that we did not see so many American soldiers at the front-lines of Samat. Most of the American soldiers were perhaps in the rear lines. At last I began to feel curious as well as, strange to say, I was forced to feel indignant. Having so many troops as these, why did they not try to fight? Every American soldier is tall and of stalwart physique. Their faces are sunburnt as deep as the colour of tomatoes, and in their thickly bearded faces their eyes glitter piercingly. There are some American soldiers whose hairy and brawny arms are tattooed with various designs. These soldiers, having thrown down their arms, placing their steel helmets aslant on their heads and carefully embracing nothing but their canvas knapsacks, come feebly tottering in long processions. ... Observing this sight, I realized once more the nobility of the Japanese soldier. As I said before, these American soldiers are citizens of the haughty country which in the past attempted to heap outrageous insults upon our Fatherland. Observing these crowds of tremendous number of surrenderers, I felt as if they were foul water flowing down from the sewerage of a country that has been formed upon impure foundations and have thus lost their racial pride. There is no other opportunity better than this to realize the sublimity of the Japanese soldiers and the pride of being a Japanese. ... (On the Real River, the 16th of April, 1942)
From The Victory of Racial Spirit: Filipino soldiers who surrendered to us sincerely believed even to the last, that large number of troops for reinforcement are coming from the U.S.A. home-country. All the surrounding regions such as Singapore, Sumatra, and other islands of the Dutch East Indies have already been occupied by the Japanese Forces, and it is quite clear that reinforcements can never come from any source. Nevertheless, they were quite confident that reinforcements will come any time soon, and they will defeat the Japanese Forces. They had confidence in the power of the United States of America to that extent, but on the contrary they did not realize the strength of Japan at all. Even the Filipinos who were supposed to be pro-Japanese thought that when Japanese airplanes came they were operated by German pilots. Among the Filipino people there are not a few persons who ask if there are electric cars or steam trains in Japan, and although the Japanese Forces came here and destroyed the USAFFE [United States Army Forces in the Far East], these Filipinos still do not conceive a friendly feeling toward the Japanese Forces in their hearts. There are some Japanese who are indignant because Filipinos only feign to cooperate. But they are not right to resent this because the United States of America influenced the Filipinos in various spheres for at least forty years.
Especially since the United States of America began to govern, the favors granted to the Philippines along such lines as economics (mainly on the consumer side), education, roads, etc. are not very little. It is from our standpoint that we are apt to notice only the vulgar side of American civilization, but as for the Filipino people the feeling toward the United States of America is another matter. Having been thus favored for forty years by the United States of America, they cannot escape the censure of fickleness and insincerity if they would hate the Americans immediately after they were defeated by the Japanese Forces. The difficulty of reconstruction after war lies, too, in such circumstances. ... Now, directly after the Japanese Forces destroyed USAFFE, it is hardly possible that the Filipino people might realize the goodness, and understand the real intention of the Japanese Forces. But the common destiny of our being both Oriental races is our strongest point which can never be eradicated, and in this sense we can firmly be convinced of the possibility of realizing through our efforts the hearty harmonization and cooperation between the two races. ...
The streets of Manila give us impressions which cannot be distinguished between Oriental and Occidental. This is caused by one of the affronts which was committed upon the Oriental race. It may also be due to the characteristic of the Filipino people, but we must restore immediately the spirit which are our own with the common pride of races, and rebuild with the New Design. Our Fatherland has restored our Sun in the sky of the Far East with a grand and splendid morale. The New Civilization must be hoisted under the New Sun. This can be established solely by our Japanese sincere and unflinching endeavour. (Manila, May 13, 1942)
I will copy various portions of this interesting book.
From the Forward: I am feeling most pleasant that at present, I find myself in the midst of a New War and a New Dawn. I hope and believe that a day will come in a not very distant future, when all races of the Orient will realize the magnificent design of "Asia is One," which is being carried out by the Empire of Japan, our Fatherland, with the final object of restoring the racial spirit of the Orient that is surging among them. ... Stirring up our valour, which is steadfast and overflowing with sincerity, we must be engaged in the plan of the New Sun. Historically speaking, Japan and the Philippines have been very closely related countries. Now, before us, the Great Road of establishing a New Philippines has been opened with great possibilities by our immutable cooperation. We, Japanese, do not spare any possible effort towards the objective.
From Chapter II: Pursuing the Enemy: Our forces advanced on the trackless regions with much difficulty, but at the same time we must not forget the Takasago tribe [Aborigines from Taiwan recruited into the Japanese Imperial Army and felt to be more physically capable of fighting in tropical conditions than the Japanese] who cooperated with us. Hundreds of them were detailed here in order to prepare a way for the advance through the jungles which were hampering not only our passage but also our vision. At first sight they appear to be of very slight physique and small stature, but actually they display a fierce cleverness in manipulating their tribal swords among the forests, under which it is very dark even in the daytime. They cut promptly their way through thick woods, and lay out roads for the motor-cars through the trackless regions. They do not make any fuss at all even when the enemy's cannon shells are falling around them. They seem to be extremely jovial in sharing the tribulations of this war with the Japanese forces. On moonlit nights, we hear the sorrowful melody of their tribal songs floating from where they are encamped. And in the daytime, they also sing loudly their tribal songs as they hew their way through the jungles under the enemy's cannon shells. ...
Since that time crowds of surrenderers appeared before us from everywhere. From the mountain fastnesses, from behind the woods, from the roads between bamboo clumps, they came in endless processions, waving improvised white flags. American soldiers came. Filipino soldiers came. They came out in such big numbers that they made me wonder where they were before. They made me feel as if they were gushing out. In fact, I thought that there were not such big numbers of American soldiers in this peninsula. Such a feeling may be due to the fact that we did not see so many American soldiers at the front-lines of Samat. Most of the American soldiers were perhaps in the rear lines. At last I began to feel curious as well as, strange to say, I was forced to feel indignant. Having so many troops as these, why did they not try to fight? Every American soldier is tall and of stalwart physique. Their faces are sunburnt as deep as the colour of tomatoes, and in their thickly bearded faces their eyes glitter piercingly. There are some American soldiers whose hairy and brawny arms are tattooed with various designs. These soldiers, having thrown down their arms, placing their steel helmets aslant on their heads and carefully embracing nothing but their canvas knapsacks, come feebly tottering in long processions. ... Observing this sight, I realized once more the nobility of the Japanese soldier. As I said before, these American soldiers are citizens of the haughty country which in the past attempted to heap outrageous insults upon our Fatherland. Observing these crowds of tremendous number of surrenderers, I felt as if they were foul water flowing down from the sewerage of a country that has been formed upon impure foundations and have thus lost their racial pride. There is no other opportunity better than this to realize the sublimity of the Japanese soldiers and the pride of being a Japanese. ... (On the Real River, the 16th of April, 1942)
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| Post card of Manila from about 1915 |
From The Victory of Racial Spirit: Filipino soldiers who surrendered to us sincerely believed even to the last, that large number of troops for reinforcement are coming from the U.S.A. home-country. All the surrounding regions such as Singapore, Sumatra, and other islands of the Dutch East Indies have already been occupied by the Japanese Forces, and it is quite clear that reinforcements can never come from any source. Nevertheless, they were quite confident that reinforcements will come any time soon, and they will defeat the Japanese Forces. They had confidence in the power of the United States of America to that extent, but on the contrary they did not realize the strength of Japan at all. Even the Filipinos who were supposed to be pro-Japanese thought that when Japanese airplanes came they were operated by German pilots. Among the Filipino people there are not a few persons who ask if there are electric cars or steam trains in Japan, and although the Japanese Forces came here and destroyed the USAFFE [United States Army Forces in the Far East], these Filipinos still do not conceive a friendly feeling toward the Japanese Forces in their hearts. There are some Japanese who are indignant because Filipinos only feign to cooperate. But they are not right to resent this because the United States of America influenced the Filipinos in various spheres for at least forty years.
Especially since the United States of America began to govern, the favors granted to the Philippines along such lines as economics (mainly on the consumer side), education, roads, etc. are not very little. It is from our standpoint that we are apt to notice only the vulgar side of American civilization, but as for the Filipino people the feeling toward the United States of America is another matter. Having been thus favored for forty years by the United States of America, they cannot escape the censure of fickleness and insincerity if they would hate the Americans immediately after they were defeated by the Japanese Forces. The difficulty of reconstruction after war lies, too, in such circumstances. ... Now, directly after the Japanese Forces destroyed USAFFE, it is hardly possible that the Filipino people might realize the goodness, and understand the real intention of the Japanese Forces. But the common destiny of our being both Oriental races is our strongest point which can never be eradicated, and in this sense we can firmly be convinced of the possibility of realizing through our efforts the hearty harmonization and cooperation between the two races. ...
The streets of Manila give us impressions which cannot be distinguished between Oriental and Occidental. This is caused by one of the affronts which was committed upon the Oriental race. It may also be due to the characteristic of the Filipino people, but we must restore immediately the spirit which are our own with the common pride of races, and rebuild with the New Design. Our Fatherland has restored our Sun in the sky of the Far East with a grand and splendid morale. The New Civilization must be hoisted under the New Sun. This can be established solely by our Japanese sincere and unflinching endeavour. (Manila, May 13, 1942)
A MAGNIFICENT DESIGN
By means of leg and will, Our soldiers have drawn an infinitely expanded map.
Already all seas and mountains and airs are our possession.
Submarines overflowing with rigorous will Repose among the coral flowers,
Astounding the tropical fishes with absurd jaws and fins.
The beautiful Japanese language has Spread across seas and mountains.
On numberless Oriental cities and several hundred million lips,
The words are strewn like pollen.
History, today, is not to be criticized, but blind wisdom itself is examined by it.
In olden times, the earth transformed itself by earthquakes, tidal waves, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.
Today - mortals with will are performing such phenomena.
To relate plausibly that on the summit of a mountain tens of thousands feet above sea level we can find fishes, etc., is already a mediocre speech.
If we calmly close our eyes at the dead of night, The thunderous sounds of the world's transformation deafen our ears.
There were countries named Britain and America, Whose flags were fashioned out of the cheap combination of red and blue.
Their colours faded away and became white flags.
On the white ground, thick with red blood, A beautiful Sun was painted.
As there is no pen, nor ink, nor paper to depict it with, Such a gigantic age is today.
By her fortitude and sacrifices, Our Fatherland, Japan, has grown up.
Such numberless great stories were created that are beyond the faculties of the writer.
The beautiful Japanese language has Spread across seas and mountains.
Lukouchiao* has become the Mecca for the restoration of the world.
The words "July Seventh" (7-7) have now revived for the fifth time,
And have become the most beautiful words on earth.
(The 7th day of July, 1942)
*Also called the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, and was considered the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. Some scholars believe this to be the start of World War II.
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