Tokyo calling : Japanese overseas broadcasting 1937-1945
Although largely ignored by Western historians, Japanese overseas radio propaganda during World War Two was sophisticated and wide-ranging. Regular overseas radio broadcasting began in Japan in 1935, after several European powers had already begun such services. Following the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931, research into short-wave radio broadcasting was expanded, and after Japan left the League of Nations in 1933, overseas radio was considered essential to present the Japanese government's views abroad. Radio Tokyo broadcasts began in Japanese and English and were initially directed at the United States. Other languages were soon added and the range of broadcasts extended to Europe, South America and the Pacific region. At its height in 1944, Radio Tokyo broadcast to fifteen transmission regions in thirty-three languages. In addition, Japanese-controlled short-wave stations broadcast from fifteen Asian cities under Japanese occupation Themes used in broadcasts varied according to the war situation and the target country. However, certain common themes were used in broadcasts throughout the war, and to most regions. The Japanese analysis of the war situation often formed the central element of news
Robbins, Jane M. J.
Radio propaganda; Japan
Tokyo calling : Japanese overseas broadcasting 1937-1945. Although largely ignored by Western historians, Japanese overseas radio propaganda during World War Two was sophisticated and wide-ranging. Regular overseas radio broadcasting began in Japan in 1935, after several European powers had already begun such services. Following the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931, research into short-wave radio broadcasting was expanded, and after Japan left the League of Nations in 1933, overseas radio was considered essential to present the Japanese government's views abroad. Radio Tokyo broadcasts began in Japanese and English and were initially directed at the United States. Other languages were soon added and the range of broadcasts extended to Europe, South America and the Pacific region. At its height in 1944, Radio Tokyo broadcast to fifteen transmission regions in thirty-three languages. In addition, Japanese-controlled short-wave stations broadcast from fifteen Asian cities under Japanese occupation Themes used in broadcasts varied according to the war situation and the target country. However, certain common themes were used in broadcasts throughout the war, and to most regions. The Japanese analysis of the war situation often formed the central element of news
tokyo call japanese overseas although largely_ignored western historian japanese overseas radio propaganda world_war_two sophisticate wide_ranging regular overseas radio begin japan several european_power already begin service following japanese occupation short wave radio expand japan leave league_nations overseas radio consider essential present japanese government view abroad radio tokyo broadcast begin japanese_english initially direct united_states language soon add range broadcast extend europe south america region height radio tokyo broadcast fifteen transmission region thirty language addition japanese controlled short wave station broadcast fifteen asian city japanese occupation themes used broadcast vary_accord war situation target country however certain common_theme use broadcast throughout war region japanese analysis war situation often formed central_element news