WWII Imperial Japanese Army Navy China War Photo Book 1938 Tank Aircraft
Published in 1938 (Showa 13) by Yubunsha in Tokyo, this is an original Japanese wartime photo book titled Shina Jihen Shashincho – literally, China Incident Photo Album. ” “China Incident was the term commonly used in Japan at the time for the conflict now generally known as the Second Sino-Japanese War. The book contains a wide range of photographs documenting the early years of the conflict, including Imperial Japanese Army soldiers, machine guns, artillery, tanks, aircraft, naval vessels, occupied cities, and civilians. Some of the most striking images show a Japanese tank crossing a temporary bridge, military aircraft in action, warships, and troops operating in the field. For collectors unfamiliar with this type of material, this is more than simply an old military photo book. It is also a piece of wartime mass media. Unlike an internal military manual or classified document, this book was published by a civilian publisher for the Japanese public. It therefore offers a direct look at how the war in China was presented visually to ordinary people in Japan in the late 1930s. The publication information at the back identifies the book as a genuine period publication from January 1938, edited by Kenji Kashima, published by Jutaro Imura, and issued by Yubunsha in Tokyo. The original inspection/censorship stamp paper is also still present. The front cover depicts a Japanese military aircraft attacking targets below, while the rear cover shows armed soldiers silhouetted against the sky. Even the cover design strongly reflects the atmosphere of wartime Japan. Because this book is more than 80 years old, it shows age-related wear including toning, stains, rubbing, tears, and edge damage. Please review the photographs carefully for condition. This is not simply a collection of old photographs. It is a surviving record of how the war was seen, photographed, and presented to the Japanese public in 1938. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note.