My Japan

This 1945 film, having the intent to sell war bonds,  reveals an underlying motive and glimpse into anti-Japanese propaganda. The film provides an insight into many ways in which government attempted to shape public opinion (i.e. spark collective mistrust/hatred) toward the Japanese  during the onset of war. After reading some of the recent interviews I found this film most shocking in revealing the intense racism that was apparently present. In many of the interviews people did not seem to express such blatant ill-regard toward the Japanese, despite the fact that ads/films like these were produced. The film leads one to question whether racism toward the Japanese was not  inherent (based on their own perceptions of the oncoming war) amongst most Americans, and instead used to shape the public opinion on the home front in an effort to gain support for the war effort.

My Japan