[Kamishibai World War II propaganda]

Very rare set of twenty three large format (270mm x 385mm) World War II Kamishibai propaganda cards portraying the Satsuma Rebellion at Kumanoto castle. It also records the first use in Japan of a balloon for military purposes.

Each card is numbered on the verso at top right. Two of the cards have folding panels.

Kamishibai was a form of propaganda unique to Japan in the form of war themed ‘paper plays’. In Kamishibai a street performer uses Emakimono (picture scrolls) to convey the story of the play. Audiences typically included children who would buy candy from the street performer providing his source of income. Unlike American propaganda that often focused on the enemy, Japanese wartime “National Policy” used Kamishibai on themes of self-sacrifice for the nation or the heroism of martyrs.

This Kamishibai presents a story of the development of the first hot air balloon for military use in Japan in 1878 by Uehara Rokasuhiro. Uehara exhausted his financial resources during the course of his research and development. Consequently, so his son was dispatched to Kumamoto in order to secure funding. The son successfully persuaded high-ranking military commanders to support his father’s work. Following this achievement, Uehara visited Kumamoto to formally express gratitude to the commanders. Subsequently, one of these commanders became besieged within Kumamoto Castle by Satsuma forces. In response, Uehara utilised the hot air balloon to transmit a signal, thereby assisting those within the castle.

The script was written by Katsujiro Suzuki, and the illustrations were produced by Nishikawa Masaya. Numerous propaganda kamishibai were created during the Second World War.