[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.