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Japan's revival as an imperial power began with the reign of Emperor Mikado Meiji in
1868. Emperor Meiji’s restoration launch emphasizes modernization and industrialization.
Western countries are looked up to as a model for advancing Japanese. China, which has
many potential raw materials and goods markets for Japan became the initial target of
Japanese expansionism. Japan's victory against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in
1905, has resulted in Japan is regarded as a great power.
Emperor Mikado Meiji
Japanese expansionism is driven by several factors, particularly the country's economic
problems. Japan's population growth has resulted in declining agricultural land. As an
industrialized nation, the Japanese need a supply of raw materials such as petroleum, tin,
and rubber. In addition, Japan also needs a new market area to market the industrial.
Urgent situation arises in 1940, when the United States imposing economic sanctions
against Japan for refusing to retreat from China. The Japanese managed to occupy part of
China after the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. U.S. actions that led the
Japanese government that is controlled by the army commanded by General Tojo, attack the
South East Asia for the Japanese release of the sanctions. Military groups have been taking
over the government of Japan since February 1936.
General Hideki Tōjō
Before attacking Malaya, the Japanese have been using propaganda to influence the
local population in the country with slogans such as "Asia for Asians" and "The Spirit of
Asia". Slogans are clearly elements of Western and anti-colonial to project the image of
Japan as a defender of Eastern countries. Similarly was the planned propaganda "The
Greater East Asia Flourish Together" by the Japanese. This strategy is effective until the
Japanese military presence was not perceived as substituting the British invasion. This event
gives lesson to us that a good slogan should be in the execution of a mission. Nevertheless,
as responsible citizens, we should be more wary of foreign propaganda.
Advancing Japanese army in Malaya began when Japanese troops landed at the
same time in Thailand (Singgora and Pattani) and the Coast Sabak, Kota Bharu on
December 8, 1941. Japanese soldiers landed in Thailand continues to move forward to Jitra,
Kedah. Later, the Japanese army split in two, a team to Penang and continue advancing
south through the West coast. A team again, as the road to major cities on-street west coast
states. Meanwhile, Japanese troops landed at Kota Bharu was advanced to the south
following the road on the east coast states.
In Sarawak, the Japanese army landed in Miri. From Miri, the Japanese army split
into two teams. The first team to Kuching and then to Sibu. The second team advanced to
Sabah through Labuan and next to Sandakan. Later, the Japanese army marched into the
coastal areas of both states, especially in main cities.
After ten weeks the Japanese army landed, the whole of Malaya, including Singapore
fell to Japanese forces. On February 15, 1942, Lieutenant General A.E. Percival had
surrendered to Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomoyuki in Singapore. Events fall into the
hands of Malaya Japanese military, it is clear to us that we should not expect a foreign
power to defend our own homeland.
Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomoyuki
(Harimau Malaya)
There are many factors that contributed to the successful occupation of Malaysia by
the Japanese Army. One of them includes the fact that the Japanese had a structured early
plan. The Japanese used a well convincing propaganda to win the hearts and seek the
cooperation of the people of Malaya. The propagandas were made to fool the minds of the
people of Malaya into thinking that the Japanese Army had come to save Malaya from the
British clutches. The Japanese have also been carrying out inside espionage activities within
the Malay people for information to facilitate the attack. They have sent some insiders to spy
on Malayan activities and arranged strategies based on the information obtained.
Moreover, the Japanese had their grasp on the complete latest and modern military
war equipment of that time. Japan has a lot of modern fighter aircraft such as the "Zero
Fighter” and the “Kawanishi N1K1-J/N1K2-J Shiden”. Japan was also using suitable tanks in
accordance with the surface of land in Malaya. This allowed them to conquer Malaya in a
faster pace and spread their influence within a few weeks.
Zero Fighter used by the Japanese to attack shock tanks used by the Japanese army
British forces in Malaya, is also used to successfully forced the British to retreat.
provide protection for ground forces. Japanese forces also used tanks that are
small and light weight for compatibility
with Malaya’s terrain
Japanese troops used bicycles to pass through a narrow path to expedite travel unnoticed by the British army
The Thailand-Japan pact is also one of the factors of Japanese’s victory occupying
Malaya. Thailand provides access to the Japanese military forces landing on their country to
enter Malaya from the north. In return, the Japanese did not nest Thailand. The Japanese
promised to hand over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis to Thailand.
The well thought tactics of the Japanese attack allowed the Japanese to achieve
their goal smoothly. The Japanese destroyed Pearl Harbour in Hawaii which was a major
U.S. military base in the Asia Pacific region. This left the U.S. military in pandemonium and
resurrected the U.S’s concentration to rejuvenate their army, thus, giving the chance for the
Japanese influence to spread with less opposition. Japan also launched attacks from
northern Malaya. This is because the main British defense was concentrated in Singapore
and the strategy was to attack from above.
Another major factor is the weakness of the British military. British forces were not
ready to face Japan as they were more focused on attacks towards the war in Europe.
The British Army was also in lack of training as most of them were new recruits taken in
during war. They were also in extreme lack of armament. Much to the British’s shortfall, the
Indian soldiers who served with British forces have turned into anti-British attitude. Other
than that, the focus of the British defense only was only concentrated in Singapore as it was
their military base. The rest of Malaya was not as protected as Singapore, giving the
Japanese a higher advantage of spreading their influence.
There was also no doubt about the overwhelming Japanese military spirit. The
Japanese military were willing to fight for their country's pride and do whatever it takes for
the sake of their country. The Japanese troops were willing to die for the Emperor of Japan.
Throughout Japan’s history, the military class embodied the best characteristics and highest
virtues of the Japanese people. The leading military families that exercise political power
nourished this spirit in the elite over the centuries. The active but also stoic Zen Buddhism
perfected and refined the character of the Japanese warrior and gave it a clear ascetic tone
that remains even today the essential characteristic of the Japanese soldier. The warrior
class was not only an armed instrument in the hands of the landed nobility or the major
military rulers, but also an elite with its own class ethos. The troops had to be able to do
more than fight. They had to embody an elevated and noble form of everything Japanese in
all he said and did. They had to stand out both militarily and in social life. The troops had
great privileges, but also greater responsibilities. They owed absolute obedience to the
landed nobility or the Shogun. But he also had deeper and broader obligations, to fight for
their country. Japanese troops also had major military experiences as they have been
involved in the Sino-Japanese War. This gave the troops an advantage during combat and
many options of tactics during war.
The Japanese’s victory in colonizing Malaya was also greatly influenced by the role
of Young Malay Union party (KMM). KMM members helped to spread the Japanese
propaganda to the Malays. They disseminate the anti-British spirit to the whole of Malaya
influencing the people and convincing them that the Japanese will help to free Malaya from
colonization. KMM also provided information to the Japanese regarding Malaya and the
British activities. KMM members became guides for directions in the maps of Malaya during
the Japanese advance.
The success of the Japanese army invading the country in a short time surprised
many, including the United States and Britain alone. Japan's key to success can be
formulated into a good war strategy, especially the effective Japanese espionage activities,
the Japanese military spirit, as well as British military weakness of its own defense.
Japanese forces used the opportunity wisely when Western powers are concentrated on the
war in Europe. Among the local population, they do not provide resistance to the arrival of
Japanese troops as influenced by Japanese propaganda slogans.
After the British surrender, the Japanese have introduced administration of the
military government in Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah, known as Malai Baru (New Malay).
Singapore is also known as Syonan (Southern Lights) and their administration were
separated from Malaya. Japanese administration in Malaya was parted into the central
administration and regional administration.