Revisiting the History of Broadcasting in “Southern Occupied Territories” [Part I]

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  • 「南方放送史」再考①
  • 「南方放送史」再考(1)大東亜共栄圏構想と放送体制の整備
  • 「 ナンポウ ホウソウシ 」 サイコウ(1)ダイ トウア キョウエイケン コウソウ ト ホウソウ タイセイ ノ セイビ
  • Developing a Broadcasting Scheme under the Slogan of Greater East Asia Co–Prosperity Sphere
  • 大東亜共栄圏構想と放送体制の整備

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Abstract

During the Pacific War, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy established more than thirty broadcasting stations in the occupied Southeast Asian areas called “southern occupied territories.” Regarding the activities of these stations, NHK collected data and interviewed those concerned, and reported the findings in the 1950s. Nevertheless, it is necessary to conduct further investigation and verification based on various subsequent studies including research on the military administration in general. In this light, this three-part series starting from this month will revisit the history of broadcasting in the “southern occupied territories.” The purposes of broadcasting in “southern occupied territories” can be categorized into three groups: (1) the transmission of information for the Japanese, (2) anti–enemy propaganda, and (3) reassurance for local residents, and this series focuses on broadcasts for local residents in the context of investigating the role of broadcasting in spreading the concept of Greater East Asia Co–Prosperity Sphere. The series will first outline the broadcasting in the territories (Part I) and examine the broadcasts aired in specific regions, the Dutch East Indies (Part II) and the Philippines and Burma (Part III). This month's report concentrates on the process of implementing broadcasting in the territories, based on documents of the Army and the Navy as well as the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. It is revealed that broadcasting in the southern occupied territories was hardly discussed before the war partly because the idea of military occupation of Southeast Asia had not been conceived until 1940; it was only a few months before the outbreak of war that the Japan Broadcasting Corporation started in earnest the research on broadcasting status in the region. It is also indicated that broadcasts started without thorough preparation; the framework of implementing broadcasting in the territories was yet to be decided even after the outbreak of war, with the debate on who–the military or the Japan Broadcasting Corporation–would be the administrator of broadcasting still going on. Furthermore, they had to discuss what content to broadcast and the constructions of radio stations at the same time. Thus, broadcasting in “southern occupied territories” was commenced without long–term plans.

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