The Philippine Economy during the Japanese Occupation (1941-

1945)
During World War 2, the Japanese took the Philippines from the control of the United States.Because the
Japanese were in the country for such a short period, they didn’t leave much that was permanently
adopted into the Filipino culture. But they definitely did change the way things were done during their time
in the Philippines.

Effects of Japanese Colonization

1. Subjects such as Japanese culture and Niponggo, aJapanese language, were made compulsarysubjects
in schools.

2. Different types of livelihood were taught in vocational schools built by Japanese. They controlled
theindustries, factories and food production.

3. Filipinos learned to engage in different business likebuy and sell and barter trade to earn a living.

4. Filipinos were encouraged to write on a condition thatthey would use Tagalog as a medium.

5. The HUKBALAHAP or Hukbong Bayan Laban saHapon tried to fight the Japanese.

How things changed during the Japanese rule over the Philippines:

 A strict curfew was enforced

 Japanese currency was introduced
 Baranggays (neighborhood government systems) were cut in half
 A military government was implemented (as it was during a time of
war)

Japan left no permanent mark on the Filipino way of life. Once the Japanese left, the
Filipinos reverted back to life pretty much the way it was before they had even
come. It would be years later before the Japanese would start to influence Filipino
culture. Today their influence in the Philippines is quite prevalent. But it wasn’t so
back then. Today, the most notable Japanese influence on Filipino culture has been
in technology – such as karaoke, videoke, cameras, etc.

TRIVIA