Japanese Occupation

Prepared by: Lee, Hannah Elaine A.

 Japanese military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region had made
confrontation and war with the United States increasingly certain.
 In preparation for war, on July 26, 1941, General Douglas MacArthur
brought the 12,000 strong Philippine Scouts under his command with
the 16,000 American soldiers stationed in the Philippines.
 The attack on the Philippines started on December 8, 1941 ten hours
after the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. As at Pearl Harbor, the
American aircraft were entirely destroyed on the ground. Lacking air
cover, the American Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines withdrew to Java
on December 12, 1941.
 Japanese troops landed at the Lingayen Gulf on December 22, 1941 and
advanced across central Luzon towards Manila. On the advice of
President Quezon, General MacArthur declared Manila an open city on
December 25, 1941 and removed the Commonwealth government to
Corregidor. The Japanese occupied Manila on January 2, 1942.
Why did Japan
attack the
Philippines?
• The Japanese military had this concept of a United Asian
Sphere (like the current European Union) and to achieve
this, ALL foreign occupiers must be expelled in Asia.
• The Philippines was under American occupation. Japan
saw this as an “unjust” occupation and they needed to
“liberate” the Philippines from these foreigners.
• Japan had an ambitious plan to dominate and conquer
the whole of East Asia.
• To acquire staging areas and supply bases to enhance
operations.
• To secure communication lines from Japanese home
island.
 How did Japan invaded the
Philippines?
• Great strategic plan of the Japan.
• Despite that nine hour warning of the outbreak of hostilities with
Japan, the commander of the United States army and air forces in
the Philippines, Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur, was
paralyzed by indecision during these crucial hours and failed to
bring his forces to a state of readiness to meet a Japanese attack.
MacArthur's indecision, combined with his poor military
judgment and slackness in his command structure, led to the
destruction of half of his air force on the ground and his troops
being denied adequate supplies to withstand a lengthy siege.
 Road to War
• Japan withdrew from the League of
Nations and provoked an undeclared
war with China. It massacred inhabitants
of Nanjing, event also known as the
“Rape of Nanking”
• It allied itself to the Axis powers.
• The United States imposed an embargo
on oil and scrap metal exports to Japan.
• Saburo Kurusu - a career diplomat,
negotiated peace and understanding
with the US while Japan secretly planned
attack on Pearl Harbor.
While preparing for independence under Tydings- McDuffie Act, the Philippine Army was
re-established because the Americans knew that Japan will invade soon.
Preparation for Independence and War
• Pres. Quezon summoned Gen.
Douglas MacArthur, retired
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff of the US to prepare the
Philippines militarily.
• He assumed the rank Field
Marshall of the Philippine Army.
• Training of citizen soldiers was
undertaken with the
implementation of PMT and
ROTC.
• Training was saddled with lack of adequate equipment and
ammunition.
• Filipinos made their own head gears from coconut fibers called guinit.
Belts were made from abaca fiber instead of leather. Shoes were
manufactured locally by Ang Tibay.
• Due to growing differences between Quezon and MacArthur,
MacArthur asked Pres. Roosevelt to recall him to US service.
• The Americans allowed false rumors about Japan to circulate the
country to assure Filipinos that everything is secure.
 Attack
• Air attacks took place at Baguio, Tarlac, and the
naval and air installations at Subic, Zambales
and Clark, Pampanga. In the south, Davao
received its first air raid on the same day.
• The Japanese planned to move swiftly and win
victories before the United States could
respond with force.
• The Japanese landing at Lingayen brought Lt.
Gen. Masaharu Homma, commander of chief of
the Japanese forces in the Philippines.
• Manila was attacked as early as December 9,
1941.
• USAFFE (United States Armed Forces
in the Far East)retreated to Bataan and
waited for reinforcements from the US
• January 2, 1942 – The first Japanese
contingent entered Manila and were
cheered on as liberator. Lt. Gen.
Homma declared the end of American
rule in the Philippines and imposed
martial law on all occupied areas.
 Japan Martial Law
• Japan claimed that it was creating Asia for Asians.
• On January 3, 1942, General Masaharu Homma
issued a proclamation announcing the end of the
American occupation and the imposition of martial
law in the country.
1. First Order: Surrender of firearms – Those who were still caught
with weapons were detained at the dungeons of Fort Santiago and
in other detention posts.
2. Detention camps became places of torture.
3. Priests suspected of engaging in subversion activities were also
imprisoned.
4. As early as January 14, 1942, Colonel Murosawa issued a Declaration
to Christians in the Philippines. By 1943, parish priests were being
required to use their pulpits to convince the people that it was
useless to resist Japanese rule.
5. General Homma allowed the laws then enforce the Commonwealth
to stay for the moment. He ordered all public officials to continue to
discharge their duties.
6. Curfew first from 8:00pm – 6:00am then from 12:00mn – 6:00am.
7. Total black out was lifted on May 4, 1942 after the fall of Bataan.
8. Arbitrary arrests and executions were done by the kempeitai(military
police) any time of the day.
9. “Kura” most feared word (inward wave of hand meant “come here!”
signified disaster and outward wave of hand meant “dismiss” or
“scram”).
10. Many were also executed on mere suspicion of being with the
resistance movement.
11. No once could travel without a pass from its army. (This prohibition in
travel was lifted after the fall of Corregidor.
12. Taliba, La Vanguardia, Tribune, and Liwayway were allowed to continue
publication but under rigid censorship by the government.
13. Many theaters switched from movies to stage shows.
 Life During the War Time Years
• Philippines was an occupied country
• Means of production were under the control of the
Japanese
• Few banks were allowed to operate
• Buying and selling became the source of income by the
Filipinos
• Mickey Mouse Money was circulated that provoked
inflation in such alarming situation
Mickey Mouse Money
• Food shortage was alarming
• Outbreak of epidemics were prevalent such as dysentery, malaria
and TB causing death of many people.
• People live in constant fear and apprehension
• Five mortal enemies of Filipinos: Japanese militaries, diseases,
guerillas, hunger and Japanese-paid Filipinos
• “Kura” most feared word (inward wave of hand meant “come
here!” signified disaster and outward wave of hand meant
“dismiss” or “scram”)
• Japanese encouraged the development of Tagalog and gave it an
impetus never before witnessed.
 Death March
• April 9, 1942 – The prisoners were
disarmed and was told to march to
Balanga
• April 10-15, 1942
• From Bataan to Camp O’ Donnell
• 76,000 POWS were captured
 Reforming the Philippine Government
• On December 2, 1942 – The KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong
Pilipinas), a non-political party, was established.
• KALIBAPI’s aim was to bring about the rapid reconstruction of the
Philippines and the rehabilitation of the Filipino people.
• June 18, 1943 – KALIBAPI members appointed a committee to nominate the
members of the Preparatory Commission for Philippine
Independence(PCPI).
• When Laurel, Aquino and Vargas returned to Manila from Tokyo, the
government announced two days later the inauguration of the Republic of
the Philippines would be on October 14.
• The Japanese worked for the enlistment of the Philippines into the Greater
East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
The Second Republic of the Philippines
• June 19, 1943 – KALIBAPI, only political party that time,
held a convention and “elected” 20 members of
Preparatory Commission for Philippine
Independence (PCPI, Please Cancel Philippine
Independence)as in-charge of framing a constitution for
the forthcoming “Republic”
o To elect 54 members of the National Assembly
President: Jose P. Laurel
Vice President: Benigno Aquino Sr.
Ramon Anancena
• Inauguration – October 14, 1943
o On the steps of the legislative building in Manila
o Philippine flag was hoisted as the national anthem was played.
• Meanwhile…
o Japanese started using propaganda to gain the trust and confidence of
Filipinos who refused to cooperate with them.
o Hung giant posters and distributed their materials that contain slogans
such as “The Philippines belong to the Filipinos.”
o Also used newspapers, movies, and others to publicize the same idea.

Promoting Japanese propaganda was one of the main objectives of the

KALIBAPI but still, Japanese failed to gain the trust of the Filipinos.
 The “Puppet” Government
• Although the Japanese had promised independence for the islands after
occupation, they initially organized a Council of State through which they
directed civil affairs until October 1943, when they declared the Philippines
an independent republic.
• The only political party allowed during the occupation was the Japanese-
organized KALIBAPI.
• During the occupation, most Filipinos remained loyal to the United
States, and war crimes committed by forces of the Empire of Japan against
surrendered Allied forces and civilians were documented.
• On the same day, the Philippine Executive
Commission was established by the Japanese High
Command, composed of Mr. Vargas as Chairman
with other 6 Filipino department secretaries,
namely:
o Benigno S. Aquino (Commissioner of the Interior)
o Antonio de las Alas (Finance)
o Jose P. Laurel (Justice)
o Rafael Alunan (Agriculture and Commerce)
o Claro M. Recto (Education, Health and Public Welfare)
o QuintinParedes (Public Works and Communication)
 The Philippine Executive Commission
• Established on January 23, 1942
Chairperson: Jorge Vargas
Department Heads
Interior: Benigno Aquino Sr.
Finance: Antonio delas Alas
Justice: Jose P. Laurel
Education, Health & Public Welfare: Claro M. Recto
Public Works & Communication: Quintin Paredes
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Jose Yulo
• New Constitution
oNoticeably lacked a bill of rights
oContained 12 articles lifted from the 1935
constitution that fitted the wishes of the
Japanese.
oWas meant to be in effect only temporarily, while
the Philippines still in chaos.
• September 4, 1943: Constitution was brought to the public
• September 7, 1943: Ratification of the Japanese-sponsored
Constitution (Preamble and twelve articles)
• October 14, 1943: the inauguration of the Second Philippine
republic, however, this “Puppet Republic” was not taken seriously
by the people as well as the international community. (Laurel and
the rest of Filipino leaders served as puppet of the Japanese
authorities’ for real executive and legislative powers lay on the
hands of the Japanese military leaders.)
 Problems of the Republic
Problems of the Republic
During his term in office, Laurel was faced with various
problems that the country was experiencing, such as the
following:
Shortages of food, clothing, oil, and other necessities.
Heavy Japanese military presence throughout the entire
region.
Japanese control of transportation, media, and
communications.
 Resistance
• Japanese occupation of the Philippines was opposed by active and
successful underground and guerrilla activity that increased over
the years and that eventually covered a large portion of the
country.
• The Philippine guerrilla movement continued to grow, in spite of
Japanese campaigns against them.
• The island of Mindanao, being farthest from the center of
Japanese occupation, had 38,000 guerrillas who were eventually
consolidated under the command of American civil engineer
Colonel Wendell Fertig.
• One resistance group in the Central Luzon area
was known as the Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan
Laban sa Hapon), or the People's Anti-Japanese
Army, organized in early 1942 under the leadership
of Luis Taruc, a communist party member since
1939.
• USAFFE forces in Bataan continued to oppose the Japanese. They withstood
the attacks of the enemy. delayed Gen. Homma’s timetable. The expected
capture of the Philippines in 60 days lasted for 3 months. There was also
resistance in Panay and Mindanao.
• March 1942 - Quezon and his family were evacuated from Corregidor to
Australia. -He left Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos as acting President in case
he and VPres. Osmeña were killed or captured by the Japanese. Quezon was
later brought to the US where he set up a government in exile in Washington.
• DANAS – District And Neighborhood Associations. Organized by Chairman
Vargas on August 8, 1942. provides means of self-protection to the local
residents.
 The “Huks”
• Agreed to fight the Japanese as a unified guerilla army.
• Farmers of Pampanga banded together and created local
brigades for their protection.
o Luis Taruc
o Juan Feleo
o Castro Alejandrino

• They agreed to call their organization Hukbo ng Bayan

Laban sa mga Hapon or HUKBALAHAP.
o Luis Taruc was the leader
o Alejandrino was the right hand
o Members were simply called the “Huks”
 The Return of Magellan
• On October 20, 1944 MacArthur waded ashore onto the Philippine island of Leyte.
That day, he made a radio broadcast in which he declared, “People of the
Philippines, I have returned!”.
• In January 1945, his forces invaded the main Philippine island of Luzon. In
February, Japanese forces at Bataan were cut off, and Corregidor was captured.
Manila, the Philippine capital, fell in March and in June MacArthur announced his
offensive operations on Luzon to be at an end
• Although scattered Japanese resistance continued until the end of the war, in
August. Only one-third of the men MacArthur left behind in March 1942 survived to
see his return. “I’m a little late,” he told them, “but we finally came.”
 Surrender of Japan
• September 2, 1945.
• By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable
of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was
imminent.
• Japan was persuading the Soviet to mediate peace that is
favorable to Japan while the Soviet was secretly planning to attack
Japan.
• August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the
city of Hiroshima.
• August 8, 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan.
• August 9, 1945, the Soviet Union invaded the Imperial Japanese
puppet state of Manchukuo.
• Later that same day, the United States dropped a second atomic
bomb, this time on the city of Nagasaki.
• Emperor Hirohito to intervene and order the Big Six to accept the
terms for ending the war that the Allies had set down in
the Potsdam Declaration.The surrender ceremony was held on
September 2, aboard the United States Navy
battleship USS Missouri (BB-63), at which officials from the
Japanese government signed the Japanese Instrument of
Surrender, thereby ending the hostilities in World War II.
• The state of war between Japan and the Allies
formally ended when the Treaty of San
Francisco came into force on April 28, 1952.
• Four more years passed before Japan and the
Soviet Union signed the Soviet–Japanese Joint
Declaration of 1956, which formally brought an
end to their state of war.
References:
• Books such as:
1. The Philippines Under Japan: Occupation Policy and Reaction
2. Philippine History
• Various sites from the world wide web