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U.S. Psychological Warfare against the Japanese Homeland and Their Reactions during the Pacific War of 1941-45

Jang, Hoi-Sik 1

1광운대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to further our understanding the conduct of American psychological warfare against the Japanese homeland and their reactions during the Pacific War in order to induce demoralization among Japanese people and thus hasten Japan's defeat. Two policies, as a 'devide and rule' tactic, were central to American psywar operations: to tell the truth and to refrain from criticizing Japanese emperor Hirohito and ordinary Japanese. The strategy of truth was designed primarily to establish and maintain the credibility of information disseminated by Americans. It enabled propagandists to establish trust between themselves and the Japanese people they hoped to influence. It dictated that psywarriors induce despair within the enemy's ranks by distributing accurate information. The decision not to criticize the Japanese emperor was astute. Rather than blaming the emperor for the devastating results of the war, which would have alienated the target audience, American propaganda portrayed Hirohito and ordinary Japanese as an unwitting victim of the militarists who controlled Japan and were always criticized by American psywarriors. Japanese authorities made a considerable effort to prevent the effectiveness of American psychological warfare. The Japanese reactions to American propaganda were that the early leaflet efforts were unsuccessful, partly because they were poorly adapted to the target. As the war situation worsened and quality of leaflets improved, however, they met acceptance, especially from the early summer 1945 on. What has to be noted is that the leaflet disseminated on the homeland saying that the Japanese government accepted the Potsdam Declaration for surrender, influenced Hirohito's decision to issue an Imperial Rescript ending the war.

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