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The issue of survival is well categorised in all the posts - namely, the shortages of necessities/food, the spread of diseases and the relocation of the citizens. The issues of survival are well-captured. You can use this for your essay.

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Well consolidated details on the range of entertainment and leisure activities allowed during the Japanese Occupation. Very well-elaborated and detailed! You can use this for your essay.

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The people’s struggles for survival were brought by the Japanese rule in Singapore in different aspects, one of them being having to deal with shortages. Since the war had disrupted trade, limiting the import of goods into Singapore, and caused most of the available resources to be channelled to Japan’s war efforts rather than to the people, it had led to a shortage of food and essential items. Thus, essential food items like rice, salt and sugar were strictly rationed and  limited to a fixed quantity for the locals to obtain using ration coupons. This shortage of items caused drastic inflation, with prices increasing rapidly. As a result, the black market flourished. The Japanese’s response was to print more money, their “banana notes” currency, resulting in massive drops in the value of these notes. By the end of the Japanese Occupation, these notes essentially became worthless.

Another struggle they had was with diseases and death. Healthcare and sanitation worsened in the country, since it had hardly been a priority of the colonial authorities before the outbreak of war. Considering this factor with the food shortages, the death rate climbed, with 130,000 deaths between 1942 and 1945, which was double the number between 1937 and 1940. Primary causes of death were diseases such as beriberi, pneumonia and dysentery. A group that endured particularly harsh living conditions was the Prisoners Of War and the civilian prisoners. They faced continual shortages of food and medicine, and acute overcrowding, where Changi Prison held up to 5000 prisoners when it was only designed for 600. These living conditions led to poor hygiene and the spread of diseases. The Prisoners Of War were used as forced labour as well, where about 16,000 had died under horrific working conditions for the construction of the Siam-Burma Railway.

The last issue they had encountered was relocations. During the Japanese Occupation, people were encouraged to strive for self-sufficiency by growing their own food. However, this failed to ease the food shortage, causing the Japanese to resort to relocating people from Singapore to rural areas outside the country to increase agricultural output. The Chinese were encourage to move to the Endau settlement in Johor, where there was rich soil and an ample water supply. The plan had succeeded as it was self-sufficient, until attacks by bandits and anti-Japanese guerrillas had disrupted the peace in the settlement. A few months after setting up Endau, the Japanese created the Bahau settlement. However, the land was too hilly and the soil too poor for agriculture. This led to people even resorting to eating rats and maggots, causing many of them to perish.

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Good examples supported with excellent details and elaborations. You can use these examples as part of your notes for essay writing on this topic.  I like how the examples are categorised. Good categories.

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tianqi

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tianqi

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Many people under the Japanese Occupation struggled to survive due to shortages of basic necessities, spread of disease and relocation to rural areas outside of Singapore.

As the war had disrupted trade, it limited the import of goods into Singapore from overseas. Furthermore, most of the available resources was channeled to Japan’s war efforts. Through these 2 factors, it led to a shortage of food and essential items. In the first few weeks, basic essentials like salt, sugar and rice were rationed. These shortage of items raised the prices of items in shops as as they did not have enough goods to cater to the needs of the people. This caused drastic inflation and the black market flourished. People had to pay extremely high prices for basic necessities. The Japanese responded by printing more money, known as “banana notes”. This did not help as the value of the value of the notes dropped in value, and the people still suffered from starvation from the lack of food.

Healthcare and sanitation was worsened during the Japanese Occupation, which was already a problem from colonial times. As the locals were already weakened by the lack of food, and the death rate increased rapidly. Diseases like beriberi, pneumonia and dysentery would run rampant among the locals due to poor living conditions and malnutrition. POWs and civilian prisoners endured particularly hard living conditions, who faced continual shortages of food and medicine, and acute overcrowding. In addition, the POWs were also used for forced labour. This would aggravate their illnesses and injuries further. They were forced to clear war damage, bury the dead and build Japanese war memorial shrines. They were also sent to work on the Siam- Burma railway, which about 16,000 died under bad working conditions.

Due to the food shortage, The Japanese resorted to relocating people from Singapore to increase agricultural output. The Chinese were encouraged to move to the Endau Settlement, which had rich soil and ample water supply, making it suitable for farming. However, attacks by bandits and anti-Japanese guerrillas later disrupted the peace in the settlement. Eurasians and Chinese Roman Catholics were moved to the Bahau settlement, where the land was to hilly to support agriculture and the people resorted to eating rats and maggots, where many of them perished.

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Meted out Harsh Punishments
The Japanese melt out harsh punishments on criminals and other people seen by the Japanese as enemies. To put an end to the looting that happened after British surrender, the Japanese executed those who were caught and displayed their head in open areas to act as a reminder to the other locals not to steal. Harsh punishments instilled fear and served as a warning to every citizen.

The Kempeitai would use force to control the citizens. Those who were caught being anti-Japanese were arrested and rewards were offered to those who informed the authorities of those who were anti-Japanese. Anti-Japanese people would be beaten or tortured until they revealed information that the Japanese wanted. Many people learnt to go about their business quietly and not be disobedient in case they drew attention from the Japanese soldiers.

Imprisoning Allied Soldiers
When the Japanese took control of the island, they had plans to deal with the Allied troops and the people in Singapore. One of the first things that the Japanese did was to imprison the British, Australians and Allied Europeans in Singapore, including women and children. The Allied prisoners of war (POWs) were forced to march in public from Bukit Timah Road to Changi Prison and the barracks nearby, where they would be imprisoned. Along the way, many civilians passed the POWs food and money, despite the risk of being punished by the Japanese.

Carrying Out Operation SookChing
Soon after taking control of Singapore, the Japanese forces carried out Operation Sook Ching ("Cleansing") which aimed to identify and eliminate anti-Japanese elements among the local population. It was a brutal purge of members of the Chinese community who were suspected of being anti-Japanese.
The Kempeitai was placed in charge of this fearsome operation. The Chinese population was targeted as they were viewed by the Japanese as a potential source of opposition and threat to their rule. This was because when the Japanese invaded China in 1937, they faced strong resistance from the Chinese, including Chinese communities living outside China.

The Japanese posted notices requiring all Chinese men aged 18 to 50 to assemble at mass screening centres to be examined by the Japanese.

Japanese records estimate that 6,000 people were killed during the operation. However, other estimates show the figure to be between 25.000 and 50,000.

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Good details on the responses. You have all accurately identified the two responses - collaboration and resistance. Details for the two responses were well elaborated. Excellent details. You can use this for your essay.

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Good details here and you have also accurately identified and elaborated on the factors leading to the indoctrination I.e through education (language) and encouraging Japanese traditions (Japanese spirit). Well-supported examples. You can use this in your essay.

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Very solid details on the soft approach towards control - good categories identified. Propaganda and Incentives. You can use this for your essay writing.

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tian Qi

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tian Qi

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There were 2 types of responses from the locals, one type being collaboration and the other being resistance.

The locals wanted to collaborate with the Japanese as the Malays were given duties such as policing and being part of the neighbourhood associations which reported suspicious hostile activity against the regime. Some Chinese were also given duties such as informants for the Kempeitai during Operation Sook Ching, to help root out those who seemed to be anti-Japanese.

The second type of response from the locals was resistance. Many people were against the ill-treatment of locals and took up arms or joined resistance forces. Two prominent resistance forces were the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army(MPAJA) and Force 136, which was a secret organisation set up by the British to collect information about the Japanese and organise sabotage activities. Both groups worked with the British to drive the Japanese out of Singapore. The members of MPAJA would carry out sabotage attacks on the Japanese when possible and aroused anti-Japanese sentiments among the people by the distribution of anti-Japanese newspapers and posters. Two very notable and prominent figures in the resistance were Lim Bo Seng, a local businessman and Elizabeth Choy, a canteen operator at the Mental Hospital with her husband. Lim Bo Seng organised anti-Japanese activities when war broke out between Japan and China in the 1930s. He was then recruited as an agent of Force 136 and linked up with local resistance organisations to fight against the Japanese. He was however, captured in March 1944 and tortured for information. He did not reveal anything but soon died in prison on 29 June 1944. Elizabeth Choy and her husband secretly delivered food, money, medicine and messages to British POWs. As a result, she was imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese for nearly 200 days at the Kempeitai headquarters on Stamford Road. After war ended, she did not reveal the names of her torturers and instead said that they acted that way due to wat circumstances. To recognise her courage, she was awarded the Order of British Empire (OBE) and the Order of the Star of Sarawak.

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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In the process of gaining control over Singapore, one of the methods that the Japanese used was by using force.

The Japanese had several ways of using force, one of which was meting out harsh punishments. Throughout the Japanese Occupation, harsh punishments were imposed on criminals and other people seen by the Japanese as their enemies. These harsh punishments instilled fear into the civilians and people living in Singapore. For example, the Japanese executed those who were caught looting just after the British surrender. Their heads were displayed publicly in places such as the open area outside the Cathay Building, and in bridges across the Singapore River. These punishments served as severe earnings to the people about the consequences of going against the Japanese.

One group that many people feared was the Kempeitai, the Japanese military police. The Kempeitai arrested those who were suspected of being anti-Japanese and food and cash rewards were also awarded to encourage people to inform authorities of anyone they suspected of being involved in anti-Japanese activities. Anti-Japanese suspects would be beaten or tortured until they revealed information that the Japanese wanted. In some cases, those who were suspected of anti-Japanese activities were imprisoned or executed. Over time, civilians learnt to go about their business and daily lives quietly, so as to not appear disobedient in case they drew the unwanted attention of the Japanese authorities.

The Japanese also imprisoned allied soldiers once the Japanese took control of the island. One of the first things that the Japanese did was to imprison the British, Australians and Allied Europeans in Singapore, including women and children. The Allied prisoners of war were forced to march in public from Bukit Timah Road to Changi Prison and the barracks nearby, where they would be imprisoned. Along the way, many civilians passed the POWs food and money, despite the risk of being punished by the Japanese.

The Japanese also carried out Operation Sook Ching, which was a brutal purging aimed to identify and eliminate anti-Japanese elements from the local population. It consisted of members of the Chinese community who were suspected of being anti-Japanese. The Kempeitai was placed in charge of this fearsome operation. The Chinese population was targeted as a potential source of opposition and threat to Japanese rule. This was because when the Japanese invaded China in 1937, they faced strong resistance from the Chinese, including Chinese communities living outside of China. The Japanese posted notices requiring all Chinese men aged 18 to 50 to assemble at mass screening centres to be examined by the Japanese. Japanese records estimate that 6000 people were killed during the operation. However, other estimated show the figure to be between 25,000 and 50,000.

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Once the British had surrendered, the Japanese had used force to gain control of Singapore such as melting out harsh punishments, imprisoning the Allied Soldiers, coercing the Chinese Business community and carrying out operation Sook Ching.

Melting out harsh punishments:
Punishments were given to criminals and anyone who were seen as enemies by the Japanese such as the anti-Japanese.
For example, criminals who were caught from looting were executed by the Japanese with their heads displayed in public for others to see.
The Kempeitai had also arrested any suspects of being anti-Japanese and would be beaten and tortured till they revealed information the Japanese wanted. At times, these suspects may also be executed or imprisoned.
These served as warning signs and created fear for people who went against the Japanese would receive such a consequence which made people learn to obey the Japanese and not draw any unwanted attention of the upper authorities.

Imprisoning Allied soldiers:
The Japanese had to deal with all the allied soldiers in Singapore and had imprisoned the British, Australians and Allied Europeans, including women and children at Changi Prison. They, known as the Prisoners of War (POWs) had to march from Bukit Timah to Changi Prison where civilians tried passing food and money to them despite the risk of being caught.

Coercing the Chinese Business Community:
The Chinese businessmen were also targeted due to their generous contributions to the China Relief fund, which supported China's resistance against Japan. The Overseas Chinese Association (OCA) was created to act as a channel of communication between the Chinese community and Japanese government where Dr Lim Boon Keng was appointed head of the OCA. To punish them for their support in anti-Japanese war activities in China and the British war efforts in Malaya and Singapore, the Japanese demanded a sum of 50 million Straits dollars to the Japanese administration.

Carrying out Operation Sook Ching:
It named Sook Ching, meaning 'Cleansing' aimed to eliminate any anti-Japanese elements in the community. The Kempeitai were in charge of it.
It was a brutal purge for the members of the Chinese community as they were seem as a potential source of opposition and threat to their rule due to their past, where the Japanese invaded China in 1937 and faced strong resistance from them.
The Japanese had posted notices for all Chinese men aged 18-50 to assemble at mass screening centres to be examined by the Japanese. They had specific details to look out for when carrying out the screening. Should they have passed the screening, they would be given a stamp to be identified as not anti-Japanese on a piece of paper, clothing, face, arm or shoulder.
It was said by the Japanese records that 6000 people were killed during the operation however, other estimates shown the figure to be 25,000 to 50,000.

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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The locals responded to the Japanese rule in different ways. Mainly collaboration and resistance. The majority tried to get by with their daily lives without attracting the attention of the Japanese. Some collaborated willingly while others were forced by circumstances to do so. Others took the decision to actively resist. The Japanese were readily seeking support from the Malays in administering Japanese rule, other groups were also enlisted to assist the Japanese in establishing their authority. For instance, some of the Chinese became informants for the kempeitai during the Sook Ching operation. These people collaborated with the Japanese. However, not all decided to take the easy way out. Some decided to resist Japanese rule. For instance, the senior officers of the Malay regiment refused to pledge loyalty to and fight for the Japanese and thus they were subsequently executed. Some others took up arms and joined resisting forces in response to the ill-treatment of the locals. These people worked with the British to drive the Japanese out of Singapore. They also distributed anti-Japanese newspapers and posters and carried out sabotage attacks.

Overall, the locals responded to Japanese rule in various ways which includes collaboration and resistance.

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One way the Japanese used to win over the locals was by using propaganda. The Japanese portrayed themselves as liberators who had come to free asians from their colonisers. They tried to convince locals to accept their vision of the greater east Asia co-prosperity sphere, in which Japan would free Asian nations from western colonising powers. These messages were spread through channels such as posters and radio broadcasts. The Japanese also used propaganda to influence the Indian community by promising to help free India from the British. Another way the Japanese used to win local support was by providing schooling and accommodation at no cost. The Japanese also favoured certain ethnic groups. When a malay nationalist group started reacting positively towards Japanese propaganda, the Malays started being treated less harshly.

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The Japanese authorities allowed some leisure activities and entertainment to continue, to maintain the image of a harmonious and happy society. They introduced radio programmes consisting of Japanese songs, Malay music, and news in Hokkien and Cantonese. There was also Japanese movies and documentaries at cinemas, plus free open-air screening of propaganda shows. In addition, sports and cultural activities were encouraged to reduce the stress of wartime conditions of the local population. Hence, notices of football, baseball, tennis and badminton matches appeared almost everyday in the media, as well as boxing matches at Kim Seng Road, and police band performances at the Botanic Gardens. The Prisoners Of War also tried to keep their spirits up despite their miserable living conditions by organising and participating in social, religious and sporting activities. For example, publishing a newspaper, organising theatrical performances and church services, and painting murals at Changi Chapel.

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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The Japanese also indoctrinated the Japanese culture on the local in order to win their loyalty. One of the ways they did this was by teaching the Japanese language, Nippon-Go, in schools instead of English. They even sent adults back to school to learn the language as well. They used a multitude of methods to motivate people to learn Nippon-Go.

They also introduced the Japanese Spirit, ‘Nippon seishin’ which helped to foster a sense of loyalty and identity amongst them. For example, in schools, students had to sing the Japanese national anthem and bow before a picture of the Japanese Emperor during morning assembly. They even introduced many forms of Japanese daily mass exercises to the people. They promoted fitness amongst locals and even trained some of them in traditional Japanese martial arts. These activities helped to propagate the Japanese Spirit in Singapore. By imposing the Japanese Culture on the locals, they were able to get the people of Singapore to support them in their plan to gain control over Asia.

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The locals had two different responses to the Japanese rule which was collaboration and resistance.

The Malays were very supportive of the Japanese as they were given duties such as policing and being part of neighbourhood associations that would report on suspected hostile activity against the regime. Other groups also enlisted to assist the Japanese in establishing their authority. This shows that they were willing to collaborate with the Japanese to bring them success. This group of people also included the Chinese who became informants for the kempeitai during Operation Sook Ching, helping to root out those seen to be anti-Japanese. The locals approved the presence of the Japanese and they were on their side.

The second response the locals had towards the Japanese rule was resistance. Not everyone was willing to cooperate or accept the Japanese rule. For example, seven senior officers of the Malay regiment refused to pledge loyalty to and fight for Japan. Hence, they were executed. Others responded to the ill-treatment of the locals by taking up arms and joining restance forces Twe pro mine roBe 136. Both groups had and joining resistance forces. Two prominent groups were the Malayan the common goal of driving the lapanese out of Singapore and worked with the British to do so. Members of MPAJA would carry out sabotage attacks on Japanese officers and their men whenever they had the chance. As part of the resistance, they also aroused anti-Japanese sentiments among the people by distributing anti-Japanese newspapers and posters. Force 136, a secret organisation set up by the British, would gather information about the Japanese and also organise sabotage activities. One notable figure in the resistance was Lim Bo Seng, a local businessman. He was against the Japanese rule and organised anti-Japanese activities and boycott their goods. He fought against the Japanese using guerrilla tactics. However, he was captured and tortured for information by the Japanese. Although he was caught, he never revealed anything to his captors and ended up passing away in prison on 29 June 1944. Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Choy. During the Japanese Occupation, Choy worked as a canteen operator with her husband at the Mental Hospital (present-day Institute of Mental Health). They secretly delivered food, money, medicine and messages to British POWs. As a result, she was imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese at the Kempeitai headquarters on Stamford Road for close to 200 days. After the war, however, she did not name her torturers, saying that they had acted that way because of war circumstances. In recognition of her courage, Choy was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE and the Order of the Star of Sarawak.

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One method used by the Japanese to win loyalty is using propaganda. Propaganda was used to influence the minds of the people in Singapore to gain their loyalty. The Japanese portrayed themselves as liberators who had come to free the asians from colonial rule, trying to convince the locals to accept their vision of the Greater East Asia  Co-Prosperity Sphere in which Japan would free Asian nations from the control of western colonial powers. This vision also pressed for a united Asia that would benefit from sharing resources collectively. These messages were spread through various channels such as posters and radio broadcasts.
Such propaganda was also used by the Japanese to get the Indian community to look upon the Japanese rule favourably. The Japanese promised to help free India from the British as they were aware that some Indian immigrants were influenced by the rise of anti British settlements.
The INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY (INA) was thus formed with Japanese support to recruit Indians to fight against the British in India. It was led by Subha Chandra Bose, a prominent Indian politician who campaigned for India’s independence from British rule. His charismatic presence attracted many recruits. However, not all Indians allied with the Japanese; many of those who remained loyal to the British were imprisoned.

Another method used by the Japanese to win loyalty was providing benefits to the locals.
The Japanese provided certain benefits, such as schooling and accommodations, at no cost. For example, school textbooks were provided free of charge to 20,000 students in 1944.
The Japanese also appealed to some ethnic groups by giving them favourable treatment. The Malay nationalist organisation Kesatuan Melayu Muda ( Union of Malay youth or KMM ) responded positively to japanese propaganda that promised better lives for Malays under an Asian power. This resulted in Malays being treated less harshly by the Japanese. For instance, the Japanese distributed rice, sugar and salt to the less fortunate for Hari Raya Puasa. Malays and Indians were also charges lower fees than the Chinese to cross the Causeway.

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To win loyalty of the locals, the Japanese immersed the locals into traditions of Japan. Japanese culture was held up for all to follow and was imposed in a few ways, such as making students and adults learn the their culture and language. By doing that, the Japanese wanted to root in Singaporeans in the Japanese spirit.

They  taught the locals the Japanese Language (Nippon-go). Lessons were conducted daily over the school's broadcasting services. Furthermore, books full of praises for the greatness and beauty about Japan were given to beginners.
Apart from students, many adults also had to learn the language, and teachers had to attend language classes several times a week. To motivate people, competitions,awards,extra rations and salary increments were imposed.

They wanted to cultivate the Japanese spirit into to foster a sense of loyalty and identity. Students had to sing the "Kimigayo", the Japanese national anthem and bow to pictures of the emperor before the day begin. Additionally, daily mass exercises were conducted to instil discipline and promote fitness among the masses. Some students were taught kendo and judo.

people were also made to follow the Japanese calendar and celebrate festivals and anniversaries corresponding to those in Japan, for citizens to know and recognise these events. Propaganda images such as posters were used by the Japanese to spread their messages to the people in Singapore such that they can better understand the Japanese aims

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tianqi

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tianqi

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One of the methods the Japanese used to gain loyalty is to impose the Japanese culture upon the locals. They taught the Japanese language in schools for children and adults were also required to take lessons. Students were required to read and write in Japanese instead of English. Lessons were broadcasted daily and the authorities published a book of the Japanese language for beginners. This would allow the people to adapt quicker to Japanese rule.

They also tried to cultivate the Japanese spirit by fostering a sense of loyalty and identity, such as singing the Japanese anthem and bow before the picture of the Japanese anthem. Students were also taught Japanese martial arts like kendo and judo. Through these, they would try to make the locals feel a sense of belonging and identity to Japan and the Japanese culture, making the people feel more loyal to the Japanese.

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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In life under the Japanese, the locals were allowed some entertainment and activities to maintain the appearance of a harmonious society. Some examples are radio programmes that consist of Japanese songs, Malay music, news in Hokkien and Cantonese, Japanese movies and documentaries at cinemas, and free open-air screenings of propaganda shows. To reduce stress on the locals due to the wartime conditions, the Japanese officials encouraged sports and cultural activities. Examples of these are daily sports matches in the media, boxing matches at Kim Seng Road, and the performance by the police band at Botanic Gardens. The POW also organised and participated in social, religious and sporting events for the locals during the harsh living conditions. These include publishing newspapers, organising theatrical performances and church services, and painting murals at Changi Chapel.

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah Tianqi

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah Tianqi

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To maintain the facade of a happy and harmonious society, the Japanese authorities allowed some leisure and entertainment for the people.

They introduced radio programmes consisting of Japanese songs and Malay music, news in Hokkein and Cantonese, Japanese movies and documentaries in cinemas ad=nd free open air screening of propaganda shows.

The Japanese also encouraged the locals to play sports and do cultural activities to reduce the stress of wartime conditions on the people. They would issue notices of tennis, football and badminton matches in the media, and boxing matches took place at Kim Seng Road and the police band performed at Botanic Gardens.

The POWs also tried to keep their spirits up by organising and participating in social, religious and sporting activities like publishing newspapers, painting at Changi Chapel and organising church and theatrical performances.

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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Sudiksha, Allison, Sophie, Davina, Dhanyaa

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The Japanese used many tactics to win the loyalty of the locals to establish control over Singapore. One of the ways they did this was by using propaganda. They made themselves look like ‘heros’ there to save and free Asians from the Western colonial powers. With their Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere as a vision, they convinced the people of Singapore to support this vision by claiming it would benefit Asia. They spread this information through posters, radio broadcasts and more. They also gained the support of the Indian Community by influencing them to think that the Japanese would help free them from the British.

Another way they gained the loyalty of the locals was by providing them with benefits, like free textbooks. They also favored certain ethnic groups over others and gave them benefits like being better treated or lower fees. For example, Malays and Indians were charged lower fees to cross the Causeway compared to the Chinese. These are some of the ways that the Japanese won over the locals to gain control over the country.

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During the Japanese occupation, Japan limited the number of food going towards the people as they were not a priority. Trade was also disrupted, hence the import of food and goods were limited heavily. However, Japan could not afford to waste money, thus the money went to its own country for war efforts. This meant that food in Singapore was scarce, and the locals were only given a small amount of food, barely enough for survival, a day. By then, the black market, a place where normal items were sold at expensive prices, flourished as people were desperate for their survival. The Japanese government also printed many banana notes, hence their value dropped drastically.

Survival was difficult due to the spread of diseases due to poor sanitation. This is because POWs had to live in impoverished states, where they had to squeeze into a single room. Hence, they were forced to live in overcrowded conditions, thus leading to the spread of diseases within one another.

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To maintain the appearance of a harmonious and happy society, the Japanese authorities allowed some leisure activities and entertainment to continue. They introduced radio programmes consisting of Japanese songs, Malay music, and news in Hokkien and Cantonese; Japanese movies and documentaries at cinemas; and free open-air screenings of propaganda shows.

In addition, the Japanese officials encouraged sports and cultural activities to reduce the stress of wartime conditions on the local population. Notices of football. baseball, tennis and badminton matches appeared almost every day in the media.

Having to endure miserable living conditions, the POWs also tried to keep their spirits up by organising and participating in social, religious and sporting activities like publishing a newspaper, organising theatrical performances and church services, and painting murals at Changi Chapel.

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Jennifer, Jia Xin, Daniella, Sade, Amber

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Jennifer, Jia Xin, Daniella, Sade, Amber

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The Japanese captured the Allied soldiers, and imprisoned all the Europeans. They brought many of the POWs to Kanchanaburi, Thailand to help build the Thai-Burma Railway, more famously known as the Death Railway, due to the amount of POWs that perished while working there. The Japanese forced these POWs to work hard labour, with minimal food, water and rest. At least 90,000 labourers and more than 12,000 POWs were killed in the process, thus showing the harsh methods of control the Japanese used to strike fear into the people.

The Japanese carried out a mass massacre of the local male Chinese population, called the Sook Ching. It was aimed at eliminating the Chinese who supported the war effort in China, those who served as volunteers in the defence of Malaya and Singapore, as well as those who worked for the British. The Sook Ching caused the death of an estimated 25,000 to 50,000 people, which incited fear into the people, making them submit to the Japanese in fear of being killed off as well.

The Japanese also used torture to extract information from people, or punish them if they disobeyed orders. It was called ‘The Kempeitai Way’. The Kempeitai were the military police of the Imperial Japanese Army, and they were ruthless in their ways, as they were considered above the law, thus punishing the local people as they wished. The Kempeitai’s torture methods included waterboarding, whipping…etc.. An example was the Kempeitai beheading shoplifters and displaying their heads in the center of the market as a warning for the local people to obey them.

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tianqi

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tianqi

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-One method the Japanese used to win loyalty was using propaganda to influence the minds of the people in Singapore and gain their loyalty. The Japanese portrayed themselves as liberators who had come to free themselves from colonial rule. They also tried to convince the locals to accept their vision of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in which Japan would free Asian nations from the control of Western powers. Through this, it would convince the people the Japan was their heroes to save them from colonial rule, thus winning the loyalty of the people.

-Another method of winning loyalty of the people is providing benefits to the locals. The Japanese provided certain benefits like schooling and accommodation for free. They also appealed favourably to some ethnic groups like the Malays as they had originally responded positively to Japanese rule due to the Japanese propaganda that promised better lives for Malays. Thus Malays were treated less harshly by the Japanese like the Japanese dishing out rice, sugar and salt to the less fortunate for Hari Raya Puasa, and Malays and Indians were charged less than Chinese to cross the Causeway. Through this, it would bribe the locals to be loyal to the Japanese and continue being so to gain access to these benefits.

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Alexa, Reiko, Charlotte Lim, Zoey, Haau Yahn

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Alexa, Reiko, Charlotte Lim, Zoey, Haau Yahn

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The Japanese introduced radio programmes consisting of entertainment and news from different ethnic groups. There were also Japanese movies and documentaries at cinemas and free screenings of propaganda shows. The Japanese officials also encouraged sports and cultural activists to reduce stress during the war. The POWs also tried to keep their spirits ups by organising and participating in social, religious and sporting activities. For example, they would publish newspaper, organise theatrical performances and church services, and painting murals at Changi Chapel.

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tianqi

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Latifaa, Charlotte Loh, Sam, Sarah, Tianqi

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-One method of control the Japanese used is meting out harsh punishments. Harsh punishments were imposed by the Japanese to criminals or to people they perceived as a threat. For example, to put an end to looting that was happening after the war, the Japanese executed those who stole and displayed their heads in open areas like the cathay building and over the Singapore river. This created fear and tension and warned the people about the consequences of going up against the Japanese.

The Kempeitai arrested those of being suspected of being anti Japanese. People ratted out one another as food or cash were given out to whoever informed the authorities of somebody suspicious. Thus, this created distrust and suspicion among the people. Anti-Japanese suspects would be tortured until they revealed information that the Japanese wanted. Thus people became more terrified of the Japanese and learnt not to go up against them or attract their attention.

-Another method the Japanese used is imprisoning the allied soldiers. When the Japanese took over Singapore, they imprisoned many Allied POWs and forced them to march in public from Bukit Timah Road to Changi Prison and the barracks nearby. This would humiliate the Allied soldiers and convey to the public that the Japanese were more powerful than the British.

Another method is carrying our operation Sook Ching. Due to the war against China in which they faced great resistance from the Chinese and Chinese communities outside China, the Japanese targeted the Chinese in Singapore as they viewed them as potential threats to their rule. Operation Sook Ching was a purge of ethnic Chinese who were suspected to be anti-Japanese. The Japanese screened men aged 18-50 to be examined. The Chinese who did not pass the screening test would be tied up and kept under guard, and were transported to Punggol or Changi were they were executed in the massacre. This further solidified the fear of the Japanese among the people.

-Another method the Japanese used is coercing the Chinese Business community. Many Chinese businessmen in Singapore contributed generously to the China Relief Fund, which supported China’s resistance against Japan. The Overseas Chinese Association was created to act as a channel of communication between the Chinese community and the Japanese government. The Japanese demanded that the OCA gift 50 million dollars to the Japanese administration to punish the Chinese community in Malaya and Singapore for supporting anti-Japanese war activities in China.

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Alexa Reiko Zoey Charlotte Lim Haau Yahn

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Alexa Reiko Zoey Charlotte Lim Haau Yahn

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The Japanese immersed the locals in their traditions, hoping to win the loyalty of the locals. The Japanese culture was held up as a model for all the follow and was imposed in a few ways. One of the key way the Japanese prompted their culture was through the teaching of the Japanese language (Nippon-go). Students were taught to write and speak in Japanese. These lessons were conducted daily over the schools’ broadcasting services. Japanese eduction authorities published a series of Nippon-go readers to teach beginners on the language. The books were full of praise for the beauty and greatness of Japan. Many adults also had to learn Nippon-go. Teachers were required to attend language class and language classes also became commonly featured in newspapers. They used competitions, awards, extra rations, salary increments and promotions to motivate people to learn Japanese.

The Japanese also made the children in Singapore follow the Japanese customs to instill the Japanese spirit in the population. Forexample, students were taught Japanese folk songs and they were made to sing the Japanese national anthem, as well as bow to a picture of the Japanese Emperor before the day began. The population in general were also made to do daily mass excercises, which were broadcast with instructions and music, made to emphasise physical education and discipline while promoting fitness. Some youths also received training in Japanese martial arts which also propagated the Japanese spirit in them.

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Alexa, Reiko, Charlotte Lim, Zoey, Haau Yahn 

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Alexa, Reiko, Charlotte Lim, Zoey, Haau Yahn 

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The locals had different responses to the Japanese rule. One of which was collaboration with the Japanese. For example, duties such as policing and being part of the neighbourhood associations that would report on suspected hostile activity against the regime was given to the Malays. Even the Chinese were enlisted to assist the Japanese, and this included the Chinese who became informants for the Kempeitai during Operation Sook Ching, helping to root out those suspected to be anti-Japanese.

Another response to the Japanese from the locals was resistance. For example, seven senior officers of the Malay Regiment refused to pledge loyalty to and fight for Japan. Others responded to the ill-treatment of the locals by taking up arms and joining resistance forces, two of them being the MPAJA and Force 136. They would attempt to sabotage the Japanese.
There were also 2 notable figures in the resistance, Lim Bo Seng and Elizabeth Choy. Lim Bo. Seng organised anti-Japanese activities such as the boycott of Japanese goods. Unfortunately in 1944, he was captured and tortured for information by the Japanese. Despite this, he refused to reveal any information. Elizabeth Choy worked as a canteen operator at a Mental hospital with her husband. They would secretly deliver food, money, medicine and messages to the British POWs. Similar to Lim Bo Seng, she was imprisoned and tortured as well at the Kempeitai headquarters for close to 200 days.

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Alexa, Reiko, Charlotte Lim, Zoey, Haau Yahn

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Alexa, Reiko, Charlotte Lim, Zoey, Haau Yahn

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The Japanese tried to win the locals’ loyalty by using propagandas to influence the minds of the people in Singapore. They tried to convince the locals that they were liberators who came to free Asians from colonial rule. They wanted the locals to accept their vision of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in which Japan would free Asian nations from the control of Western colonial powers. The Japanese also tried to use propaganda to get the Indian community to favour the Japanese rule. The Japanese were aware that some immigrants were influenced by the rise of anti-British sentiment, the Japanese promised to help free India from the British.

The Japanese also provided benefits to the locals such as schooling and accommodation, at no cost. For example, school textbooks were provided for free to 20,000 students in 1944. The Japanese also appealed to some ethnic groups by giving them favourable treatment. After the Malay nationalist organisation responded positively to Japanese propaganda that promised better lives for Malays under an Asian power, the Malays were less harshly treated by the Japanese.

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Allison, Davina, Dhanyaa, Sophie, Sudiksha

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Allison, Davina, Dhanyaa, Sophie, Sudiksha

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During the Japanese occupation, the locals lived in great hardship and fear daily. Many people struggled for survival due to a shortage of food, the spread of diseases and the relocation of some to rural areas outside Singapore.

There was a shortage of food due to trade being disrupted during the war, limiting the import of goods into Singapore from overseas. Furthermore, most of the available resources were channelled to the Japanese war efforts, including the Japanese soldiers and the Kempeitai, rather than to the people. As a result, this led to a shortage of food and essential items.

After the first few weeks of the Japanese occupation, essential food items such as rice and sugar were strictly rationed. The locals were limited to a fixed quantity of essential items that they could obtain using ration coupons. The shortage of food in shops led to a drastic inflation and people had to pay a lot for basic necessities. For example, before the Japanese occupation, an egg cost 3 cents; but during the occupation, the price of an egg went up to $3 and then $10 and still increased further.

During the occupation, the currency used was these notes called ‘banana notes’ because of the pictures of banana trees on the $10 notes. Whenever there was a shortage of money, the Japanese government decided to print more notes, leading to a drop in value of these notes. By the end of the occupation, the banana notes were practically worthless.

During the occupation, there was also a lot of spread of diseases such as pneumonia, dysentery, etc., as well as many deaths. During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, 130000 deaths were officially recorded, more than double the number between 1937 and 1940. One group that endured the harshest living conditions were the Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and civilian prisoners. They faced a shortage of food and medicine as well as greatly overcrowded living conditions. For example, Changi Prison was initially designed for around 600 prisoners but during the war, it housed up to 6000. These harsh living conditions led to an increase in deaths and diseases.

In addition, the POWs were used as forced labour by the Japanese. Most of these POWs were sent to work on the Siam-Burma railway (more commonly known as the “Death Railway”), where about 16000 POWs died under horrific working conditions.

Lastly, during the occupation, many citizens were encouraged to grow their own food and to relocate to parts of Malaysia. Firstly, the Chinese were encouraged to move to the Endau settlement in Johor where it thrived until they were attacked by the anti-Japanese guerillas later on. A few months later, the Japanese created another settlement called the Bahau settlement in Negeri Sembilan in Malaya. They encouraged the Eurasians and Chinese Roman Catholics to move there. However, unlike the Endau settlement, the land in the Bahau settlement was too hilly and the soil was too poor for agriculture. This led to a severe food shortage and many people resorted to eating rats and maggots and died as a result.

In conclusion, survival was difficult during the Japanese occupation, mainly because of severe food shortages, the spread of diseases and the harsh working and living conditions of the POWs and many others.

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Alexa, Reiko, Charlotte Lim, Zoey, Haau Yahn

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Alexa, Reiko, Charlotte Lim, Zoey, Haau Yahn

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During the Japanese occupation, many people struggled to survive. One of the reasons were dealing with shortages, because there were limited imports of goods into Singapore from overseas. Most of the resources were channelled to Japan’s war efforts instead of being given to the people. Essential food items like rice, salt and sugar were strictly rationed. The locals were limited to a fixed quantity of essential items that could only be obtained using ration coupons. The prices of essential goods increased rapidly, causing drastic inflation. Hence, the black market flourished. People had to pay a lot of money for basic necessities. The Japanese governed printed more money (‘banana notes’), resulting in massive drops in value of the banana notes.

Many people also suffered from disease and death. This because healthcare and sanitation worsened during the war. Furthermore, the local population was weakened by food shortages, leading to a higher death rate. The prisoners of war (POWs) and civilian prisoners endured particularly harsh living condition. They faced continual shortages of food and acute overcrowding. The poor living conditions leaded to poor hygiene and the spread of diseases. The Japanese also forced the POWs to do laborious work.  Many of the POWs suffered and died from the horrific working conditions.

The Japanese also relocated people from Singapore to increase agricultural output. The Chinese were encouraged to move to the Endau settlement in Johor. The settlement was proclaimed as a success as it was self-sufficient. However, there were also attacks by bandits and anti-Japanese guerrillas. The Japanese then created the Bahia settlement for the Eurasians and Chinese Roman Catholics. However, the place was not self-sufficient and many of them perished.

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Alexa Reiko Zoey Charlotte Lim Haau Yahn

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Alexa Reiko Zoey Charlotte Lim Haau Yahn

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-  Meting Out Harsh Punishments
Harsh punishments were given out to keep the population's obedience in check (e.g. to stop looting, the Japanese executed looters who were caught and displayed their heads in public places like bridges across the Singapore River), these punishments and warnings created fear amongst the people and thus scared them into submission.

Another example would be how the Kempeitei arrest those suspected to be anti-Japanese and torture them to get the information they wanted. This also taught the people to live quietly and be respectful and obedient to the Japanese, due to the fear and distrust.

- Imprisoning Allied Soldiers
The Japanese imprisoned the British, Australians as well as the Allied Europeans, including the women and children in Singapore, making them march in public for a long time to the barracks, where they would be imprisoned as POWs. This taught the POWs to be obedient, or else they may face the consequences of the Japanese Soldier's wraths

- Carrying out Operation Sook Ching
As the Japanese were at war with China for a long time, they were worried that the Chinese population in Singapore would rebel as they were loyal to their country. Thus, in an effort to give a fair warning to the Chinese, the Japanese conducted a systematic purge of the Chinese young men, making them come to screening centres where they would determine if the Chinese were loyal or not. The purge was a warning that scared the Chinese into submission, as they knew that was the fate that would befall them if they did not obey Japanese rule.

- Coercing the Chinese Business Community
The Japanese also targeted the Chinese Business Community, as they would support the Chinese war efforts in China by contributing to the funds. As such, the Overseas Chinese Association was created to provide a channel between the Chinese community and the Japanese government. Through this, the Japanese demanded that they pay 50 million Straits dollars, which was to punish them for helping out with the war efforts and anti-Japanese war activities in China.