Tokyo becomes a battlefield (1945)

This map was created by the United States and released alongside the bombing of Tokyo on the night of 9 March 1945, one of the most intensive bombings in human history, which destroyed 25% of Tokyo in a single night.

The pamphlet was used by the United States Army as a way to instil fear in the population and generate discontent so that the Japanese Empire would also face internal resistance. In it, Japan is drawn in red on a map of Tokyo. The text, written in Japanese, talks about how Tokyo has already become a battlefield.

The back of the pamphlet also included further text confirming that the United States armed forces were already heavily bombing Tokyo.

If you would like more information about this type of propaganda, I recommend you take a look at this article on leaflets.

Sources

• Tokyo Becoming a Battlefield—The War Has Begun