This map first appeared in a 1940 edition of the Japanese magazine Comrades and students on the front line, in the context of the Second World War.

Through various articles, this magazine sought to impose a persuasive narrative on young people, so that they would perceive the expansionist attitude of the Japanese Empire and the sacrifices of the army in a positive light.

This map specifically shows the situation of Japanese expansion in the Pacific Ocean in 1940, as well as the danger posed by the American threat. Several arrows point from the United States, warning of a possible American attack to halt Japan's advance. The top line is accompanied by text suggesting that the objective of US troop movements in the Pacific is to invade the Far East.

Japan and all its possessions in Asia appear protected by multiple ships, conveying a sense of military superiority over the few American or Australian ships that appear on the map. As if the visual aspect were not enough, the text in front of the line of ships in the Japanese archipelago states, «Japan is invincible».

In this article You can read in detail about the propaganda strategies used in the Japanese education system during the Second World War.

Sources

• The World Moving Toward a New World Order – Part I