The Japanese Soldier

Developed by William J. Jones from a roll of film given him by a clerk (Chinese) at the Post Office in Shanghai, China in September 1945. Observation: From these thirty photographs, from an undeveloped roll of film, taken by a Japanese serviceman during World War II it would appear that the Japanese serviceman took photos of his family, friends, and every day events around him. We do not know his branch of service nor his rank / rate. Perhaps someday someone will be able to identify someone in these pictures.
If not for a Chinese Postal Clerk and William J. Jones we would not have this glimpse into his life.
Stephen Robert Eakin - 2009 Used with permission.

I have added to five of the photos below, comments from a WWll historian, Minoru Kamada, in Japan who was in the area at one time. His comments will show below the photos he commented on. Please watch for them.
Minoru also says that; During the war, film was strictly allocated by the government so it was very hard for amateur cameramen to get even a roll of film inside of Japan, however, this cameraman takes pictures anything he wanted to take. I heard that even during the wartime, films were available freely in Shanghai. Pro cameramen in Japan asked his colleague who was going to the city to buy rolls of film.
With thanks to Minoru for further insight.

Note too that he comments on another photo in the WWll photos where a lady is working near a ladder, wearing a 'top' with broad stripes and a soldier is behind her. He comments;

mompe dress... this is a kind of pantalones (pants) because it is easier to move in mompe than in kimonos. During the war this dress was recommended ( actually a must) by the government. I do not know if this dress was worn among Japanese women living outside of Japan.
I have heard that women in Manchukuo (northern part of China) and Korea wore this during the war, so a pair of this was probably worn by Japanese women living in the middle China such as the Shanghai area.
When I was a boy in 1960s, women in a farming area near my place still wore these.
I do not know if women in the area still wear the same style of pants because I left the place in 1973.

Total images: 30 | Last update: 12/29/09 11:45 AM | Currituck Home Page | Made with JAlbum & Chameleon | Help