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Description
Original 1942 “Frontline Sketches by Imperial Soldiers” (Shussen Shōhei Sakuhin-shū)
Published by Japan Telegraph and Communication Company (Dentsu) in April 1942
and officially recommended by the Imperial Japanese Army Press Department,
this rare wartime art book compiles drawings and paintings created by soldiers
who personally served on the front lines during World War II.
Unlike mass-produced propaganda prints, this publication preserves
firsthand sketches, watercolors, and oil paintings made by dispatched soldiers —
capturing scenes of military life, occupied cities, and battlefields across Asia.
The works reveal both patriotic sentiment and the raw human emotions
of men experiencing war at close range.
📖 Contents include:
- Battlefield sketches from Shanghai, Malaya, and the Philippines
- Portraits of Japanese soldiers and local civilians
- Landscapes of tropical frontlines
- Color lithographs and commentary
- Published with endorsement from the Imperial Army Information Bureau
🕊️ Historical Context
Issued in 1942 during the height of Japan’s Pacific expansion,
this book served as an official cultural record of “soldier-artists” on active duty.
Each illustration reflects how wartime art was used
to document, justify, and humanize Japan’s campaigns overseas.
Today, it stands as a primary visual record for researchers of
Japanese wartime culture, propaganda, and military art.
📚 Publication Detail's
- Published: April 1, 1942 (Showa 17)
- Publisher: Japan Telegraph and Communication Co. (Dentsu)
- Distribution: Nippon Publishing Distribution Co.
- Recommendation: Imperial Japanese Army Press Department
- Format: Illustrated art book with slipcase
- Language: Japanese
📜 Condition
Original 1942 edition. With slipcase.
Some foxing, minor wear, and age-related toning.
All pages intact; illustrations clean and vivid.
Overall, well-preserved for an 80-year-old wartime publication.
A rare and powerful Imperial Japanese Army art book,
recording authentic frontline sketches drawn by soldiers themselves.
An invaluable source for historians and WWII collectors.
Shipping
Fedex or Japan post
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