Here is a selection of old Japanese posters featuring political, social and environmental messages.
Sheltered Weaklings (Takashi Kono, 1953) [+]
Anti-pollution poster (Kenji Ito, 1973)
Against the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan (Kinkichi Takahashi, 1960s)
Anti-war poster (Kenji Iwasaki, 1960s) [+] // Give Us Back Man (Tsunehisa Kimura, 1969) [+]
Poster for exhibit in support of Vietnamese women and children (Makoto Wada, 1968)
"Not what I had in mind" (Tsunehisa Kimura, 1968)
Posters by Shigeo Fukuda
Environmental pollution (Shigeo Fukuda, 1973)
Environmental pollution (Shigeo Fukuda, 1973)
Environmental pollution (Shigeo Fukuda, 1973)
Environmental pollution (Shigeo Fukuda, 1973)
Victory (Shigeo Fukuda, 1989) [+] // [+]
Remembering for the Future (Shigeo Fukuda, 1989)
Human rights (Shigeo Fukuda, 1989)
Hiroshima-Nagasaki 50 (Mamoru Suzuki, 1995) [+] // [+]
Hiroshima Appeals (Yusaku Kamekura, 1983) [+]
Peace in Jungle (Gan Hosoya, 1968)
Goodbye whale (Mamoru Suzuki, 1994)
No More War (Kazumasa Nagai, 1970)
Human Rights - Living Together (Kazumasa Nagai, 1989)
Peace (Kazumasa Nagai, 1989)
Joel
Some of them are quite disturbing certainly. God, I hate politicians, they just moan about everything and everyone, they are so useless....
[]Your Mommma
Not like most blog commenters at all...
[]noba D
lol
[]nagi
dont be a hater
[]Ryan Hageman
The Einstein/Hiroshima poster is incredible. Sometimes it's necessary to be reminded of the terrible decisions we made in the past so we aren't willing to make them again in the future.
[]Really?
Hiroshima wasn't a terrible decision.
All things considered, it probably resulted in the lowest loss of life and ended WWII months (or years) sooner than it would have if the USA didn't "use the bomb".
[]yah, it was.
lowest loss of life for America, you're not taking into account the lives that are still, to this day, being affected by the radiation.
[]Maddy
It was a tactical decision, based somewhat on revenge, somewhat on sense, in order to quickly bring the war to an end before the russians took over Japan.
But regardless, to bomb civilians? that is just wrong... Especially given the fact the us knew aboutthe range the atomic weapons had from their tests.
[]PoopyDoop
Yeah, tell that to the Chinese civilians slaughtered by the Japanese.
[]Sausage
One of the few things that used to set us apart from other countries was our unwillingness to adopt barbarism as matter of policy, even if our foes chose to be barbaric. The whole idea that we should lower ourselves because an opposing force is immoral is stupid. The right-wingers among us use this logic now to try and convince us it's OK to murder muslims, or deny basic human rights to anyone we even suspect of being a terrorist, because this is the treatment an American would receive in a muslim country. Even if that was universally true, that doesn't make it the right path for us. We're supposed to be better than that. Aren't we?
Jobu
@Sausage: Not that barbarism is ok, but in what war did the US not "lower itself"? The US Civil War? Gas in WWI? Wars against Native Americans? Oh, maybe you were thinking of the invasion of Panama?
Nuke History
This response is so historically inaccurate that it is hard to describe. The use of atomic weapons in Japan was entirely unnecessary given that Russia was invading within the week with a large enough force to end the war. Today few serious historians accept the original public position, still widely held, that the atomic bombs significantly shortened the war, eliminated the need to invade Japan, and thus saved hundreds of thousands of American lives. No one believed that the Japanese were about to win the war and destroy Western civilization in the summer of 1945.
The US wanted to see if its invention would work - ya know by having the war to end all wars. Truman honestly believed a demonstration of our brute strength would end all wars as demonstrated by our attempts to pass the Baruch Plan. The US believed it had cornered the atomic market and did not expect Russia to catch up for year; by then the US would have extorted the world into not developing atomic weapons with our own. We had little fore thought about what would become the Cold War and spark global verticle and horizontal proliferation.
The scientists that worked on these bombs were duped into thinking they would be used against Germany, which begs the question - given the power of the militaries in WWII, why would the US use them against Japan (strategically - not in terms of vengence for Pearl Harbor) to end the war? There is no good military answer to this question.
[]Jack
Wrong. If the dropping of those bombs saved just one American life, it was worth it. It is funny that you try to lecture others about history. History tells me that Japan started the war and they were savages. Ask the good citizens of Nanking how they feel about the Japanese invaders. You liberals disgust me with your distortion of reality.
[]gro ber
So some lives are more worth than others?
That sounds like something the Nazis would have had on one of their posters..
The japanese warmongers were to blame, not the peaceful japanese people that died. We are all victims. Used. Killed in the name of [insert suitable just cause here]
L
Racists disgust me, as an American.
Savages? Go to Japan and you'll be working on an assembly line. They have one of the most well-educated and competitive workforces of the developed world.
I'm not even going to call you a conservative, because they're not generally racist. But racists like you should travel outside of your own doublewide, preferably out of the protection of your nanny Uncle Sam, and see how you really fare compared to others. Not only are you not any better, but statistically speaking you're likely to be inferior to somebody, especially in an underdeveloped nation, that currently matches your current standard of living. Not only must they work harder to achieve the success you take for granted, but they've experienced this "history" you're so well versed on first-hand.
Amberzine
This is why the we (Brits) don't like America! This is why the rest of the world laughs at your country.
Sausage
I think you may be typing faster than you're thinking. Accept Japan started the war. Accept their military tactics were barbaric. I haven't seen anyone here deny those things. Now show me why those two facts mean a nation founded on a sacred document -- the Constitution -- should target civilians with a WMD. If that's the chain of logic you prefer to follow, you've just endorsed the rationale used by the 9/11 hijackers. Is that who you are? Is that who you want to be? Or are you a better person than that?
TeeDot
funny how u claim japanese people are savages...
I bet if you look around you, you owe alot to these savages.
Your cell phone was prolly manufactured or was developed by japanese tech.
your gas guzzling car had or been reinvented by the japs.
Your flat screen t.v is made in japan.
what more do you want from savages who lived on an Island your western country bombed?
Chris
The argument that Japan would have never surrendered had it not been for the bomb is a tired one that loses its final shred of legitimacy when one considers that one bomb, one city would have been sufficient to get the message across.
[]Sofia
Perfect reply...to everyone actually. Glad to read everyone who replied to Jack...
[]Mediumjones
Wow, incredible collection. I don't know how you find this stuff...
[]Aandrusiak
The one with the whale is stunning. Japanese still kill whales for pleasure of their stomach.
[]lolapalooza
Yeah that poster stands out for me too, reminds me of the whale steak I ate in Iceland a couple years back... absolutely delicious!
[]U_die_go_To_hell
I would want a shark to eat a part of you.. XD ..
[]MMM...
Whale sounds good. I have eaten almost every "morally acceptable" animal on earth. Whale just sounds tasty. Fuck those Sea Shepard fool, they are just hippie on a boat that they don't own, just fucking with Capt. Ahab and breaking maritime law. Kinda like Somali pirates. I just really want one of those whale steaks.
[]Bill
Well...
[]A nice hamburger made of tender human flesh is what I'd like to try.
Still don't understand why we can eat every animal walking/flying/swimming on earth besides the one walking on 2 feet and driving cars.
Linda
Wow, what a collection of posters. I have never seen any of them before. the Hiroshima butterflies might be my favorite, as well as the environmental pollution series.
[]laura@popdesign
Beautiful selection! I like them all, especially the ones by Kazumasa Nagai.
[]hector berlioz
I like the whale meat one. But most of the posters presented here are second tier. For really good poster work look at Abram Games or Tom Eckersley.
That said, i think A bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were necessary.
I say this having visited both cities and as a student of history.
[]Etan
Evidently you are an accomplished "student of history" if you've learned to rationalize and accept the wholesale slaughter of civilians. Nuke 'em all and let God sort 'em out, eh? Bravo, wise one.
[]hector b
I make no apology for being rational. Is this a bad thing?
I dont see the A bombs as wholesale slaughter. They were tools to end a long, costly war. What was the alternative? A protracted war? A negotiated surrender with the rapists of Nanking? Erm, no thanks...
And look what Japan got out of the deal. #2 economy in the world thanks to American $$
Can you imagine what Japan would be today if the Soviets had invaded?
[]Etan
Nobody asked you to apologize, though it seems you feel the need to justify. If you're trying to justify the need for civilian mass murder, you've got your work cut out for you. Good luck with that.
By the way, Japan is now the world's #3 economy. China is #2, soon to be #1 (without ever having been nuked).
[]Your Mommma
+1 for trolling Etan
Awesome posters BTW
Nik
Well, Japan is #3 because they're awesome and we helped them. It certainly isn't because wankers cried about human rights and whine at the big, bad USA (something the Japanese don't care about human rights either, so stuff it, fool.) You think that they're nice, sweet people, let the rest of Asia have a crack at them. They are still pissed about the comfort women.
I hope that you're amongst the next mass of civilian casualties that happen because we don't do anything and trust me, we won't because we're just as much of a collection of pussies as you now. You are such an idiot, I am glad that the world has gone to shit and I am old. You're going to suffer and hopefully, you have kids so that they can suffer too. You are so incredibly ignorant that you deserve it tenfold!
Etan
Nik,
Believe it or not, I actually agree with (or at least understand) some of what you say, but I don't follow your "us" vs. "them" mentality. Who do you mean by "we"? Who do you mean by "they"? In my eyes, "we" (the people) are the ones who suffer when a bomb is dropped on a city, not "them" (the people in power who lead us into war).
I also don't understand how a person can wish a horrible death on someone they've never met (especially for their blog comments). Is this ability to wish harm on strangers a prerequisite for following the barbaric "nuke 'em all and let God sort 'em out" philosophy?
Peace, brother.
Sofia
...and after a communist regime
Justin
Fact is that ending our embargo that was causing many members of the country to starve would have stopped Japan's attack, they did ask us. And there are ways to end a war besides bombing civilians.
[]phil
I've read various arguments regarding 'the bombs' to end WWII. I'm not convinced killing hundreds of thousands of civilians with conventional bombs, firebombs, etc was any less horrendous. At some historical point, killing civilians became an 'accepted' method of psychological leverage against a nominal 'enemy'. I've come to believe that no side ever wins a war. Some of the participants just lose less than the others. A few wars have settled anything for very long. My 2-cents.
[]kuro
"second tier?" How can the perspective of the only society that was bombed with nuclear weapons be second tier? For the most part these are fantastic.
[]Miike
The Was was already on the verge of ending. The mass casualties of japanese soldiers
[]where imense. The true reasons for the A bomb where not only to end the war
it was also to show strong face against the russians. Nothing justifies dropping a nuke on a country never. America has not even given an appology. America is a young country which yet has not learned from defeat. When america gets defeated (and it will happen sooner or later) Maybe I can give sympathy and feel "like" for that country of ignorance , cowardness
and lack of respect!
America is now on the way downhill. Economy is failing greatly , its borrowing money from the communist china.
kl
honestly i believe in the end it doesn't matter if the bomb was the right thing to do or not. I don't think anyone can honestly saying killing is ever acceptable, especially those who have seen that possibility first hand. But that backs both sides, on one hand you kill thousands by dropping a bomb, or you kill thousands by continuing a war. Even if you can hypothesize that the war may or may not have ended soon no one knows for sure so why don't we go with the side that has been proven by history and say that human lives would have been lost if the bombs had not been dropped because that is the nature of life (as history has shown us) and war; even if it was just for a short time. That being said the real thing to talk and think about is why there was even a war to begin with, and try to prevent it from ever happening again. Controversies such as a nuclear bomb shouldn't be used as talking points to try to defend or accuse history; they should be used to discuss future actions. What happened in Japan was devastating, and whatever can be done now regarding it should be done. But the argument over whether or not it was just is irrelevant. Focus on the future, focus on making sure it never happens again.
[]Oli
Are these available in a book?
[]Lee
These images really strike you to the core,
[]effective and disturbing, yet there is an element of inspiration for me~~~
freedomwv
Some of the art is very interesting. Yet, I don`t like how many of these poster imply that Japan did nothing to deserve having nukes dropped on them. The Japanese know what they did.
[]Etan
More than 200,000 civilians, mostly women and children, deserved it? I want to see the poster for that one.
[]kuro
Actually, the general public had no way of knowing what was going on. All information about the actions of the armies was controlled by the war department. Whether it was necessary is arguable. But no one deserves to be killed in a nuclear blast.
[]tako-hime
Does any of you know how to get some of these posters ? cause they are beautiful (especially the butterfly and the whale ones) Thanx
[]batubatu
If you want to get posters or books, search for the artists names and you will find a selection. Use the interforce!
[]soyninja
The posters are amazing, I liked most of them. Great selection.
What's with that "well, they deserved it, the Japanese, they had it coming!" mentality? Frigging A bombs, who the hell deserves that. If I ever visit Pearl Harbor I'll take a dump there and if I'm ever in SoDak I'll pee on Mount Rushmore faces. That's my S Bomb and my P Bomb, but it's all in good healthy spirit, I think my S and P bombs on Pearl Harbor and Mount Rushmore were necessary. I say this having visited the US and as a student of history.
[]Thom
These posters are AMAZING,
I love their style, I'd hang em around as paintings.....actually....I will
[]tomtom
I don't understand the "Environmental pollution" ones.
[]virgil
it is about birth defects like extra limbs and such
[]i♥vintage
i luv vintage style very much.
[]Jaya
Oh my god. There are some posters from the WWII era and we have to turn it into an arguement about whether the A bombs should have been dropped? I understand expressing opinions but there is no reasons for insult. We do not need to argue about a war that caused millions of deaths.
I have to say Etan your comments are really quite level headed. Your arguements really make sense, and i Have to say I am on your side.
And soyninja, were threats of going to the bathroom in historical places really necissary?
[]Kat
regardless of whether or not i agree with the opinions portrayed by the posters, I love the lack of worry about "political correctness." yay freedom of speech!
[]max
i like the posters,but i find the debate a bit more interesting.whats the point of arguing it out?most of the people here were both right and wrong based on my opinion,but based on japans opinion,which i don't know,but can guess at,you were also right and wrong,i,to some extent,agree with the dropping of the bomb,only to end the war.I'm not saying there weren't any other ways to stop it,nor am i saying that they in any way deserved it.but i do think,had the war went on,it could have been much much worse.i also agree with Jaya's last sentence.
[]ALicia
hey.
[]I can't find any other information on the "anti-pollution poster" by kenji... do you know of any sites I could learn a little bit more about him?
preity
mind boggling1 WILL WE EVER LEARN? We go from one holocuast to another -- not realising -amend - not accepting - that in the end -- each one of us is trying to to destroy the other -- THAT INCLUDES __ SELF!!.
[]THE Humanity is lost! Human Race is bent upon extinction!!
preity
BE SANE! Avoid RADICAL OPINION ___ ON ANYTHING Orr ANY VIEW. Radicalism BLINDS us to HUMANITY!! AND it's irrespective of what one is radical about: BE it community, region, ethnicity, color, Gender or religion. TOLERANCE has Made MAN THE supreme BEING in this WORLD. LETS NOT DESTROY IT BY INTOLERANCE!!!
[]V
Living in Japan now, it's really astonishing how many of these posters are still immediately relevant to issues on the political table today. It's actually really depressing that issues from the 50's and 70's still haven't been solved. I'm considering making reproductions of some of these posters and redistributing them. Just putting the artist's name and date might wake up some people. Considering I'm a foreign resident, I can't vote in Japanese elections. So who knows when voices like mine will be heard. ...
[]Katie AkaTako
Really amazing use of strong graphics to call attention to such important items. I think anti-war art is supposed to push people and encourage discussion and emotions! Even if we disagree and argue, at least we are talking about it.
[]Kay
I am absolutely appalled at how insensitive people can be. The bombs were not necessary and still to this day have caused devastation. The children whom were in womb and were exposed to these toxin have had to live with the effects of the radiation for the entire lives, which if they have had children could also be effecting them. And the ignorance that is expressed in some of these post just blow my mind. Why are there "us" and "them", WE are ALL apart of ONE planet and the mentality that some have displayed here is the reason why our world will always have racism, violence and hate. Sometimes people you cant always believe what you have been taught about history, sometimes you have to look in to things a little more. After all it was the U.S government that caused this and quite frankly I don't trust our government for what its worth. Stop being so narrow minded, challenge what you've been taught once in a while maybe then you wont be so damn arrogant. All life should be treated with the same regard, come one people were in the 21st century.
[]Sofia
Like someone already posted, I enjoyed reading the discussions from the comments more than the posters themselves( which were awesome) and I agree with many people. I just want to add one thing. Somebody said it's not worth arguing about, that we should stop arguing about the past unless it's to concentrate in the future. I share part of that opinion but as a member of a society that was devastated by a war, it is so important to understand history because it's psychologically healthy for nations to accept guilt and to accept wrongdoing. Like someone else wrote in a comment, the US did not even apologize. By doing that, every single person in the world would understand (even racist, narrow minded and "all american" people who wrote here) that it was something wrong and that it should never be done again. EVER. The trials at Nuremberg did not bring millions of dead people back to life, but it gave the world a truth to hang on to. Justice in any way can bring peace of mind to so many victims...that's why we study history...to understand our lives today but also so create a better future. If we hide from history, the future will be a very sinister place.
[]johnson
Using graphics to call for action seems important in Japan.
[]