Japan's revival as an imperial power began with the reign of Emperor Mikado Meiji in

1868. Emperor Meiji’s restoration launch emphasizes modernization and industrialization.

Western countries are looked up to as a model for advancing Japanese. China, which has

many potential raw materials and goods markets for Japan became the initial target of

Japanese expansionism. Japan's victory against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in

1905, has resulted in Japan is regarded as a great power.

Emperor Mikado Meiji

Japanese expansionism is driven by several factors, particularly the country's economic

problems. Japan's population growth has resulted in declining agricultural land. As an

industrialized nation, the Japanese need a supply of raw materials such as petroleum, tin,

and rubber. In addition, Japan also needs a new market area to market the industrial.

Urgent situation arises in 1940, when the United States imposing economic sanctions

against Japan for refusing to retreat from China. The Japanese managed to occupy part of

China after the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. U.S. actions that led the

Japanese government that is controlled by the army commanded by General Tojo, attack the

South East Asia for the Japanese release of the sanctions. Military groups have been taking

over the government of Japan since February 1936.

General Hideki Tōjō

Before attacking Malaya, the Japanese have been using propaganda to influence the

local population in the country with slogans such as "Asia for Asians" and "The Spirit of

Asia". Slogans are clearly elements of Western and anti-colonial to project the image of

Japan as a defender of Eastern countries. Similarly was the planned propaganda "The

Greater East Asia Flourish Together" by the Japanese. This strategy is effective until the

Japanese military presence was not perceived as substituting the British invasion. This event

gives lesson to us that a good slogan should be in the execution of a mission. Nevertheless,

as responsible citizens, we should be more wary of foreign propaganda.

Advancing Japanese army in Malaya began when Japanese troops landed at the

same time in Thailand (Singgora and Pattani) and the Coast Sabak, Kota Bharu on

December 8, 1941. Japanese soldiers landed in Thailand continues to move forward to Jitra,

Kedah. Later, the Japanese army split in two, a team to Penang and continue advancing

south through the West coast. A team again, as the road to major cities on-street west coast

states. Meanwhile, Japanese troops landed at Kota Bharu was advanced to the south

following the road on the east coast states.

In Sarawak, the Japanese army landed in Miri. From Miri, the Japanese army split

into two teams. The first team to Kuching and then to Sibu. The second team advanced to

Sabah through Labuan and next to Sandakan. Later, the Japanese army marched into the

coastal areas of both states, especially in main cities.

After ten weeks the Japanese army landed, the whole of Malaya, including Singapore

fell to Japanese forces. On February 15, 1942, Lieutenant General A.E. Percival had

surrendered to Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomoyuki in Singapore. Events fall into the

hands of Malaya Japanese military, it is clear to us that we should not expect a foreign

power to defend our own homeland.

Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomoyuki

(Harimau Malaya)

There are many factors that contributed to the successful occupation of Malaysia by

the Japanese Army. One of them includes the fact that the Japanese had a structured early

plan. The Japanese used a well convincing propaganda to win the hearts and seek the

cooperation of the people of Malaya. The propagandas were made to fool the minds of the

people of Malaya into thinking that the Japanese Army had come to save Malaya from the

British clutches. The Japanese have also been carrying out inside espionage activities within

the Malay people for information to facilitate the attack. They have sent some insiders to spy

on Malayan activities and arranged strategies based on the information obtained.

Moreover, the Japanese had their grasp on the complete latest and modern military

war equipment of that time. Japan has a lot of modern fighter aircraft such as the "Zero

Fighter” and the “Kawanishi N1K1-J/N1K2-J Shiden”. Japan was also using suitable tanks in

accordance with the surface of land in Malaya. This allowed them to conquer Malaya in a

faster pace and spread their influence within a few weeks.

Zero Fighter used by the Japanese to attack shock tanks used by the Japanese army

British forces in Malaya, is also used to successfully forced the British to retreat.

provide protection for ground forces. Japanese forces also used tanks that are

small and light weight for compatibility

with Malaya’s terrain

Japanese troops used bicycles to pass through a narrow path to expedite travel unnoticed by the British army

The Thailand-Japan pact is also one of the factors of Japanese’s victory occupying

Malaya. Thailand provides access to the Japanese military forces landing on their country to

enter Malaya from the north. In return, the Japanese did not nest Thailand. The Japanese

promised to hand over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis to Thailand.

The well thought tactics of the Japanese attack allowed the Japanese to achieve

their goal smoothly. The Japanese destroyed Pearl Harbour in Hawaii which was a major

U.S. military base in the Asia Pacific region. This left the U.S. military in pandemonium and

resurrected the U.S’s concentration to rejuvenate their army, thus, giving the chance for the

Japanese influence to spread with less opposition. Japan also launched attacks from

northern Malaya. This is because the main British defense was concentrated in Singapore

and the strategy was to attack from above.

Another major factor is the weakness of the British military. British forces were not

ready to face Japan as they were more focused on attacks towards the war in Europe.

The British Army was also in lack of training as most of them were new recruits taken in

during war. They were also in extreme lack of armament. Much to the British’s shortfall, the

Indian soldiers who served with British forces have turned into anti-British attitude. Other

than that, the focus of the British defense only was only concentrated in Singapore as it was

their military base. The rest of Malaya was not as protected as Singapore, giving the

Japanese a higher advantage of spreading their influence.

There was also no doubt about the overwhelming Japanese military spirit. The

Japanese military were willing to fight for their country's pride and do whatever it takes for

the sake of their country. The Japanese troops were willing to die for the Emperor of Japan.

Throughout Japan’s history, the military class embodied the best characteristics and highest

virtues of the Japanese people. The leading military families that exercise political power

nourished this spirit in the elite over the centuries. The active but also stoic Zen Buddhism

perfected and refined the character of the Japanese warrior and gave it a clear ascetic tone

that remains even today the essential characteristic of the Japanese soldier. The warrior

class was not only an armed instrument in the hands of the landed nobility or the major

military rulers, but also an elite with its own class ethos. The troops had to be able to do

more than fight. They had to embody an elevated and noble form of everything Japanese in

all he said and did. They had to stand out both militarily and in social life. The troops had

great privileges, but also greater responsibilities. They owed absolute obedience to the

landed nobility or the Shogun. But he also had deeper and broader obligations, to fight for

their country. Japanese troops also had major military experiences as they have been

involved in the Sino-Japanese War. This gave the troops an advantage during combat and

many options of tactics during war.

The Japanese’s victory in colonizing Malaya was also greatly influenced by the role

of Young Malay Union party (KMM). KMM members helped to spread the Japanese

propaganda to the Malays. They disseminate the anti-British spirit to the whole of Malaya

influencing the people and convincing them that the Japanese will help to free Malaya from

colonization. KMM also provided information to the Japanese regarding Malaya and the

British activities. KMM members became guides for directions in the maps of Malaya during

the Japanese advance.

The success of the Japanese army invading the country in a short time surprised

many, including the United States and Britain alone. Japan's key to success can be

formulated into a good war strategy, especially the effective Japanese espionage activities,

the Japanese military spirit, as well as British military weakness of its own defense.

Japanese forces used the opportunity wisely when Western powers are concentrated on the

war in Europe. Among the local population, they do not provide resistance to the arrival of

Japanese troops as influenced by Japanese propaganda slogans.

After the British surrender, the Japanese have introduced administration of the

military government in Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah, known as Malai Baru (New Malay).

Singapore is also known as Syonan (Southern Lights) and their administration were

separated from Malaya. Japanese administration in Malaya was parted into the central

administration and regional administration.