160905-0001 - Japanese War Bonds Ad

Advertising postcard for war bonds for Japan’s war effort in China, ca. 1938 (Showa 13).

The illustration features a Japanese flag and a civilian digging while soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army are charging in the background.

In the 1930s and 1940s, “voluntary” savings were so greatly encouraged to finance the Japanese war effort that by 1944 (Showa 19) Japanese households were saving an incredible 39.5% of disposable income.

Japanese text:

郵便局売出し
六月十三日より二十四日まで

支那事変国債
国債を君も買ったか僕も買う
無駄を省いて先ず国債

English translation:

Sold at the Post Office
From June 13 to 24

China Incident Government Bonds
Did already buy government bonds? I’ll get them, too

Waste not, start with government bonds