160905-0003 - Japanese War Bonds Ad

Advertising postcard for war bonds for Japan’s war effort in China, ca. 1937 (Showa 12).

The illustration features a child waving the flags of Japan and Manchukuo, the Japanese occupied puppet state of Manchuria.

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:

八月二十一日より九月一日まで
志那事変国債
郵便局売出し
共に一枚銃後の国債