Tag Archives: japanese occupation

In a discussion about the role of the British in the loss of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, a group of hobbyist historians have turned up very interesting accounts of British soldiers staying behind to defend Singapore with local guerrillas even after British forces withdrew.

The Syonan Gallery at the former Old Ford Factory museum, which houses a collection of World War 2 artifacts of the Japanese Occupation in Singapore, will be renamed because of the "deep feelings" expressed by Singaporeans, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The horror and hardship of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore is not unfamiliar to those who have studied history, but a new project at the National Museum of Singapore (NMS) is set to take it to another dimension — capturing the smell of fear. The scent, called Fear, is one of 12 specially created to evoke different chapters of Singapore’s history featured at the museum’s Singapura: 700 Years exhibition. It was created to recall the smell of blood and sweat. It will be featured in the exhibition’s Syonan-To section about the Japanese Occupation during World War II.

Trishaw rider Koh Teong Koo pedals steadily down Oxley Road, pulling up at No. 38, the home of Singapore's prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Then, to everyone's surprise, the gates are opened and Mr Koh cycles right in. It turns out their coffee shop buddy is no ordinary trishaw rider, but the only one in 1970s Singapore with close ties to the Lee family.

Mamoru Shinozaki was a Japanese government official stationed in Singapore before and during the Japanese Occupation. Sometimes referred to as the “Japanese Schindler”, Shinozaki is known for issuing government passes that saved the lives of many Chinese and Eurasians as well as other humanitarian acts during the Occupation. Shinozaki was instrumental in the formation of the Overseas Chinese Association, and the establishment of the Endau and Bahau resettlement villages. After the war, he was a witness in the war-crimes trial of Japanese officers involved in the Sook Ching massacre.

My grandfather escaped death even though he was already lined up by the seaside thankfully for the missed bullets and the mangled mess of bodies that came crashing down upon him like dominoes falling on each other after the first one was pushed. As the fortunate few, he climbed out from the pile of human shields in a dramatic-sounding fashion and only made his way home after a few days of walking. But he did live to marry and tell my Ah Ma his frightful story.

Located at 22 Chuan Hoe Avenue just off Yio Chu Kang Road, the Japanese Cemetery Park is a tranquil and peaceful park located amidst an array of private houses along Parry Avenue. It is also South-East Asia’s largest and best-preserved Japanese Cemetery and has an estimated 910 tombs that include those of war criminals, prominent businesses man and Japanese prostitutes, also known as karayuki-san (meaning going to ‘China’ or‘Going overseas’)