Film opens showing reenactment of Japanese attack ostensibly against Formosa, in 1894. Japanese troops and artillery are shown. The event is depicted in a critical political cartoon. Next, Japanese Admiral Heihachiro Togo is seen in 1904, standing with other naval officers. Then, Japanese warships are shown, firing barrages of naval gunfire at the Russian fleet in Port Arthur, Manchuria. Huge black clouds arise from burning ships. Scenes of Japanese people celebrating their naval victory. Date shifts to 1910. Cartoon depicts Japanese annexation of Korea. Cartoon illustrates Japanese actions in World War I when, siding with the Allies, Japan acquired the German-held Shandong (Shantung) Peninsula of China, as well as German-held Marianas, Carolines, and Marshalls islands in the Pacific. Japanese representatives are seen participating in Post World War 1 international activities. They signed the so-called Five-Power,Four-Power, and Nine-Power treaties, and participated in the League of Nations. Glimpse of two Japanese officers, followed by cartoon depiction of the Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands, that Japan insisted on keeping. Cartoon shows them being fortified. A Japanese military marching band parades down a city street while being cheered by spectators on the sidewalks. Next, Japanese military General, Baron Tanaka Giichi, is seen in uniform with other officers. Cartoon illustrates the so-called Tanaka Memorial document that Baron Tanaka allegedly presented to the Emperor, in 1927, outlining a strategy to conquer the world. Cartoon then illustrates plan of conquest by acquiring Chinese manpower; Manchurian iron and coal; Siberian timber, coal, wheat, and metals; Tin,oil and rubber from Malaysia and the East Indies. The United States is shown as the last conquest. Views of ordinary farm and factory activities in the U.S. Cars parked in the Ford Motor Company factory lot. Japanese officials and legislators meeting in the Diet (Parliament). Japanese theater patrons and a Japanese woman singing with an American-style band, are shown as examples of activities the Japanese Government sought to discourage. A Japanese female ensemble in traditional dress, playing traditional instruments, is shown as more desirable. Western dancing and western hollywood movies are shown and narrator states they were forbidden by the Japanese government. Japanese movie scene depicts ancient martial arts. A musical production on stage displays German Nazi swastika flag , Japanese rising sun, and symbol of Kingdom of Italy, celebrating the axis alliance. Japanese men are shown playing the ancient game of Chu Shogi, instead of playing Western card games. People are shown in a library, where Western books are replaced by more militaristic tomes, such as: "If we fight" by Admiral Shinsaku Hirata, March 15, 1930 (shown on film slate). Slate goes on to quote about attack on Hawaii as the first battle in war of the Pacific. Film cites another approved Japanese publication: "Arguments Against American Policies" by Kawashima Seichiro, Christmas Day, 1924. It discusses distruction of the American fleet and subsequent landing on the U.S. West Coast.
Segment of U.S. film orientation film to help Allied Occupation Forces to understand background of Japanese traditions and rise of militarism prior to World War 2. Film begins showing a Japanese man dressed as a Trumpeter (kai yaku) in an army of the Feudal Period, blowing a conch shell horn. Japanese reenact Feudal period ceremonial exercises using pikes. Closeup of the way the pikes interlock as they wield them. Next young Japanese men are seen practicing Bōjutsu (the martial art of using a staff weapon called bō). A large formation of Japanese men practice in unison. A Japanese man dressed as a traditional Samurai warrior of history. Reenactment of Samurai engaged in war showing mounted Samurai warriors and foot soldiers carrying pikes. Image of the sun with Japanese sun flag gradually superimposed upon it. Slate intervenes reading: "The Sun Goddess Created the Japanese to Rule All the Other People of the Earth." Japanese people assembled near large building and tents in a park-like setting. A Japanese military officer addressing a large gathering. Japanese politicians, dressed formally, address a large gathering that includes many military officers. A crowd of Japanese people responding to a speaker by raising their arms in unison, several times. Japanese men in formation, bowing. Japanese women in formation, bowing. Large gatherings of Japanese people bowing en masse. Another politician addressing a gathering in an outdoor arena. Glimpse of Japanese school children being addressed by officials. A room full of banking officers being addressed by an official and farmers also being addressed. Young people and others marching in close order drills. A cadre of Japanese uniformed soldiers marching. A contingent of Japanese army troops marching with shouldered rifles displaying bayonets. More soldiers marching with high stepping gait. Film ends showing Japanese soldiers marching through Tori Gates at various places in Japan.
Japanese invasion of China. Chinese soldiers blow the trumpet. Young men march in a field. Young men register in the Army. Millions of young people answer the call to fight for China. Volunteers from south, north, east and west China to form the people's army. Men and women with their children leave to join the forces. Drumming sound. New recruits train and perform a drill to drum beats. Soldiers practice martial arts, rifle handling, and shooting. Others train to care for the sick and wounded. Women soldiers in uniform. They learn to fire a gun. Pilots crowd around an officer. Planes in the background. Men from other countries prepare to fight for China. U.S. Colonel Claire Chennault of the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers, talks to his men. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawks with the shark face emblems take off. Chinese soldiers march. Japan: Japanese officials in a meeting. Japanese troops penetrate China along the rivers. They rebuild destroyed rail roads using slave labor. A map depicts the Japanese strategy of cutting off Chinese supply lines. Japanese warships blockade the coast with the aim to isolate China. Japanese occupied ports in China. Japanese warships and boats in a Chinese port. Gas plants, gun factories and planes. Indochina map: The narrow gauge railway from sea to Kunming and a truck road to Chungking. The camel trail from Russia across the Gobi Desert. The railroad from Rangoon to Lashio in Burma. (World War II period).
Kendo martial arts match between two Japanese boys. The boys engage in Kendo with Shinai sticks while wearing protective masks and Kendo armor (known and bougu). Children play and swim in the warm sunlight. Japanese children swimming. A Japanese grandmother holding an infant. A farmer planting rice in rice field. A group of children follow cinematographer Fred C. Ells. Rural Japanese boy carries a traditional Japanese umbrella April 1934.
U.S. Air Force Sergeant Martin Difrancisco teaches martial arts to young boys and girls near Spokane, Washington, United States. Sergeant Martin Difrancisco teaches Judo to children of Air Force personnel at the Fairchild Air Force Base. Young boys practice judo and others watch while sitting. Young girls seated and practicing judo. He demonstrates karate skills, breaking wooden boards with his hand. He demonstrates control of a Japanese Samurai sword, using it to cut a carrot positioned on the stomach of his assistant, and then on the neck of his assistant, without harming his assistant. People stand and watch his demonstration.
A multiracial parade in Hawaii. Parade begins with policemen on horseback. Men in tribal costumes build a hut on top of a horse-drawn float. Hula girls dancing in another float. More Hawaiian natives sit in front of huts on top of floats. Men ride bicycle with fancy fish costumes. Chinese men on a float, with a large pagoda behind them. A group of men in Chinese costumes follow the float. Japanese men demonstrate Kendo martial arts from a moving float. Marching Unit with banner 'Korean Girls Seminary'. Young Korean women wearing Hanbok dresses.