Scene opens with a map illustrating one possible Allied path for invasion of Japan. It proceeds from India and Burma to China and thence to Japan. A U.S. B-24 bomber is seen landing at a Far East Air field. Next, the Supreme Allied Commander of South-East Command (SEAC) Admiral Lord Mountbatten, is seen posing with Chinese General Li Zongren (AKA Li Tsung-jen) and other high ranking Chinese officers, and then walking with them. Next are views of U.S. General Joseph Stillwell working with staff as they consult maps. Then, Chinese laborers are seen engaged in construction of a bridge over a riverbed, that is to be part of the "Ledo Road,"traversing Burma and providing a highway from India to Chunking, China. Trucks moving over the already completed segments of the road, carry men and war materiel. One truck passes a local native drawing water from a well using a long counterbalanced pole. At the frontier of the roadbuilding, Chinese soldiers chop their way through dense jungles and battle Japanese forces firing at them. A fallen soldier. Allied soldiers shouting as run into a village engaging Japanese forces. Structures in the village burning and spreading in the area. Scene shifts abruptly to an animated map illustrating what are believed to be the Japanese plan for its last desparate defense. It shows them falling back to highly defensible boundaries encompassing sources of supplies needed to sustain their defense. Aerial views of Manchurian landscape. Japanese officials are seen at their administrative offices in Manchuria. Large numbers of Manchurian workers are seen headed to work near a factory. Others are engaged in open pit mining, where explosives are used to expose and ready ores for extraction. Views inside a Manchurian steel plant supporting the Japanese war effort. Japanese military forces are shown moving by horseback in the area, ostensibly to push further into China and add more protection against potential Allied offensives. Likewise, Japanese warships are shown at sea maneuvering to defensive locations. This is all summed up in a map showing the expected disposition and status of military defensives for Japan's final defense (Fortress Japan). Street traffic on a city street in Japan. A large group of Japanese women in traditional dress, carry banners and quietly bow. View of the Japanese Diet Building (Parliament) and political and Military leaders inside, including Prime Minister Tojo, Hideki.
Animated map shows Guadalcanal, where Japanese were building up a base to interdict Allied supply routes to Australia, in World War 2. U.S. marines in full battle gear board a troop transport ship. Convoy of transport ships headed to Guadalcanal. A Benham class destroyer bombarding the island from close range. On 8 August, 1942, the day after the amphibious assault on Guadalcanal, U.S. marines of the 3rd Defense Battalion, are seen descending rope net from the Transport ship USS Zeilin (AP-9, later designated APA-3) to enter landing craft headed ashore to reinforce marines fighting Japanese defenders on Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo, in the Solomon Islands. U.S. ship firing its guns. U.S. marines wading ashore, relatively unapposed at Guadalcanal, on 7 August, 1942. U.S. Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber taking off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Two officers with large binoculars are seen aboard a Japanese warship flying her Naval ensign. A Japanese Nakajima B5N torpedo bomber (Kate) taking off from carrier. A formation of Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar) or Ki-44 Shōki (Tojo) aircraft in flight. Closeup of two overhead in silhouette. Glimpse of U.S. carrier (USS Wasp?) taking evasive action. Sky filled with puffs of black Flak at low altitude and contrails from dogfights at high altitude. Closeup of a Japanese Mitsubishi B5M Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber (Mabel) with others in formation in background. Bombs falling. View from carrier island of sailors running across deck of U.S. Carrier with smoke rising at site of bomb strike. Smoke obscuring the deck and beginning to clear. View from different U.S. carrier deck, past parked aircraft, to a camouflaged U.S. destroyer approaching astern. Carrier deck with Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers parked at its end, and black flak clouds overhead. Several night naval gun battle scenes followed by view of burning Japanese ship. Closeup of the wreck of the Japanese transport ship, Kinugawa Maru and views of other Japanese ships burning. U.S. army troops are seen marching along the sides of a road as they arrive in December, 1942, to relieve the marines on Guadalcanal. View of the embarkation operation on the shore as marines prepare to depart. Marines getting aboard Higgins boats (landing craft) for transport out to their transport ship, the USS Neville (AP-16, later redesignated APA-9).
Clip opens with rapid changing scenes: American troops in trench in Korea during the Korean War. American tank on street in Germany. American Ski troops in Alaska. Amphibian assault training in Puerto Rico. Rotating Globe shows: U.S. Army on alert to defend against aggression. Sergeant Stuart introduces episdoe and states that U.S. Army has come to Japan to know their culture and make friends after war and occupation. U.S. Army troops of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, are seen arriving by railroad train at a train stateion near their base near Beppu,Oita on the island of Kyushu, Japan. U.S. Army soldiers, including white and African American soldiers, exit train cars. They receive a warm welcome from Japanese population. Banner reads:" Welcome Pala Troop comin back from Korea, City of Beppu."[sic] Women holding flowers and families with small children waving American and Japanese flags, welcome them on the train station. A sign over the train station platform reads: "Welcome 187 Para Troop Coming Back From Korea, City of Beppu." The troops stand in formation on the platform while the unit's officers receive the flowers from the women. Japanese men in fraternal uniforms and the general population all join in the welcoming ceremonies. The troops march off the train station under another sign reading: Welcome Home 187 RCT." and march down the main street of Beppu under a swirl of paper confetti. Next scenes are from autumn of 1945, as U.S. soldiers march through streets of Japan during occupation following the end of World War 2. U.S. troops seen marching behind Japanese police to occupy Japan, in 1945, amidst the aftermath of suffering and destruction of the war. The local population standing at road sides and watching with worry and concern. Scenes of postwar destruction in Japan. Rubble of bombed buildings. Scene of simple wooden dwelling shacks and wreckage nearby. A Japanese boy with his baby brother on his back. The baby is crying. Next scene moves again to circa 1950 in streets of a Japanese city, possibly Tokyo, rebuilt and with busy scenes of traffic on streets and commerce. Large outdoor rally with a Communist speaker addressing large crowd of Japanese people who sit and listen. Scenes from a what the narrator describes as a Communist rally in Japan, against America, which turns violent. Protestors running in streets during demonstration, with signboards and police and fire fighters extinguish flames at scene of an overturned, burning car. Flashback again to 1945 or 1946 as U.S. Army soldiers use tractors and heavy equipment to clear and level an area of war rubble and debris during rebuilding efforts after World War 2. Japanese citizens look on, watching the machines at work.
Industrial development in Japan with the help of United States Army: Workers in automobile plant. Skilled Japanese workers repair damaged equipment for Allies, during Korean war. Ship under construction in Japanese shipyard. Japanese children run behind jeeps of American soldiers. Japanese children pose for camera. American soldier gives candy to Japanese children who swarm over him. American soldier gives doll to little Japanese girl. Americans and Japanese participate in swimming meet. Americans and Japanese together participate in activities after World War II.
Natural topography of Japan. View of Mount Fuji (富士山, Fujisan) in Japan. View of Mount Fuji seen with its iconic snow cap. A man rows a boat on one of the Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖, Fujigoko) near Mount Fuji. Farmers trekking towards Mount Fuji. Shinto pilgrims travel on foot as a group to the Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha (富士山本宮浅間大社 1-1 Miyacho, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka 418-0067, Japan) within downtown Fujinomiya, Shizuoka prefecture, before ascending to Mt. Fuji. Pilgrims trek Mount Fuji. Pilgrims arrive at the Shinto shrine on top of Mount Fuji. A Shinto priest blesses the pilgrims. Volcanic craters without snow. An active volcano in Japan. Smoke emanates from active Japanese volcanoes. Japanese people sing traditional songs while at work. Japanese people at a shrine. Violent tidal waves splash at a coast. Household items fall from shelves during an earthquake inside a house in Japan. People search in the rubble of a house destroyed after the 1923 Kanto earthquake in Tokyo and Yokohama. Medics carry casualties on stretchers. Refugees crowd a park after losing their homes from an earthquake. Widespread fire in Tokyo after an earthquake. Japanese family visit thermal springs. Mud bubbling. Islands and rocky cliffs in Japan. Farmer tilling his land near a river.Natural topography of Japan. View of Mount Fuji (富士山, Fujisan) in Japan. View of Mount Fuji seen with its iconic snow cap. A man rows a boat on one of the Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖, Fujigoko) near Mount Fuji. Farmers trekking towards Mount Fuji. Shinto pilgrims travel on foot as a group to the Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha (富士山本宮浅間大社 1-1 Miyacho, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka 418-0067, Japan) within downtown Fujinomiya, Shizuoka prefecture, before ascending to Mt. Fuji. Pilgrims trek Mount Fuji. Pilgrims arrive at the Shinto shrine on top of Mount Fuji. A Shinto priest blesses the pilgrims. Volcanic craters without snow. An active volcano in Japan. Smoke emanates from active Japanese volcanoes. Japanese people sing traditional songs while at work. Japanese people at a shrine. Violent tidal waves splash at a coast. Household items fall from shelves during an earthquake inside a house in Japan. People search in the rubble of a house destroyed after the 1923 Kanto earthquake in Tokyo and Yokohama. Medics carry casualties on stretchers. Refugees crowd a park after losing their homes from an earthquake. Widespread fire in Tokyo after an earthquake. Japanese family visit thermal springs. Mud bubbling. Islands and rocky cliffs in Japan. Farmer tilling his land near a river.
4th Division U.S. Marines in final phases of the battle for Iwo Jima, in World War 2. U.S. marine walks across rocks with destroyed vegetation behind him. A demolition charge explodes in the rocks and several Japanese soldiers emerge to surrender. Scene shifts to a Japanese stronghold in a cave. A Japanese officer stands with a U.S. marine outside the cave. A Japanese defender emerges and talks with the Japanese officer, who then tells the marine there are two more Japanese soldiers in the cave. The marine helps the Japanese soldier out of the cave. Scene changes to another Japanese stronghold, where a marine throws a line up to another marine standing atop the rocky outcropping. Next scene shows a demolition charge exploding at the site. In a new sequence, four U.S. marines carry a wounded comrade and place his litter on the ground where another team picks it up and carries it. View from high ground of Mount Suribachi, seen above mist, on distant end of the island. A truck moving rapidly over a dirt road on the island.