What Was Daily Life Like Under The Japanese?

Question 1

What was daily life like under Japanese rule in Singapore?

Answer 1

Daily life was marked by great hardship and fear, with struggles for survival due to food shortages, disease spread, and relocations.

Question 2

What caused the shortages during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 2

The war disrupted trade, limiting the import of goods and channeling resources to Japan’s war efforts.

Question 3

What essential food items were rationed after the first few weeks of occupation?

Answer 3

Essential items such as rice, salt, and sugar were strictly rationed.

Question 4

What was the impact of shortages on prices?

Answer 4

The shortage of items drove prices up rapidly, causing drastic inflation.

Question 5

What was the black market during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 5

The black market flourished as people paid extremely high prices for basic necessities.

Question 6

What are ‘banana notes’?

Answer 6

Banana notes were money printed by the Japanese government, named for the banana trees depicted on the 10-dollar notes.

Question 7

What happened to the value of banana notes by the end of the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 7

By the end of the occupation, banana notes had essentially become worthless.

Question 8

What does inflation refer to?

Answer 8

Inflation refers to the rise in prices of most goods and services, reducing the value of money.

Question 9

What is a black market?

Answer 9

A black market refers to a situation where goods are bought and sold illegally at unreasonably high prices.

Question 10

What economic issue occurred towards the end of the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 10

High inflation due to more money being printed and increased demand for limited essential items.

Question 11

What was a common practice for shopping during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 11

People commonly brought bags of money or traded goods for what they wanted.

Question 12

What was the price of an egg before and during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 12

Pre-1942 price: $0.03, 1945 price: $15.

Question 13

What was the price of fish before and during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 13

Pre-1942 price: $0.20, 1945 price: $320.

Question 14

What was the price of sugar before and during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 14

Pre-1942 price: $0.04, 1945 price: $60.

Question 15

What problems did people in Singapore face during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 15

Severe shortages of essential items like rice and wheat flour, and skyrocketing prices for basic goods.

Question 16

How did people cope with the economic situation during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 16

They sold personal items like jewelry and planted tapioca to supplement their food supply.

Question 17

What replaced rice as the staple food during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 17

The tapioca root replaced rice as the staple food.

Question 18

What happened to the prices of meat during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 18

Beef, pork, and poultry became so expensive that they were nearly unobtainable.

Question 19

What worsened during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 19

Healthcare and sanitation worsened during the Japanese Occupation.

The local population was weakened by food shortages.

Question 20

How many deaths were recorded between 1942 and 1945?

Answer 20

130,000 deaths were officially recorded between 1942 and 1945.

This was more than double the number between 1937 and 1940.

Question 21

What were the primary causes of death during this period?

Answer 21

The primary causes of death were beriberi, pneumonia, and dysentery.

Question 22

What group faced particularly harsh living conditions?

Answer 22

POWs and civilian prisoners faced particularly harsh living conditions.

They faced continual shortages of food and medicine, and acute overcrowding.

Question 23

What was the capacity of Changi Prison compared to the number of prisoners it held?

Answer 23

Changi Prison was designed for 600 prisoners but held up to 5,000.

Question 24

What did the Japanese use POWs for?

Answer 24

The Japanese used POWs as forced labour for various tasks.

Question 25

What was the 'Death Railway'?

Answer 25

The 'Death Railway' connected Burma and Siam, where about 16,000 POWs died under horrific working conditions.

Question 26

When were many POWs sent to work on the Siam-Burma Railway?

Answer 26

Many POWs were sent to work on the Siam-Burma Railway from May 1942.

Question 27

What were the conditions like in Changi Prison?

Answer 27

Conditions in Changi Prison led to poor hygiene and the spread of diseases.

Question 28

What did Murray Griffin draw in 1945?

Answer 28

A drawing of the interior of Changi Prison showing how every available space was used.

Question 29

What were the living and working conditions like on the 'Death Railway'?

Answer 29

They were very harsh, with widespread diseases and insufficient food and medical treatment.

Question 30

What tools were given to POWs on the 'Death Railway'?

Answer 30

Simple tools to fell huge trees and cut through rocks.

Question 31

Who else was drafted to work on the railway besides POWs?

Answer 31

Local people were also drafted, many of whom suffered and died.

Question 32

What does the drawing by Leo Rawlings depict?

Answer 32

Four POWs, waist-deep in water, carrying a large log across the River Kwai during the construction of the Siam-Burma Railway.

Question 33

When was the drawing by Leo Rawlings created?

Answer 33

In 1943.

Question 34

Where is the River Kwai located?

Answer 34

In Siam, which is present-day Thailand.

Question 35

What were people encouraged to do during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 35

People were encouraged to strive for self-sufficiency by growing their own food, including vegetables, tapioca, and sweet potatoes.

Question 36

What was the role of Mamoru Shinozaki during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 36

Mamoru Shinozaki was tasked to oversee the resettlement projects to rural areas outside Singapore.

Question 37

Where were the Chinese encouraged to move during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 37

The Chinese were encouraged to move to the Endau settlement in Johor.

Question 38

What made the Endau settlement successful?

Answer 38

The soil was rich and the water supply ample, making it suitable for agriculture.

Question 39

What facilities were available in the Endau settlement?

Answer 39

The settlement had street lights, a hospital, a small chapel, a bank, and several coffee shops.

Question 40

What disrupted the peace in the Endau settlement?

Answer 40

Attacks by bandits and anti-Japanese guerrillas disrupted the peace.

Question 41

What was the condition of the Bahau settlement?

Answer 41

The land was too hilly and the soil too poor to support agriculture.

Question 42

What extreme measures did some people in Bahau resort to?

Answer 42

Some people resorted to eating rats and maggots, and many perished.

Question 43

What activities did the Japanese authorities encourage during the Occupation?

Answer 43

The Japanese authorities encouraged leisure activities such as Malay music, art, documentaries, and shows.

Question 44

What was life like for hardworking individuals in Bahau?

Answer 44

Life in Bahau was manageable, but constant malaria outbreaks made it unpleasant.

Question 45

What did many farmers in Bahau produce?

Answer 45

Many farmers produced enough tapioca to barter it for rice, but the supply was not enough.

Question 46

What is a guerrilla?

Answer 46

A guerrilla is a member of an armed group that fights against larger military forces, usually by harassing them through surprise raids and sabotaging communication and supply lines.

Question 47

What leisure activities were allowed during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore?

Answer 47

The Japanese authorities allowed radio programmes, Japanese movies, and free open-air screenings of propaganda.

Question 48

What sports and cultural activities were encouraged by Japanese officials?

Answer 48

Japanese officials encouraged sports and cultural activities to reduce stress, including football, baseball, tennis, and badminton matches.

Question 49

Where did boxing matches take place during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 49

Boxing matches took place at Kim Seng Road.

Question 50

How did POWs try to keep their spirits up?

Answer 50

POWs organized social, religious, and sporting activities, including publishing a newspaper and theatrical performances.

Question 51

What is notable about William Haxworth during the Japanese Occupation?

Answer 51

William Haxworth secretly created over 300 paintings and sketches depicting poor living conditions in POW camps.

Question 52

What materials did William Haxworth use for his artwork?

Answer 52

Haxworth used whatever alternative materials he could find due to a shortage of drawing materials.

Question 53

What transformation did Haxworth's drawings capture?

Answer 53

His drawings captured the transformation of internees from well-built men to gaunt figures of skin and bones.

Question 54

What was the propaganda movie presented by the Japanese during the Occupation?

Answer 54

The Fall of Singapore, about the Japanese attack on Singapore in 1942.