Reading Between the Lines

Translating Imperial Japan

Abstract

This paper provides a historical contextualization, a translation, an in-depth linguistic breakdown through graphs, and a critical analysis of the introduction of a Japanese wartime propaganda picture book titled "Special Photographic Album of the China Incident: A Yomiuri Shimbun Publication Featuring Combat Photography by Staff Sent to the Front Lines" (特支那事變寫真帖派員決死影讀賣新聞社), from the University of Colorado Boulder's Rare and Distinctive Collections. The primary objective of this project was to increase access to the source for those who lack proficiency in both the Japanese language and the specific historical parameters of the Second-Sino Japanese War. This was done by combining a close linguistic analysis and breakdown with a succinct historical background of the conflict into the same project so that readers unfamiliar with either the history, the language, or both are able to understand the source in the most efficient way possible. Romanization and formatting were done in accordance with the Library of Congress’ Japanese Romanization Table from 2022. The picture book itself demonstrates how wartime media weaponizes language to deliberately obscure violent and cruel realities, illustrating the necessity of dual historical and linguistic literacy when evaluating historical propaganda.