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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 9, No. 4
Publication Date: April 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/assrj.94.12058. Rosalini, R. H. (2022). “We Have Same Background” as Japan’s Propaganda to Indonesia. Advances in Social Sciences Research
Journal, 9(4). 349-354.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
“We Have Same Background” as Japan’s Propaganda to Indonesia
Raisa Hashina Rosalini
Faculty of Social and political science, Universitas Brawijaya
Malang, Indonesia
ABSTRACT
This paper analyzes how propaganda works during the war, focusing on Japanese
propaganda during its occupation in Indonesia between 1943-1945 through the
magazine. Using the text analysis approach, this paper tent to analyze how Djawa
Baroe magazine, which consists of 250 articles, works as a propaganda tool in
doctrine and mobilizes its dominated society. The research was conducted through
three stages of analysis and later analyzed through critical discourse analysis. It can
be seen that Japan uses Djawa Baroe magazine as a propaganda tool by showing a
variety of persuasion, doctrine, proximity aspect, and the implementation of
Japanese cultural influences in Indonesian society. In conclusion, the propaganda
strategy used by Japan during its occupation in Indonesia can be seen from the style
of language, the article’s content, the use of provocative or persuasion sentences
and images, and the information displayed in articles.
Keyword: Propaganda, war, Japanese occupation, magazine, proximity, doctrine
INTRODUCTION
The political and the media system are inevitably inseparable aspects. For example, there is a
high opportunity of monopolizing the television market at the beginning of its appearance. The
particular country’s historical, social, and culture can affect its monopoly (Ciaglia, 2013, p. 541;
Pfetsch, 2004, p. 344). Political communication culture and the development of the media
structure determine the communication between political actors and the media during the
production of messages.
The aims for the individual or organization interest, propaganda appears when the dominant
attempts to control society and media. Propaganda can be defined as an attempt to influence
the opinions, behaviors, and attitudes of the society target by excluding the impact of
propaganda itself. (Rao, 1971, p. 95). Hence, society and media control are inseparable aspects
of the dominant.
A wide variety of tools are used in propaganda activities, especially mass media. In the first
world war (1914-1918), the nations used propaganda to control public opinion and spread the
message against the enemy and allies (Whelan, 2017, p. 1). The use of various methods is one
of the developments of propaganda to obtain a wider target. In the second world war, the
government used mass media campaigns forcing the community to provide war supplies and
behavior controls (Brennan, 2017, p. 3). In the world war, persuasive activity is tightly
organized and developed by the expert (Fellows, 1959, p. 185).
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 4, April-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
War propaganda does not exclude Indonesia as one of the targets, especially during the
Japanese occupation. Its arrival in 1942, the Japanese regarded itself as the “older brother” who
would free Indonesia from the invaders. Indonesia’s natural wealth and human resources are
the purposes of the Japanese arrival in Indonesia. Furthermore, a variety of propaganda
strategies focusing on mass media and artworks are used to win the hearts of the Indonesian
people. For example by the films (Nieuwenhof, 1984), literary works (Dewi, Setyanto, &
Ambarastuti, 2015), theatres (Yoesoef, 2010), mass media (Irianti, 2014; Putri, M, & Arif, 2018),
and also by the public figures (Kurasawa, 2015).
Japan also established a propaganda department called Sendenbu, a department to control and
supervise the activity of propaganda. Communication media like newspaper, radio, television,
posters, and flyers was also controlled by Sendenbu (Kurasawa, 2015). This also led to the
removal of some media institutions, strict control-operated media, and supervision of the
spread. In addition, political movements and organizations were also closely monitored and
restricted, and some independence organizations were dissolved to prevent the independence
movement.
This article tries to analyze how text can be used as a tool that can control society. By using
critical discourse analysis, this paper also tries to explain how language as a text can be
contributed to the process of behavior controls and the linkages with the culture and society.
METHODS
The data analysis in this research is Djawa Baroe magazine, which contained 250 articles
published between 1942-1945 or the Japanese occupation era. Produced in Jakarta cooperate
with Asia Raya daily news, Djawa Baroe magazine supervised by Djawa Shinbunkai (Java
newspaper corporation). Written in bilingual, Japanese and Indonesian languages, this
magazine is assumed to have a larger target audience of Indonesian and Japanese people.
Propaganda activities can be seen clearly in every article, from written content to pictures. Even
though this magazine was claimed as a news magazine, it can be seen that the magazine only
contained power and the greatness of the Japanese in the war field.
There are three stages in data collection used in this research (Newman, 2007, pp. 20-21). First,
Identify possible data related to the research category. Second, creating the system that records
the specific aspects in the form of keywords which are then grouped according to the data. Last,
the keywords were created according to the data. The research question in this article is how
propaganda is implemented in Djawa Baroe magazine and how the text is shaped and produced
in Djawa Baroe magazine by the Japanese as a propaganda tool.
After the collecting process, the data will be analyzed in three stages: reduction, condensation
or data presentation, and conclusion (Miles & Huberman, 1994, pp. 10-11). First, describe and
summarize the data. Magazine articles as the research data, data analysis will contain each
article's text and picture description. Afterward, the summaries of the data after the reduction
will be analyzed for the important keyword. In the last step, the data will be analyzed through
the research view by linking the theories, paradigm, and research approach used in this paper.
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Rosalini, R. H. (2022). “We Have Same Background” as Japan’s Propaganda to Indonesia. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(4). 349-
354.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.94.12058
ANALYSIS AND RESULT
The result shows three categories which are contained in Djawa Baroe magazines. There are
Japan and “older brother”; knowledges; and the later, is society testimony. All the result shows
Japanese deliver positive influences to indigenous people. Representing himself as an older
brother by giving a lot of attention to Indonesia, Japan want to remove colonialism give
Indonesia its independence.
Japan and “the older brother”. It is interesting to discuss why Japan calls himself an “older
brother”. At the beginning of its arrival, the Japanese claimed himself as an older brother
because of having similar background and race with Indonesian, Asian. As an older brother, the
Japanese try to voluntarily help Indonesian from long years of colonialism. Japan also wants to
help Indonesians earn the freedom to have their independence.
Japan’s desire to establish dominion territory in Asia resulted in various attempts at bringing
itself closer to the indigenous people. In several articles published in Java Baroe magazine,
many of Japan’s kindness towards the Indonesian people and people in the area of prosperity
have been described. More attention is given and the lure of the abolition and expulsion of the
western nation in Japan’s acclaim to win the hearts of the people of the prosperous region,
especially in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, after the inauguration and opening of the Putera office in Jakarta, Soekarno, as the
national figure and the leader of Putera expressed the desire of the Indonesian people to
cooperate with Japan. The meeting described that there was a desire, feeling, and will of the
Indonesian people to assist the Japanese military during war. “Dalam ruangan ini, semangat
kerja sama akan selalu berapi-api. Dibawah bantuan saudara tua, kami akan bekerja keras dari
satu negeri dan rakyat yang gagah berani” (“In this room, the spirit of cooperation will always
be fiery, under the help of our elder brothers, we will work hard from one country and a brave
people”) written in article “Poetra moelai melangkah bekerdja” (“Poetra take a step to work”)
Djawa Baroe 9th edition (May 1th, 2603/1943).
As an older brother, Japan also involves Indonesian figures as part of the government. This is
written clearly in the magazine 13th edition (July 1st, 2603/1943) with the title article “Rakjat
Djawa mengambil bahagian dalam pemerintahan” (“Indonesian people take part in the
government”). This is claimed as a big evolution, as we know that Indonesian people cannot
intervene in the government or any officials in the colonialism era.
The cooperation formed not only in war and government but also in the daily life of the
Indonesian and Japanese people in Java. Several articles also represent the coexistence between
the friendly and “family” Indonesian and Japanese people. Article with the title “Pemandangan
tentang tahoen baroe di Djawa” (“New year view in Java”, Djawa Baroe magazine 2nd edition,
January 15th, 2603/1943) mentioned that many Japanese welcome the celebration with
Indonesian girls by playing friendly.
Knowledge. As a second category, it is essential for the Japanese to approach and influence
Indonesian people from the knowledge aspect. Japan gives the knowledge including formal and
non-formal education. The former is formal education form including Japanese language, school
education, and military training are given by the Japanese military government. Moreover, the