CHIN Kah Chong 陈加昌
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 003085
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 8
Total Reels
- Lim Lai Hwa
Interviewer
- 05:04:37
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 8
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:42:03
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Interviewee was about 11 years old during Japanese Occupation. Attended Japanese School on Queen Street. Curriculum and propaganda in school. Contracted malaria and switched to an English school after he recovered. Incident where he corrected his teacher’s Japanese. Recruitment of youths for Japanese Military at Seletar Air Base. Sister worked as translator at Cartography Department at Tanjong Pagar. He was apprenticed to learn cartography in the department.
Description of map drawing process and symbols. Was given bonus for excelling in Japanese. Description of daily routine at Cartography Department. Difficulty of going to work. Had to wake up very early as they followed Tokyo time and was slapped if he was late. Ceremony to commemorate Japanese victory every month. How he was punished for laughing during the ceremony.
Kept a diary of the air raids towards the end of Occupation. Felt some gratitude towards his teacher despite the strict discipline. Two Japanese from his department committed hara-kiri. His pay and remuneration. Scarcity of food. More details about his primary school. Described palm oil and hard bread they had to eat. Using palm oil for light at night. Family was comparatively well-provided for as his siblings had jobs.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 2 of 8
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:41:14
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Drinking red palm oil in English school during the Occupation. Described taste and appearance of tapioca bread. School routine. Difference in curriculum between Japanese and English school. Progression of his education amidst the disruptions due to war. Strict requirements at Cartography Department. Process of preparing ink and map drawing. What he thought the department’s goals were. Teachers encouraged anti-Japanese sentiments at the Chinese school he first attended.
As a child he was partially influenced both by Chinese nationalism and Japanese indoctrination. Thoughts on the Japanese indoctrination process. Japanese folk songs they learnt. Race and ages of his classmates at Japanese school. After the initial period Japanese soldiers were relatively disciplined and he did not witness any atrocities. He sold goods on the black market. Strict law and order during Occupation. His house was near a Japanese temple and was relatively undisturbed. Girls hid in his house in fear of soldiers but they did not come to any harm. Felt that the soldiers in charge of his area were more civilized.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 3 of 8
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:42:00
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Lived at 188D Somapah Estate, near Hougang St 21. Father once saved a Taiwanese who was in the Japanese Military. His Sook Ching experience. Father had a narrow escape. Father’s planted vegetables during occupation. He was turned back from the Sook Ching gathering place as he was too young. Discussion of the purpose and criteria of Sook Ching. Knew of three brothers who did not return. Why he feels some Japanese committed hara-kiri. Lesson on loyalty to Japan in his textbook. His feelings upon Japanese surrender and reactions of others in his department. While happy, the end of Occupation also signified a disruption to the lifestyle they had adapted to. Devaluation of banana notes and its effects when people lost their savings. Shows diary he kept of Allied air raids towards end of Occupation.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 4 of 8
Metadata
- 21 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:40:15
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Shows photo of Japanese officer Ichiji Sugita (杉田一次) at the British Surrender of 1942. Ichiji Sugita was the Head of Intelligence for 5th Division. Events on 15 February 1942, day Singapore fell. Ichiji Sugita led the British contingent to Ford Factory. On 11 February 1942 he drafted flyers requesting surrender before Japanese invaded Singapore. Was working in US Embassy before WWII. Sugita Organised the surrender meeting. Interpreters during Surrender meeting and why Yamashita took over the discussion and asked “Yes” or “No”.
Ichiji Sugita’s career after World War II, continued in the military and rose to Chief of Staff (参谋总长). Met him for the first time in 1986, then in 1991. Surrender documents have disappeared. Showed article written by interviewee after interviewing Ichiji Sugita. How he located Ichiji Sugita and circumstances of the interview. Interview content on (1) whether surrender was unconditional, (2) Sook Ching, (3) what led Yamashita to ask “yes” or “no”. Sugita prepared surrender documents and given them to the British in the morning. Japanese Military successes. Yamashita’s reputation as “Tiger of Malaya” led to his execution. Relationship between Sugita and Yamashita. Discussed background of and persons responsible for Sook Ching including Tsuji Masanobu (?政信).
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 5 of 8
Metadata
- 21 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:40:53
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Ichiji Sugita (杉田一次) was a professional soldier. Sugita was in Johor for a period before the war. Sultan of Johor then had diplomatic ties with Japanese royalty. Did not directly ask Sugita about his feelings after the war. Analysis of events and circumstances during invasion of Singapore and leading up to British surrender. Both parties were in a precarious situation during the surrender negotiations. Confusion of Japanese and Singapore time in events on 15 February 1942. British acceptance of Japanese meeting location was indication to Yamashita that they would surrender. Difficulty of translation during meeting. Sugita attempted suicide when asked to be witness for war crime trials. How Sugita was detained after war.
Description of Interviewee’s visit to home of Yamashita’s son. Family of Japanese officers not aware of father or husband’s military activities in Singapore. Interviewed family of governor of first Japanese Military Administration (Odachi Shigeo大达茂雄).
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 6 of 8
Metadata
- 21 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:42:03
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Showed book <<新加坡沦陷三年半>> written by Mamoru Shinozaki (筱崎护) and translated by interviewee. Other photos of Shinozaki. Shinozaki transferred to Singapore from Berlin as press attaché to Japan's consul-general before invasion of Malaya. Was incarcerated as a spy before Japanese Occupation. Joined Japanese Military Administration after Fall of Singapore. Had good ties with local Chinese community. Persuaded Lim Boon Keng to head Overseas Chinese Association and saved many people in Singapore. Shinozaki called interviewee who was on a working trip to Japan.
Background of Shinozaki’s wife. Shinozaki was Japan representative for Shaw Organisation. Did not report about meeting Shinozaki as there was stigma attached to being pro-Japanese. Shinozaki returned to Singapore but could not land. His pro-Singapore stance during the war not regarded favorably by Japanese and affected his business prospects in Japan. What influenced Shinozaki’s attitudes and actions. Discussed sincerity of Shinozaki’s actions.
His personal association with Shinozaki. Shinozaki’s ambiguous status after the war. Shinozaki’s dilemma when asked to be witness for War Crime Trials. How he handled questions about the veracity of his wartime accounts. Financial difficulties faced by Shinozaki after the war. Further discussion of the contradictions Shinozaki’s situation engendered.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 7 of 8
Metadata
- 21 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:40:01
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*His communication and contacts with Shinozaki. More on Shinozaki’s financial circumstances. His opinion of Shinozaki’s character and life. Shinozaki was initially in charge of settling residents of Axis and neutral countries. Experience of translating for Shinozaki. Reactions to the publication of Shinozaki’s book <<新加坡沦陷三年半>>. Why he did not approach Chinese leaders to verify accounts in the book. How status of community leaders who co-operated with Japanese Administration deteriorated after the Occupation. Anti-Japanese sentiments during fifties.
Related how there were protests when Japanese police officer visited Singapore. Shinozaki was Welfare Secretary in Japanese administration and was in charge of resettlement to Endau and Bahau. Some details of the settlements that Shinozaki related to him. Various passes and privileges granted by Japanese Military Administration. Shinozaki was in charge of issuing permits for travel between Singapore and Malaysia. More on positive and negative reactions to the book. How Shinozaki convinced the soldiers to release some prisoners. Wrap up of his opinion on Shinozaki.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 8 of 8
Metadata
- 21 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:16:08
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Showed graduation certificate from Japanese technical drawing class. Photo of and note from Shinozaki. Account of how his cousin was framed during Occupation due to personal dispute. Recalled sounds of torture from Japanese Headquarters at SATA, which was near his school. His impressions of Dr Lim Boon Keng as a child and others’ opinion of him. His view of how history repeats itself. Did not feel it was appropriate to ask Dr Lim Boon Keng about Shinozaki and believe they did not keep in contact after the Occupation.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
