Japanese Occupation

A Japanese photographic documentary of life and circumstances in Tianjin in the 1930s. The images on the left represent a remarkable feature of urban planning and design unique to western concessions in China: the gardens. Unlike Shanghai, Beijing, Hankou and other cities with a strong foreign presence, each of Tianjin's major concessions had its own public garden. The images on the left show the Japanese public garden, complete with a pond, a fountain, and a pavilion. Other garden were executed in a French, a British or a German style, depending on the domain and culture they belonged to.

Also note the interesting and important photograph to the lower right, which shows an assembly of straw huts reinforced with mud, serving as Chinese style temporary relief shelter for farmers and rural residents hit by a famine. The huts shown here were sponsored and administered by a joint Chinese-Japanese committee on famine relief.

Aerial view of the Japanese Concession of Tientsin (ca. mid-30s)

(Click on image for larger, clearer view - opens in separate window)


Anti-Japanese Movements at Tientsin

Typescript with original photographs compiled by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Tientsin, May 1932.

A unique item compiled by Japanese authorities for the purpose of documenting anti-Japanese sentiments and actions against Japanese installations in Tianjin . The case of "Chow Kui-chi and two bombs and a Mauser" is presented here in the following words:

The "Dare-to-die Corps":

On February 9 th , 1932, Chow Kui-chi ( 周桂啟 ), a Chinese youth of 23 years of age, was arrested by the Japanese Concession Police when he came back to the "Tientsin Hotel" in the Japanese Concession where he had been staying at. According to his confession made at the Police Station, he is a member of the "Anti-Japanese Dare-to-die Corps" which was organized at Nanking in October last and came to Tientsin for the purpose of murdering Japanese Consul General and the Commanding Officer of the Japanese Troops stationed here. He carried with him two bombs and one Mauser when arrested. He was handed over to the Public Safety Bureau of the Municipal Government.

What happened to Chou is not elaborated in this document, which also gives examples of anti-Japanese communications by the Tianjin merchants and acts of terrorism by other individuals besides Chou Kui-chi.

Anti-Japanese Sanction Pass, ca. 1935.

A curious, though hardly conspicuous piece of business history: a stamp (or “pass” 証 ) issued in 1935 by the "Tientsin Business Volunteer Commission of non-economic relationship with Japan". Cooperation with the Japanese among Tianjin merchants and the financial gentry was fraught with difficulties, especially after the summer of 1937, when Tianjin had also militarily been taken by the Japanese.

A postcard representing a Japanese Shinto shrine with modern Japanese concessions building in the background to the right. The Tori (arch) in the foreground and the stone lanterns to the left and right of the entrance are clear indicators of the Japanese architectural tradition.

Tianjin, 1930s.


Note: More Japanese postcards of Tianjin until 1945 (in fact ca. 280) have been scanned and annotated at the University of Shimane. Be aware that this is a very graphics-intense site and it takes a while to load. Both Macromedia Flash and Adobe Acrobat Reader are required. There are a couple of interfaces, including an interactive map of all of China, and one in English. I am grateful for Professor Toshihiko Kishi to supply this information.

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