Osaka Life During Occupation Photos

Here are more photos of Osaka, Japan in 1947 during the time of the Allied occupational forces following the end of World War II.

Very few photos have any notations.  The ones that do, seem to indicate that my cousin's father-in law was with the 4th R.D. (I am guessing 4th Regimental Division).  My cousin said she is checking with her husband for more details.  Regardless, these photos are of historical importance as they depict the history of occupied Japan.  Perhaps someone who was there at the time (65 years ago) will see these and will post information on them.

The occupation period began following the Japanese surrender in 1945 in Tokyo Bay.  The occupation Forces were commanded by General Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo.   The Japanese surrendMy cousin Julie gave me 60 photographs taken by her father-in-law while he was stationed in er was the direct result of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 67 years ago this month.  The surrender was announced over Japanese radio by Emperor Hirohito (Emperor Showa).  This was the first time the Japanese heard their Emperor's voice in a radio broadcast.

The photos below are from 1947 in Osaka.  Unfortunately, there are no photographs of Osaka Castle or of the European castle-looking building across a road from the Castle that served as the Osaka headquarters of the occupation forces.  Both buildings were featured in the 1955 Toho feature, Godzilla Raids Again (a.k.a. Gigantis, The Fire Monster).

In researching this period online for this post, I noticed several times it was written that the members of the U.S. Army gained the respect and affection of the citizens of Osaka as they treated them with respect and courtesy, rather than as a defeated enemy.  This made the occupation experience much more pleasant for both sides.

My dad was briefly stationed in Sendai (in northern Honshu) in 1951 (at about the time the occupation was ending) after his National Guard Division was called up for the Korean War.  His experience in Japan was an enjoyable one, most likely due to the goodwill that was built up between the occupation forces and the Japanese citizens.

The photos I am posting here are generally of life in Osaka during the occupation.  I was unable to identify any of the buildings shown, with the exception of Osaka Station. (I've been to Osaka once, but that was limited to touring Osaka Castle and seeing some of the city from the inside of a bus.)   But they are still interesting to see.

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The first set was one I posted several days ago.  But here it is with some explanation (the best I can do):

1.  U.S. Army/Occupation Headquarters.
2.  Three Osaka citizens.
3.  U.S. Army Encampment.
4. Young Japanese boy.  It appears he's wearing a modified (U.S.?) army uniform, probably given by friendly G.I.s.
5. An Osaka street of storefront businesses.
6.  Osaka Station.  Note the "Third Military R.T.O. Railway Service" sign.

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The next 2 sets are more focused on Japanese life in Osaka:

1.  Osaka.

2.  Fire truck.

3.  Boxing match.

4.  After the knock-out punch.

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1.  A man with his cart.

2.  Japanese citizens going about their business.

3.  Osaka.

4.  Farmland outside of Osaka.

5.  Osaka shopping area.

6.  Overhead view of an Osaka street.

7.  Shoreline near Osaka (it looks like a view from Godzilla Raids Again).