Thu 28 Sep 2006
R.I.P. Iva Ikuko Toguri (”Tokyo Rose”)
Thursday, Sep 28th, 2006 at 6:52 amCategories: War; Japan; Propaganda
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“Tokyo Rose (Iva Ikuko Toguri), a Japanese American … was abandoned by the U.S. government and forced by the Japanese government to become a radio propaganda DJ. All the while Toguri remained a loyal American patriot.”
Toguri became adept at sabotaging her own broadcasts. Though employed to broadcast pro-Japanese propaganda, Toguri’s outspoken support of the Allies off-mic (while cleverly concealing it within her message and delivery on-air) resulted in numerous arguments, fisticuffs, and sometimes daily 3 am harassments thanks to the Kempeitai Thought Police. She helped keep American soldiers alive (at mortal personal risk) with food, medicine, clothing, and hope during her almost daily visits to their cells.
As an American unwilling to denounce her citizenship, Toguri was not to be trusted by the Japanese, and as an American woman of Japanese extraction broadcasting for the Japanese, she was considered a traitor in her own country.
[Link]
Via Boing Boing.