Under the military administration of the Japanese, the occupation years were a time of fear and uncertainty, of tenacious survival under threat of massacres, beheadings and tortures. In this depressive, often violent atmosphere, the local people were to live with food and fuel shortages, disease and death for three and a half years.  Singapore, as part of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity sphere, was thoroughly Nipponised. The Japanese, intent on erasing all influences of the West, espoused the superior culture of the Japanese as a model for the progress of all Japanese- occupied territories.

An intense Speak Japanese Campaign was started. There were Nippon-go lessons in all the newspapers, over Syonan Radio and in offices. Many Japanese language schools were set up. The best known among them was The Syonan Nippon Gakuen (Syonan Japanese College) in Queen Street.

In the primary schools, students were taught Nippon-Go instead of English. They sang Kimigayo, the Japanese anthem and other Japanese songs, celebrated Japanese festivals and learnt the art of bowing. To teach the young people more about Japanese culture and spirit, a Japanese language newspaper, Sakura (Cherry Blossom) was published for distribution to students. As part of the lesson on Nippon Sershin, at the start of each day, the Hinomana (the Japanese Flag) was raised and everyone present bowed to the northeast in the direction of the Japanese Emperor in Tokyo. The Kimigayo and a few patriotic songs would be sung and classes would then start.

Victor Tan, student of Japanese Language

"Most of the songs were played in the morning during school assemblies... especially the national anthem Kimigayo. Singing was one of the programmes every day. It was one of the subjects. Every morning we have to sing the national anthem, then we march to the class. And before we go back every day, we would assemble in the school hall for some lectures and singing."