Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Feb 22 – 28, 1940

Feb 22, 1940: Japan and Italy continue cooperation in Anti-Comintern Pact, targeted at Soviet Union, despite Germany’s defection the previous year with non-aggression treaty with Moscow

Feb 23, 1940: Ichikawa Sadanji, leader of the kabuki school of acting, dies. A representative of traditional arts, Ichikawa was also a bridge between East and West, counting US Ambassador Joseph Grew among his friends, and introducing Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen to Japan

Feb 24, 1940: Admiral Yonai Mitsumasa, Japan’s prime minister, expects war in China to last for a long time

Feb 25, 1940: Pu Yi, the emperor of puppet state Manchukuo (see picture on the right), is to visit Yasukuni Shrine and perform other rites associated with official Shinto religion during visit to Japan later in the year

Feb 26, 1940: As Japanese Army continues to pour men and resources into China war, complaints emerge about growing scarcity at home

Feb 27, 1940: Both Japanese and Chinese sides claim victory in fierce fighting in south China

Feb 28, 1940: New planned puppet government in China criticized for giving Japan control of transportation network as well as utilities and natural resources

Categories: War

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