Life In The 218th Infantry Regiment,

34th Division, Imperial Japanese Army

I am delighted to present this fascinating look at the life of a typical Imperial Army soldier and his day to day routine. This exhibit consists of a series of 24 paintings and drawings by Mr. MIKOSHI Shigeichi, who served in the 218th Regiment.

The images tell a story, beginning with sailing to China, training, then combat operations. Sadly, these 24 images are the only ones available out of a total of at least 75, perhaps someday the remainder will be found.

Night March

This dramatic image shows the regiment on the march at night through the Chinese countryside. It is out of sequence with the remainer of the exhibt, as it alone of the pictures was un-numbered.

From Boys To Men

This picture is a before and after look. On the right are college students, on the left they have been transformed into soldiers.

On The Way

At sea on the way to China, other ships dot the horizon.

Choppy Waters

The ocean became rough while the recruits were on their way to China and the 34th Division. With the accommodations onboard the Denmark Maru, relieving yourself in the choppy waters was no easy task.

Rough Ride

Accommodations below deck on the Denmark Maru were little better than those demonstrated in Choppy Waters. With rough seas the men packed in below found it impossible to stretch out or otherwise relax.

Mouth Of The Yangtze

Arriving at Shanghai, the mouth of the Yangtze River was a panorama spread out before the sightseers on deck.

Shanghai To Nanchang

The train that carried the new men to the battle area offered little more comfort than the Denmark Maru had.

The Hobnail Treatment

Harsh treatment awaited the new men during training. In this case apparently being beaten with a "hobnail slipper".

Barracks At Night

When the troops were finally allowed to rest after the end of a long day, sparse accommodation awaited them in their barracks.

Small Arms Training

Part of the specialized infantry training. While the infantry were at weapons training, the men of the transport regiment learned to drive and maintain their trucks, ie; each type of unit maintained its own specialty training.

Min-Min Cicada Treatment

This picture depicts what seems to be a type of punishment, or perhaps contest. I have written to one of my Japanese friends asking him to explain in detail.

General HATA Inspects The Men

General HATA Shunroku inspects the men at Officer Cadet School in Nanking.

Minarai Shikan

Upon completing OCS, the men obtained the rank of Minarai Shikan, or Officer-In-Training. They wore the insignia of a master seargent, but had a small round, metal button attached on top to show the slightly higher rank, also having a blue belt with round buckles. Minarai Shikan was a probationary rank that could theoretically be taken away for poor perfromance in the field, however the shortages of trained officers meant that this almost never happened in practice.

The Hankow Clock Tower

Arriving at Hankow by boat, the famous clock tower was visible quite clearly. The area around it was the British Concession.

Night March 2

With American control of the air, the 34th Division usually moved at night.

Break For Ten

When the brief 10 minute rests were given during the long night marches, everyone collapsed and took a cat nap.

The Common Enemy Of All Soldiers

Rain made any movement difficult, the mud sometimes reaching up to your knees. My friend Mr. Kawamoto who served in the transport regiment of this division one time saw an exhausted soldier who had died standing up, unable to fall over because he was so deep in the mud.

Spring Near Changsha

In the spring of 1944 the 34th Division moved into south China as part of the great Kweilin Offensive. As the passed through the Changsha area they marched along the railroad tracks, which were sometimes mined by the Chinese.

Foraging

Forage for food was standard Japanese Army principle of operation. This somewhat comical series of drawing depicts such efforts.

Recon

The village ahead was suspected of being held by the enemy. Scouts were sent forward to conduct reconnaissance before the main force went in.

"Horse Marine"

While the transport regiment had trucks, lack of fuel and enemy air activity often meant relying on horses to get ammo, medical supplies and food to the front lines. It was often tough going for these "horse marines" as they were sometimes called.

Countryside Near Hengyang

This painting shows the beautiful landscape near Hengyang in Hunan Province.

On The Retreat

With the failure of the Kweilin Offensive in the summer of 1944, Japanese forces in China were at last on the retreat, and the 218th Infantry Regiment was no exception.

Repatriated

Having been returned to Japan, on the first night the men left Sasebo by train, and got their first sight of a Japanese city in rubble. Mr. Kawamoto saw both Hiroshima and Kobe "flattened" through a crack in the freight car he was on.

Night March	This dramatic image shows the regiment on the march at night through the Chinese countryside. It is out of sequence with the remainer of the exhibt, as it alone of the pictures was un-numbered.
From Boys To Men	This picture is a before and after look. On the right are college students, on the left they have been transformed into soldiers.
On The Way	At sea on the way to China, other ships dot the horizon.
Choppy Waters	The ocean became rough while the recruits were on their way to China and the 34th Division. With the accommodations onboard the Denmark Maru, relieving yourself in the choppy waters was no easy task.
Rough Ride	Accommodations below deck on the Denmark Maru were little better than those demonstrated in Choppy Waters. With rough seas the men packed in below found it impossible to stretch out or otherwise relax.
Mouth Of The Yangtze	Arriving at Shanghai, the mouth of the Yangtze River was a panorama spread out before the sightseers on deck.
Shanghai To Nanchang	The train that carried the new men to the battle area offered little more comfort than the Denmark Maru had.
The Hobnail Treatment	Harsh treatment awaited the new men during training. In this case apparently being beaten with a "hobnail slipper".
Barracks At Night	When the troops were finally allowed to rest after the end of a long day, sparse accommodation awaited them in their barracks.
Small Arms Training	Part of the specialized infantry training. While the infantry were at weapons training, the men of the transport regiment learned to drive and maintain their trucks, ie; each type of unit maintained its own specialty training.
Min-Min Cicada Treatment	This picture depicts what seems to be a type of punishment, or perhaps contest. I have written to one of my Japanese friends asking him to explain in detail.
General HATA Inspects The Men	General HATA Shunroku inspects the men at Officer Cadet School in Nanking.
Minarai Shikan	Upon completing OCS, the men obtained the rank of Minarai Shikan, or Officer-In-Training. They wore the insignia of a master seargent, but had a small round, metal button attached on top to show the slightly higher rank, also having a blue belt with round buckles. Minarai Shikan was a probationary rank that could theoretically be taken away for poor perfromance in the field, however the shortages of trained officers meant that this almost never happened in practice.
The Hankow Clock Tower	Arriving at Hankow by boat, the famous clock tower was visible quite clearly. The area around it was the British Concession.
Night March 2	With American control of the air, the 34th Division usually moved at night.
Break For Ten	When the brief 10 minute rests were given during the long night marches, everyone collapsed and took a cat nap.
The Common Enemy Of All Soldiers	Rain made any movement difficult, the mud sometimes reaching up to your knees. My friend Mr. Kawamoto who served in the transport regiment of this division one time saw an exhausted soldier who had died standing up, unable to fall over because he was so deep in the mud.
Spring Near Changsha	In the spring of 1944 the 34th Division moved into south China as part of the great Kweilin Offensive. As the passed through the Changsha area they marched along the railroad tracks, which were sometimes mined by the Chinese.
Foraging	Forage for food was standard Japanese Army principle of operation. This somewhat comical series of drawing depicts such efforts.
Recon	The village ahead was suspected of being held by the enemy. Scouts were sent forward to conduct reconnaissance before the main force went in.
"Horse Marine"	While the transport regiment had trucks, lack of fuel and enemy air activity often meant relying on horses to get ammo, medical supplies and food to the front lines. It was often tough going for these "horse marines" as they were sometimes called.
Countryside Near Hengyang	This painting shows the beautiful landscape near Hengyang in Hunan Province.
On The Retreat	With the failure of the Kweilin Offensive in the summer of 1944, Japanese forces in China were at last on the retreat, and the 218th Infantry Regiment was no exception.
Repatriated	Having been returned to Japan, on the first night the men left Sasebo by train, and got their first sight of a Japanese city in rubble. Mr. Kawamoto saw both Hiroshima and Kobe "flattened" through a crack in the freight car he was on.