Rising Sun

Please take the time to enjoy a small selection of the artifacts that we have on display at the Museum of World War II. Every artifact in our collection has its own history, and ties to human lives. Each artifact has a small section of its story told here.

You can use this map to jump to any section of the Museum of World War 2 to view a selection of the artifacts displayed there.

You can click on any image for a larger view.

This section contains artifacts specifically about the Rising Sun, and Japan's rise to power in the Pacific. This has been a difficult area to collect because of the fact that so little was able to survive the fire bombings of Japan; the islands that Japan occupied lacked cities; and American Marines were not able to easily bring back souvenirs. The central part of this display relates to events in Japan from the time of the invasion of China through the American bombings. Japan's Declaration of War on the United States and Britain is exhibited, as well as many photographs of the invasion of China, artifacts showing the militaristic atmosphere in Japan in the 1930's and 1940's, and American leaflets dropped on Japan by B-29's as America brought the war to Japan's homeland.

PLEASE NOTE: All firearms displayed at the Museum of World War II have been rendered inoperable.

Map of the Museum

This has been a difficult area to collect because of the fact that so little was able to survive the fire bombings of Japan; the islands that Japan occupied lacked cities; and American Marines were not able to easily bring back souvenirs. The central part of this display relates to events in Japan from the time of the invasion of China through the American bombings. Japan's Declaration of War on the United States and Britain is exhibited, as well as many photographs of the invasion of China, artifacts showing the militaristic atmosphere in Japan in the 1930's and 1940's, and American leaflets dropped on Japan by B-29's as America brought the war to Japan's homeland.

A Japanese map of the world, pre-World War II.

Yoshihito, the Taisho Emperor. Father of Emperor Hirohito.

Emperor Hirohito, Letter of State, signed above his large red Imperial seal.

Photograph signed by Hirohito

Total destruction of the Baltic Fleet (Russo-Japan War)

Propaganda print showing the Japanese working as servants in China.

"A severe battle at the River of Anjo."

Ceremonial dress uniform of Japanese naval officer, standing by a ship's binoculars.

Naval landing force Victory Plate, 1938, showing areas conquered by Japan.

Japanese Declaration of War on the United States and Great Britain.

One of five bombs carried by a Japanese paper balloon, released by Japan with the purpose of being carried by the jet stream to travel over North America. The balloons carried either five bombs like this one or incendiary devices. This bomb was numbered 1361, and was found in Oregon. On the right, an image of a Japanese soldier standing on the Great Wall of China.

Nen Shiki Kikanju Type 11 Japanese machine gun.

An assortment of Japanese medals.

Japanese naval strategy planning set of magnetic pieces, representing different ships.

Japanese aerial machine-gun style camera from the early 1940's.

A inscribed Japanese flag, a kamikaze headband and pictures of the Japanese troops.

JAPANESE WAR POSTERS