Kita Sumatora Sinbun newspaper as Japanese propaganda media in East Sumatera, Indonesia, 1943-1945

Abstract

Japan's ambition to be an Asian giant has been shown since 1937 in the Asia-Pacific War or in Japan it is called the Great East Asian War. In an effort to win the sympathy of the Asian people, Japan carried out various propaganda campaigns. In Indonesia, the propaganda was launched by the Japanese military government was very intensive by stating that they were brothers in arms to drive out Western imperialism, and promised independence for Indonesia. To launch its propaganda, Japan facilitated and supervised what was published in Indonesian newspapers every shu. In East Sumatera, the Japanese-founded propaganda newspaper is called Kita Sumatora Sinbun. Although the coverage of Kita Sumatora Sinbun newspaper varies, almost all of the content contains propaganda for domestic and foreign consumption. This study aims to reveal why Japan formed the Kita Sumatora Sinbun newspaper as their propaganda media in East Sumatera, and how the impact of the propaganda narratives in this newspaper on the political, economic and social aspects of the people of East Sumatera.