Published in 1945, “ANGLO-JAPANESE CONVERSATION MANUAL

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  “ANGLO-JAPANESE CONVERSATION MANUAL” was an English conversation handbook published one month after the end of World War II.
This book became the first major bestseller in Japan.
It was released in September 1945 and had sold over 4 million copies by December 1945.

It was published by SEIBUNDO SHINKOSHA. (It still exists today.)
 The originator came up with the idea of “ANGLO-JAPANESE CONVERSATION MANUAL” as soon as he heard the broadcast（broadcast of the voice of Japan's Emperor Hirohito）announcing that the war had been lost. He then created this booklet in an express.

It was only 32 pages, but it was very popular.
They could not print it in Tokyo in time, so they printed it in Nagoya and Kyoto as well. The exact number of copies is unknown.
This booklet was sold out with only customers who reserved a copy before it was lined up in bookstores.


The booklet consists of three parts.
(1) English for everyday conversation, (2) English for shopping, and (3) English for asking for directions

A total of 79 example sentences were posted.
There were a few sentences that were a little wrong.

Currently, a reprint of this booklet is available at SEIBUNDO SHINKOSHA. (550 yen)
https://www.seibundo-shinkosha.net/book/general/68006/


You can see the contents on this blog.
MAHOROBA↓
http://mahoroba3.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2021/12/post-ea24c6.html



 This booklet was a big hit, and its rivals began publishing English conversation handbooks one after another.
Around the same time, a radio program on English conversation started on Japan's public broadcaster (NHK).
In the immediate aftermath of the war, Japan experienced an unprecedented boom in the English language. 

At the end of World War II, Japan was in a state of great distress. The economy was in turmoil. It was a time when there was little hope for the future. However, many citizens were willing to learn.


This photo was taken at 12:00 on August 15, 1945. They are saddened to hear the broadcast (broadcast of the voice of Japan's Emperor Hirohito) informing them that they lost the war.


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 If you are interested in how Japan ended World War II, watch the film Japan's Longest Day (1967 or 2015).
The film is based on the book by Hando Kazutoshi, a journalist and Showa history researcher.
It depicts the 24 hours from noon on August 14, 1945 to noon on August 15, 1945.
Hando Kazutoshi wrote this nonfiction book after very in-depth interviews.

The 1967 film was directed by Kihachi Okamoto.
Kihachi Okamoto also influenced Anno Hideaki.

The photo of the missing professor in “Shin Godzilla” directed by Anno Hideaki is by “Kihachi Okamoto” (around 36'35").
The respect for “Kihachi Okamoto” is expressed everywhere in the scene cuts and story transitions.


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