See full scan at the bottom of the page.

Published in May 1945 by the so-called “Japanese Exclusion League,” this four-page newsletter offers an unsettling glimpse into the intense anti-Japanese sentiment that pervaded parts of the United States during World War II. Although Nazi Germany had just surrendered in Europe, the Pacific War continued—and with it, a barrage of fearmongering about Japanese Americans who, in many cases, had already been forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated in government-run camps.

Historical Context

By 1945, over 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry—two-thirds of them U.S. citizens—had been uprooted from their West Coast communities and incarcerated in remote inland camps. Under the justification of “military necessity,” officials cited unfounded concerns over sabotage, espionage, and disloyalty to rationalize this large-scale civil rights violation. Though the war with Germany was effectively over, the conflict with Japan continued, and newspapers like this “Exclusion League Journal” capitalized on lingering fears to push for the permanent removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

In Oregon, as in other western states, grassroots groups formed to oppose the resettlement of Japanese Americans—those who might have been released from incarceration camps or sought to return to their prewar lives. The “Japanese Exclusion League” was one of several organizations determined to stoke alarm and prevent reintegration. This propaganda piece must be understood in that charged atmosphere of deep prejudice and distrust, which was officially sanctioned and reflected by leading political and military figures.

Strategies and Content

• Fearmongering Headlines
  Bold claims such as “WRA To Dump 25,000 Japs on Coast This Year” and “How Japs ‘Freeze’ U.S. Farmers” exploit heightened wartime anxieties, framing Japanese Americans as a looming crisis rather than American citizens with guaranteed rights.
• Scapegoating and Racial Slurs
  The frequent use of the derogatory term “Japs” dehumanizes its targets, reducing people to an enemy caricature. This rhetoric implies that Japanese Americans were monolithic and inherently disloyal, which bolstered arguments against their presence on the West Coast.
• Selective “Expert” Testimony
  The newsletter features quotes attributed to high-ranking officers, including Admiral William Halsey and General Douglas MacArthur, depicted as endorsing the idea that Japanese Americans are “barbarians” who “are not fit to live in a civilized world.” Whether these quotes are taken in context or cherry-picked, they impart a false sense of authority.
• Symbols of Patriotism and Military Valor
  While viciously attacking Japanese Americans, the publication positions its supporters as “true patriots” defending the homeland. Its coverage of returning veterans, such as the pictured Marine and his father, attempts to highlight “real American families” who “know about Japs,” implying that firsthand military experience justifies xenophobia.
• Exhortations to Action
  On the final page, a large advertisement declares, “Japanese Exclusion Is Entirely Up To You!” urging readers to pressure their elected officials and community leaders to maintain exclusionary laws and practices. It effectively transforms fear into a civic duty, where opposing Japanese Americans is pitched as necessary “for the duration” of the war—and potentially beyond.

Imagery, Language, and Symbolism

• Military Imagery
  Photographs of stern-faced men in uniform convey authority and legitimacy. They contrast with text portraying Japanese Americans as unseen, menacing outsiders.
• Demonization and Superlatives
  Words such as “saboteurs,” “infiltrators,” and “barbarians” induce panic, painting Japanese Americans as a powerful, threatening “other.”
• Us vs. Them Framing
  The Journal repeatedly references “we” and “our” Coast, appealing to the reader’s sense of belonging—and implicitly urging them to expel anyone deemed “foreign.”

Impact

Although the Japanese Exclusion League and similar groups failed to permanently bar Japanese Americans from returning to their homes, publications like this Journal played a significant role in shaping public opinion. In the short term, such propaganda helped normalize discriminatory policies and extend the isolation of incarcerated individuals by feeding a hostile environment. Postwar investigations would later deem this type of anti-Japanese rhetoric baseless and unconstitutional.

This publication reminds us how swiftly prejudice can surge during moments of crisis—and how propaganda can transform neighbors into targets of suspicion. The hateful imagery and language of the “Japanese Exclusion League Journal” underscores the need for vigilance in defending civil liberties. Its resonance extends beyond World War II, serving as a cautionary tale of how xenophobia and fear can be weaponized for political ends.

Special thanks to the USC Digital Imaging Lab for their support in digitizing this item.