‘Almost a Love Story’: Japanese Soldiers in North-West Thailand

Abstract

Literature on the Second World War in South East Asia generally concentrates on the harsh behaviour of Japanese soldiers towards Allied prisoners and local people. The Japanese are remembered as abusive and brutal armed forces. But many local people in north-west Thailand think of the Japanese differently. The Japanese left no bitter memories or painful experiences among the locals. In fact, the Japanese often bought food from the locals and even paid them to work. Despite the hardship of the war, cash was not hard to find, and some locals can remember the luxury of having cash to spend. There was even a love story that later was crushed by the cruel force of war.