1934 Cartoon Map of the World Situation
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By: Yukitomo Rijiun
Date of Original: 1934 (published) Japan
Original Size: 30.5 x 43 inches
This is a fine print reproduction of a rare and intriguing Japanese pictorial world map, Manga Sekai Genjō Chizu (“Cartoon Map of the World Situation”), was published in August 1934 as a supplement to the Hinode Shimbun. Created by illustrator Yukitomo Rijiun, it reflects a Japanese fascination with caricature maps, blending humor, satire, and propaganda to make global affairs accessible. Complex geopolitics are distilled into recognizable figures, cultural stereotypes, and visual commentary.
The map centers on Japan and compresses the globe into a crowded, energetic scene where nations are personified through leaders, cultural icons, or symbolic animals. Europe is portrayed as a tense arena of conflict, with Hitler and Mussolini in military caricature, Stalin looming across the Soviet Union, and Britain represented by John Bull. Other European states feature soldiers, politicians, and symbols of instability, highlighting a continent on edge and the rivalries that threatened global balance.
Across Asia, Japan is boldly marked in red, signaling its imperial aspirations, rising naval and industrial power. China appears fractured, while India features Mahatma Gandhi in his iconic garb. In the United States, Uncle Sam stands alongside industrial skylines, oil derricks, and a satirical depiction of gangster Al Capone, with Japanese captions noting the failures of Prohibition and the ongoing economic Depression, framing America as powerful yet troubled.
The map presents a satirical roll call of historical figures, including Roosevelt, Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Gandhi, and Chinese military leaders, each drawn in exaggerated style for instant recognition. Created as Japan asserted itself as a modern power, it portrays the nation as confident while casting others as divided or decadent, offering a unique lens on how Japan viewed the world and itself on the years leading up to World War II.
Inventory #12995