Buy The Fall of Rangoon: Five Japanese Invasion Notes of Burma (Billfold) Online
In early 1942, the British stronghold of Rangoon fell to advancing Japanese forces in a swift and decisive campaign that shook the Allied position in Southeast Asia. Japan’s military objective was simple: control the Burma Road and cut off supplies to China. But the consequences of the invasion were far-reaching. Burma’s strategic fall not only disrupted Allied logistics—it ushered in one of the most controversial currency experiments of World War II.
To legitimize their occupation and control Burma’s economy, the Japanese issued a complete set of paper currency printed with the label "The Japanese Government." These notes were meant to replace local currencies and instill Japanese authority over daily life. However, these “JIM notes” (Japanese Invasion Money) quickly became symbols of resentment, inflation, and rebellion.
This set includes:
½ Rupee note
1 Rupee note
5 Rupees note
10 Rupees note
100 Rupees note
All were issued by the Japanese Government for circulation in occupied Burma during WWII.
Details of This Unique Collection:
Historical Significance: These notes were part of Japan’s economic strategy during its occupation of Burma—an effort to cement control by reshaping the local economy with its own issued currency.
Complete Denomination Range: This set provides a broad view of wartime Burmese currency, from the smallest everyday denominations to the rarer, high-value 100 rupees note.
Genuine WWII Artifacts: Each note is an authentic piece of World War II history, issued between 1942 and 1945.
Why Collect These Rare Notes?
These notes are more than just occupation currency—they’re echoes of wartime resistance and survival. Locals nicknamed them “banana money” and feared their worth would vanish with Japan’s defeat. And indeed, when Allied forces reclaimed Burma, these notes became worthless overnight. What remains is the paper, the story, and the mark of a region that suffered, resisted, and remembered.
Japanese Invasion Note Highlights:
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Complete 5-Note Billfold: From everyday change to the rarely seen 100 rupee note
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Burma Under Occupation: These notes reveal how Japan sought to dominate not just militarily but economically
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Authentic WWII Relics: Real history in your hands—each note once passed through the uncertain days of wartime Burma
