Decade Of Change

In 70 days Britain's prestigious rule in Malaya and Singapore ended in humiliating defeat. Previous 'colonial masters' were herded into prisoner of war camps, and Britain's benevolence was replaced by The Greater East Asian CoProsperity Sphere with its motto 'Asia for the Asians'. Japan's method of rule was a combination of incompetence, suppression, corruption and terror in vast contradiction to the brilliance of her military success. In three and a half years everything changed for the worse. When the 'Rising Sun' finally set in defeat, subjugated peoples were left with a legacy of impoverished turmoil, bitterness and racial unrest. The returning British were welcomed, neither as conquering heroes nor returning masters. The blemish of defeat on the white man's image had not been forgotten and had given birth to an emerging fervour of Nationalism.