---
title: 'Private Snafu: Operation Snafu, frame of a sword-carrying Japanese soldier caricature'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/private-snafu-operation-snafu-sword-caricature-1945/
description: 'Black-and-white animated frame: a short figure in a peaked cap and dark tunic, with round glasses, a toothbrush moustache, a squint and large protruding…'
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

**Content note:** Animated caricature of a Japanese soldier with exaggerated buck teeth and squint, holding a sword. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![Private Snafu: Operation Snafu, frame of a sword-carrying Japanese soldier caricature](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/private-snafu-operation-snafu-sword-caricature-1945.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/private-snafu-operation-snafu-sword-caricature-1945.jpg)

# Private Snafu: Operation Snafu, frame of a sword-carrying Japanese soldier caricature

Black-and-white animated frame: a short figure in a peaked cap and dark tunic, with round glasses, a toothbrush moustache, a squint and large protruding buck teeth, grins and holds a drawn sword in front of a painted view of Mount Fuji. The face is drawn as a caricature of a Japanese soldier; the exaggerated teeth and eyes do the labelling (name-calling by image).

## Text on the object

Checked for printed text

No legible text on this object.

A hanging scroll at the left edge carries a column of Japanese calligraphy that is too small and stylised to read; no other lettering is present.

[← Private Snafu: No Buddy Atoll, frame of a dazed Japanese naval officer caricature](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/private-snafu-no-buddy-atoll-officer-caricature-1945/) [Universal-International News title card: 'Eisenhower Says We Must Back Victory' →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/universal-news-eisenhower-back-victory-1946/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Passional Christi und Antichristi: the emperor kisses the pope's foot (leaf 'Antichristus')](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/passional-christi-antichristi-emperor-kisses-pope-1521/) (Electoral Saxony · 1521 · Name-calling, Card stacking)
- [Anacoana fut pendue sans raison (engraving in Le miroir de la cruelle et horrible tyrannie espagnole)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/anacoana-hanged-miroir-tyrannie-espagnole-1620/) (Dutch Republic · 1620 · Fear appeal, Name-calling). Content note: Engraving of a hanged, bare-breasted Taino woman, burning huts and people being killed by Spanish soldiers.
- [Ondersoeckt de Geesten, ofse van den Duyvel syn, of niet (the De Witt brothers as devils)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ondersoeckt-de-geesten-de-witt-devils-1672/) (Dutch Republic · 1672 · Scapegoating, Name-calling)
- [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer)
- [The North Briton, No. XLV, 23 April 1763 (John Wilkes), opening page](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/north-briton-no-45-wilkes-1763/) (Kingdom of Great Britain · Apr 23, 1763 · Name-calling)
- [The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/revere-bloody-massacre-king-street-1770/) (Province of Massachusetts Bay · Mar 1770 · Name-calling, Card stacking). Content note: Hand-coloured engraving of bloodied dead and wounded colonists after soldiers fired on a crowd.
- [Marche du Dom Quichotte moderne pour la deffence du Moulin des Abus (March of the Modern Don Quixote in Defence of the Mill of Abuses)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dom-quichotte-moulin-des-abus-1791/) (France · 1791 · Name-calling, Transfer)
- [Sans-Culottes, feeding Europe with the Bread of Liberty (James Gillray)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sans-culottes-bread-of-liberty-gillray-1793/) (Kingdom of Great Britain · Jan 12, 1793 · Fear appeal, Name-calling)