This interactive exhibit tells the story of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which precipitated America’s entry into WWII. The story is presented in a fresh and timely way using vintage maps, documents, ephemera and artifacts from Japan and America. The primary materials date from the 1930s and 1940s.

Commemorative merchandise to be sold.

Curated by The Story of Hawaii Museum Exhibit & Gallery, Bryant Neal , Chief Curator.

UPCOMING EXPERIENCES

85TH MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE OF THE BOMBING OF
PEARL HARBOR EXHIBIT

I BOMBED PEARL HARBOR EXHIBIT

Dec. 7, 2026, is the 85th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which precipitated America's entry into WWII and one of the most costly, hard fought, volatile and protracted military engagements of the 20th century.

Perhaps no story has been told more often, more fervently, and because the United States won the war, it has almost always been told exclusively from the American point of view.

But now, with the passing of time and the cooling of emotions, it is possible to discern that there is another side to that story, a side that is mostly unknown and untold either to Americans or to Japanese living today.

It's a story of a long-standing bi-polar relationship between the two countries which dates back to July 8, 1853, when American Commodore Matthew Perry led his four ships into the harbor at Tokyo Bay, seeking to re-establish for the first time in over 200 years regular trade and discourse between Japan and the Western world.

It's a story that swings back and forth between two nations as they grow and change and emerge as world powers.

In the mid 19th century, both countries were bit players on the global stage, but as time progressed these two strong willed and ambitious nations cast each other in a variety of roles that see-sawed from trusted ally to hated adversary and back again to ally in the 21st century scheme of things.

But most importantly it is a story that both countries have taken some pains not only to ignore but also to suppress.

The occasion of the 85th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor is the ideal opportunity to take a fresh and wider ranging view of events leading up to World War II and the role played by each nation in an exhibition that can be understood and appreciated not only by the generation that survived the war but its children, grand-children and great-grandchildren alive today.

Aerial combat photography - Curated sets of attack images

The Japanese government provided a detailed account of its victory over the US at Pearl Harbor, the British in Malaya and Hong Kong. Packaged sets of war images were made from photographs taken by Japanese pilots to document the damage.

As part of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese naval aviators in planes equipped with high powered cameras, took hundreds of
pictures capturing the actual bombing sequence.

These images were used as powerful propaganda tools in Japanese media to inform citizens about the Pearl Harbor attack, showcase the military's success, bolster national pride and rally support for the war effort.

Of the hundreds of photos taken, approximately 8 key images passed censorship and were approved for public viewing.

The chosen images were packaged and circulated in Japanese media through Newspapers, post cards, stamps, special edition sets, staged news reels and propaganda films.

If you were a Japanese citizen in 1941, these were the images used by government officials to inform you about the bombing of
Pearl Harbor.

The main theme of the exhibit is showcasing examples of how these images were used in each of the forementioned categories.

WORLD WAR II AERIAL COMBAT PHOTOS - COVER PAGE

1. Top line (on the top of a large box)
The United States of America

2. Second and third line in the larger box:
Historic Photographic Record of Complete destruction of entire American Pacific Fleet

3. Fourth line (on the right – vertical)
As presented by the Navy

4. 5th line: (on the left – vertical)
8 photos as a set for 30 cents

5. Fifth box: (smaller center box over the large box)
Fantastic Naval Battle of Hawaii

6. Sixth box: (larger box under the 5 the boxes)
The world shaking, never before heard of, surprise attack
“Pearl Harbor’’. Photos taken from the plane by our courageous flyers! The full pictures of the Naval station, Pearl Harbor, and the scenes of black smoke covered column of American Pacific Fleet by the attack of our Navy. This set of photos is an important record in the history of the Pan-Pacific War, to be treated as a National Treasure.

7. Under the box 6:
(Credits) Tokyo NichiNichi Shimbun-sha / Osaka Mainichi Shimbun-sha

8. Bottom lines (Outside the decorative frame)
(Postal credits) Post office approved code numbers for the above two Newspaper companies.

WORLD WAR II AERIAL COMBAT ATTACK PHOTOS AND TRANSLATIONS

1. About to be destroyed entire American Pacific Fleet. All their major battleships are lined up in the front view. The shining white shadow in the ocean is one of our onrushing torpedo boats. Some of the enemy warships were seen as being hit already and are on the careen. Seen also the white smoke cloud is rising from the Hickam Air Base.
Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun/f Mainichi Shimbun

2. Perspective view of the enemy’s major fleet and its battleships. The tall cloud of spray is rising from the Battleship Oklahoma, hit by torpedo. 4 ships in front on left are their cruisers. Two of our Navy aircrafts are in the view.
Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun/Mainichi Shimbun

3. The scene of the end of American fleet. The top of this photo is the already hit and sank the Battleship Oklahoma by our torpedo and the second Oklahoma-type of warship was hit also. The third ship, the battleship California-type of ship was hit on the starboard and badly damaged. The bottom left of the picture, a Maryland-type of battleship was hit and badly damaged.
Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun/ Mainichi Shimbun

4. The Wheeler Army Airbase under attack. Seen neatly lined up fuel tanks on the right and the airbase’ runways. The black smoke cloud is covering the harbor.
Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun/ Mainichi Shimbun.

5. Our bombers are flying over the Pearl Harbor. The entire enemy fleet in the harbor is covered by the black smoke.
See the Hickam Army Airbase on the lower half of thephto.
Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun/Mainichi Shimbun.

6. Perspective view of Pearl Harbor. The white spays are from the Battleship Oklahoma.
Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun/Mainichi Shimbun.

7. By the fierce attack of our Navy Air Force, the Wheeler Airbase in Hawaii was covered by a dense black cloud. All their hangers are already smoke filled and their proud aircrafts are about to be destroyed in flames.
Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun/Mainichi Shimbun.

8. Officers and sailors are waiving goodbyes as they are sending off the consort planes in the early dawn of the day of the attack on the deck of XX air-carrier.
Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun/Mainichi Shimbun.

The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun (東京日日新聞, Tōkyō Nichi Nichi Shinbun) (lit. Tokyo Daily News) was a newspaper printed in Tokyo, Japan from 1872 to 1943. In 1875, the company began the world’s first newspaper delivery service. In 1911, the paper merged with Osaka Mainichi Shimbun (大阪毎日新聞, lit.
“Osaka Daily News”) to form the Mainichi Shimbun (毎日新聞, lit. “Daily News”) company. The two newspapers continued to print independently until 1943, when both editions were placed under a
Mainichi Shimbun masthead.