In World War II, perceptions of the enemy often led to extreme views. What ideology developed about the Japanese combatants?

During World War II, the United States' perception of Japanese combatants was heavily influenced by racial stereotypes and wartime propaganda. The ideology that developed portrayed Japanese soldiers in a dehumanizing light, often depicted as less than human or likened to animals. This perception was rooted in a combination of longstanding racial prejudices and the brutal nature of the Pacific War, where the Japanese military displayed fierce resistance and loyalty to the Emperor, often viewed as fanaticism. Such depictions in media and popular culture fostered an atmosphere of fear and hostility, reinforcing the notion that the enemy was devoid of humanity. This stark dehumanization was used not only to justify military actions but also to galvanize public support for the war effort, portraying the struggle against Japan as a moral imperative.

Thus, the views that arose during this period significantly shaped how the Japanese military was perceived by American society, reinforcing the ideology of them being considered less than fully human.