| In Hōshun Yamaguchi’s (October 15, 1893 – May 31, 1971) Nihonga (“Japanese style”) painting “The last total attack on Hong Kong Island,” the Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower on the southern shore of Tsim Sha Tsui District stands out as fires break out around the city. Hong Kong fell on December 25, 1941, now known as “Black Christmas,” after 17 days of resistance. This was the 1st time a British Crown Colony had surrendered to an invading force. In 1942, Yamaguchi was dispatched south by the War Ministry, and he arrived in Hong Kong after the occupation formally began on February 20, 1942, when Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant General Rensuke Isogai (September 3, 1886 – June 6, 1967) took office as Governor of Hong Kong. In 1943, he became Secretary General of the Japan Art Patriotic Association. However, despite this position, Hoshun did not produce many war paintings, and he did not depict scenes that evoke the feeling of combat, as can be seen in this masterpiece. This painting is often used to illustrate the attack on Hong Kong. The original is on permanent loan to the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1501.jpg |
| Image Size | 247.14 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1600 x 1138 |
| Photographer | Hōshun Yamaguchi |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 25, 1941 |
| Location | Tsim Sha Tsui |
| City | Kowloon |
| State or Province | Hong Kong |
| Country | China |
| Archive | National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo |
| Record Number | X00019 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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