Sport - a Continuation of War by Other Means: The Role of Sport in Japanese Occupied Singapore (1942-1945)

How did sport function beyond recreation during wartime? Drawing inspiration from Carl von Clausewitz’s famous idea that war is a continuation of politics by other means, this heritage talk examines how sport played a strategic and political role during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore and Malaya. Led by military historian Mr Jeya Ayadurai, MBE, the session explores how Japanese sporting activities and policies were shaped by wartime objectives, and how practices seen in East Asian colonies were extended into Southeast Asia during the occupation years. Through historical examples and rare insights, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how sport intersected with power, ideology, and everyday life in wartime Singapore. Organised as part of the Sport in Syonan heritage talk series, this free public session invites participants to reflect on sport’s place in Singapore’s wartime history and its broader social significance.