Declassified 1945 Japan Food Sufficiency Map Created By The CIA
This is a U.S. intelligence or occupation-era map titled “Japan: Food Sufficiency”, produced in August 1945, just as World War II was ending.
The map analyzes how self-sufficient different prefectures of Japan were in producing food for their populations. It was likely created for American planners preparing for the occupation of Japan after the surrender.
The colors show food supply conditions by prefecture. Confusingly they are reversed from what you'd expect:
Green = food deficit areas
Yellow = adequate supply
Pink/red = surplus food production
The map reveals that heavily urbanized and industrial regions such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto had food shortages, while more rural farming areas produced surpluses.
This reflected a major wartime problem: Japan’s cities depended heavily on imported food and shipments from rural regions, but Allied naval blockades and bombing had disrupted transportation and trade.
The letters inside each prefecture identify major agricultural products:
R = rice
W = wheat
SB = soybeans
SP = sweet potatoes
F = fruits
and others such as barley, fish, vegetables, and dairy products.
Maps like this were extremely important to occupation planners because American authorities expected famine and social unrest after Japan’s surrender.
Understanding which regions could feed themselves, and which would require emergency imports, helped guide relief shipments, transportation planning, and occupation policy during the first months after the war.
More 1940s Declassified CIA Maps: https://t.co/hXVumnSZkX
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