"Tokyo Rose" - WW2 Traitor or Victim?

[@Kyleinasailing]

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time should be the title of this production. Mark Felton never fails to put over his material so well.

[@OMEGATECH]

Being at the wrong place at the wrong time is absolutely right and with the refusal of a passport her fate was sealed, but still managed to survive the war!

[@billhanna2148]

Being in the wrong race, gender, place and time would be a more accurate statement...and being tried by a racist country just adds the Cherry on top of it all 😱

[@nickamer1712]

@@billhanna2148 Oh yeah -- the same racist country that pardoned her and gave her citizenship back. That racist country.

[@billhanna2148]

@@nickamer1712 yeah the same one that elected a malignant narcissist as president, the same one that effectively stripped 300,000 Japanese Americans of their businesses, their homes and still took their sons to die in Germany ....I could go on but I've lived here all my life and I KNOW which country this is 😡

[@Inquisitor6321]

@@billhanna2148 what racist country tried her?

[@MasterAdam100]

It's extremely difficult to be forced to broadcast propaganda and trying to find the balance between doing a good enough job not to get killed and a bad enough job not to make the propaganda very effective.

[@paxwallacejazz]

Indeed

[@krazownik3139]

There is a third option: making propaganda so obvious and stupid that it will sound like a joke. This rare art was practisioned by some authors in people's Poland.

[@johnded3874]

@@krazownik3139 You say that, and yet headlines from American media today are indistinguishable from the satire of 10 years ago and these "stories" are treated very seriously.

[@krazownik3139]

@@johnded3874 As a Pole I can assure you that if you translate to polish some serious news from your country and send it to people here, they would all think that it's some parody or insane joke.

[@Claytone-Records]

Krążownik, This Third Plan would have got her and her team shot. This wasn’t an AFRTS/FEN broadcast.

[@andrewhammel5714]

Sixty Minutes had a story about her. A viewer, who had been stationed in a godforsaken corner of the Aleutians away from other radio, responded by writing that "far from being a 'morale destroyer', she was a morale booster for us".

[@allenhamilton6688]

My father-in-law told me Tokyo Rose was their favorite entertainment source in the Navy and that everyone listened to her. Sounds like she did a good job.

[@milferdjones2573]

To bad American Press did not take that line. This sounds like the sick up their rear end public opinion along with American military Generals who were unable to realize her broadcast was a farce. Unfortunately seams Australians were able to do it but only after a trial. Government clearly thought there was public demand to punish her so they did. There is point of view that she should have refused even if raped and tortured. But considering how worthless her broadcasts were she actually should have been welcomed back as a hero for her subverting Japanese efforts. I seen many accounts of how much the troops enjoyed her broadcasts for decades. Too bad that view did not make it back to US Public opinion which was still hostile enough to her Ford only did a last day pardon which are saved for controversial pardons that could hurt politically if done earlier.

[@nvgboiyes6386]

Japanese government: lets make a radio program to demoralize the Americans American troops: *enjoys the broadcast Japanese government: NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@allenhamilton6688]

Pop told me the music was good and the propaganda hilarious. The American, "Karens", won in the end.

[@johnstafford6810]

My image of “ Tokyo Rose “ was formed by her depiction in WW2 movies as a sinister stereotype , jeering at the allied forces she broadcast to . Thanks for telling the real story , Dr Felton .

[@jbdbean242]

It's ok. Of course, this is also just a small part of the "whole story" as can be presented in a

[@internetstrangerstrangerofweb]

Especially in MacArthur, that movie made her out to sound considerably malicious.

[@mussnasir8587]

Agreed up until this story i thought she was pure evil but Mark always gives a real story or both sides of a story....thank you for this tale😎🇦🇺👌

[@andyZ3500s]

Iva Toguri's roommate at UCLA was a close family friend. I found out about this the day after Iva passed away when it was in the papers. That day the roommates husband came over to visit in the afternoon and told us about the friendship that she had with his wife Rose. From everything that I was told Iva was your typical young American girl. If I am remembering correctly she went to Japan to visit her moms sister before she passed away. This poor girl was a victim of circumstances.

[@numalesoybea1348]

She would have spent 4 years in a internment camp had she never left the US.

[@andyZ3500s]

@@numalesoybea1348 I grew up with one of her closest friends from the day that I was born. Your statement contradicts history and what I have been personally told. Were did you discover this during your research?

[@jzk3919]

And war-hype hysteria. In short: WITCH HUNT)

[@HTownguy100]

@@andyZ3500s do you know if her parents in the US were interred? We’re they still living on the West Coast when the war started? If they were then she probably would have been with them in the same camp. There were approx. 112,000 people of Japanese background that were interred on the West Coast. Not sure if that’s the entire Japanese American population at the time on the west coast. Hawaii had a population of 150,000 or more Japanese Americans who were citizens. Hawaii was under martial law and from what I understand about 1200 to 1800 Japanese Americans were interred.

[@andyZ3500s]

@@HTownguy100 As far as I know her parents were living around the Los Angeles area. So unfortunately it is safe to say that her parents were interned. I am not saying that this was right by any means but do to the large amount of industry that was in the area sabotage was a huge threat. It is a very sad part of our history. Everything that I heard about Iva Toguri and her family was very positive. I know that her roommate and close friend from college was deeply affected by the events that happened to her friend. They are all gone now Iva's friend passed away around 2004 and her husband Henry made it to one hundred years old. He was still driving at 99 and in good health. He passed away in 2010. I miss them terribly. I hope that this sheds some light on the subject.

[@deanfunk8448]

I knew Ms Toguri. She was the owner and operator of a Japanese dry goods store on the north side of Chicago. She was kind and polite to all. I never questioned her about her past knowing that she had served her time.

[@miner3822]

Interesting

[@spfccsmft]

Did she deserve time for what she did?

[@miner3822]

@@spfccsmft what do you mean?

[@peterkirgan6850]

Did she know bad bad Leeroy Brown??? Lol

[@petrfrizen6078]

On which grounds she refused the re-entry in 1941? They suspected her of espionage?.. It looks like the USA government committed a crime here... if the reentry was denied simply because of her ethnic background... Where did they serve their time? In the Department of Justice, or of State?..

[@jroch41]

It seems Iva Toguri never forgot she was American despite all her difficulties. Thank you for telling us the back story, Dr. Felton.

[@jonroehr2931]

Thank you for your outstanding work Mark. My grandfather defended Americans of Japanese descent in court during the war. Needless to say he lost the case but fought the good fight for our constitutional rights. He was a WW1 veteran and loved America. The many death threats towards our family didn't dissuade him from pursuing the case. I think he would love your work.

[@GeistInTheMachine]

God bless your grandfather! It was a different time back then. He was really courageous and noble to have done that for people who were being stomped on by the State and their fellow countrymen.

[@jonroehr2931]

@@GeistInTheMachine Thank you for your kind reply. I fear that people haven't really changed much since then. There will always be a real or imagined reason to hate and persecute others. Courage seems to be a very rare trait no matter what time you look in history.

[@GeistInTheMachine]

@@jonroehr2931 Yes, my friend. It is indeed sadly. God bless you.

[@bagoistvan3182]

🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@Cookefan59]

This is another great example of the hard work of a true historian who is FREE to tell the truth about topics with no serious pressure to slant a story one way or another. This is very, very rare. No politics, no racism, no sexism, no nationalism or any other ism. This is why I love this channel and look forward to viewing it daily. ❤️

[@ColinH1973]

It seems like justice was eventually done to the poor woman. All she wanted to do was to get home. Thanks for bringing this to a wider audience, Mark. It does you great credit.

[@MoatenGat]

well said.

[@tazzioboca]

A pardon and restored citizenship seems little when you are wrongly accused and stigmatized for your ethnicity.

[@secretagent86]

@@tazzioboca it is not sufficient, but at least it recognizes the prejudice of the past generations

[@MrJoebrooklyn1969]

@@secretagent86 you mean of Democrats.

[@secretagent86]

@@MrJoebrooklyn1969 not really. i mean the pardon is a sample of trying to fix mistakes of past generations without reference to a political party. the nation as a whole was wrong (so was canada)... from canada view

[@WAL_DC-6B]

My "old man" talked about listening to "Tokyo Rose" while on board the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10). He found her broadcasts to be quite entertaining and funny. Thanks for setting the historic record straight about her and nice to hear she was eventually pardoned by President Ford, regained her U.S. citizenship and lived a long life.

[@typhooonn]

LOL, stop lying please.

[@danielg7806]

And everyone clapped?

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@danielg7806 Standing ovation!

[@barrykevin7658]

Nice to hear a presidential Pardon used to correct a past injustice .

[@robertnegron9706]

That was a happy ending at least. She was caught in the war.

[@dmasamitsu7720]

Thanks for a very balanced presentation of her history. My father was born in Los Angeles and served in WW2 as an interpreter for the US Military Intelligence Service and served on the defense teams for the War Crimes Trials. Dad was a sergeant assigned to US Army G2 under General WIlloughby, They assigned G2 people to the defense teams as it allowed military intelligence to readily sift through enemy records and classified material in order to represent the defendants. I do not know if he served on her team, but he may have been assigned to some of the early interviews and investigation for her. Right across the courtroom from my Dad during the war crimes trials was a man who would become one of my professors at UCLA - Dr Hans Baerwald, acting as an interpreter for the prosecution. My dad knew her, and spoke of her as a friend. Whether he met Iva in Los Angeles before the war or as a part of his service in the Occupation Forces of Japan after the war, I do not know for sure. As a child, I do remember meeting her in person in the 1960s at her Japanese store in Chicago. She was a friendly, kind and gracious storekeeper and always took time to stop and talk with both Dad and Mom. I was grateful when her segment on CBS 60 minutes appeared, and when she was pardoned.

[@secretagent86]

thank you David for sharing this amazing perspective

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Thank you for sharing.

[@barrykevin7658]

Thanks for that .Great to hear a witness adding to a great historical story. Cheers.

[@dmasamitsu7720]

Mark Felton’s speculation about the probability of a pre-determined verdict in advance of her later conviction is very much in line with other things that my father and mother said about Iva. Both of them were extremely patriotic and Dad would have not remained friends with anyone who had been a traitor, no matter how well he had known them. He must have been absolutely convinced of Iva’s innocence and patriotism. Before my mother introduced me to her, she took me aside and disclosed that Iva had been “Tokyo Rose”. Not whispered tones about a shameful past, but someone my mother was proud to know. Mom must have had the same opinion about her that Dad had. Both Mom and Dad’s family had been in the Relocation Camps in Poston, AZ and Rohwer, AR. They most certainly knew all about being falsely accused and incarcerated when they had been loyal citizens, and they continued to patronize her store in Chicago, even though it was 20-30 miles from where we lived at the time. My parents would not have held a traitor in high regards. Iva had to have been innocent.

[@barrykevin7658]

@@dmasamitsu7720 Glad to hear that and it was great they went out of their way to support her as I'm sure not everyone made her life easy because of who she was .

[@jerryeddy1099]

I met Tokyo Rose in 2000. One of her good friends introduced my wife and I to her in a restaurant in Chicago. She was very pleasant and funny to talk to. We however did not talk about the war. Our common friend was a student in a girls university in Northern China and was rescued and fled from the Japanese envasion by the U S Navy. Her husband was a part of that team.

[@jetaddicted]

I am a proud amateur historian, I must say that, at first, I came to mr Felton’s videos with a bit of wariness, as so often you will find poorly documented, sometimes incorrect works. How pleasantly was I surprized! Mr Felton treated some subjects I have the pretention to believe I know, and he has been spot on every time. So now I just binge watch every video he does, trustingly. Admirable work you do, my good sir.

[@charlessmart7640]

I agree 100%. His subjects are well researched, his grammar is good, and often he waxes eloquent.

[@Right-Is-Right]

He he holds a PhD in History and takes his research seroiusly. Not just another youtuber, even though there is at least one I know of that is not a uni trained historian, but a well researched buff on WWI and WWII ships calleld Drachinifel, if that is your kind of thing.

[@alkoenig85]

Check out his books.

[@ZER0ZER0SE7EN]

My dad told me that he and other US Army soldiers listened to her while in the Philippines in 1945. Everyone just laughed at the broadcasts and didn't take her seriously. How bad could she have been if the Army didn't care if their troops listened?

[@FormerGovernmentHuman]

Honestly listen to her broadcasts. It’s so playful and innocent, the music is great and the threats are laughable. If you didn’t know any better you would assume her goal was to entertain US GI’s with parody of a propaganda channel.

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

All of the Allied military listened to her broadcasting. My Uncle fought in the Pacific for 3 yrs as a Marine. He said you knew, someone other than Japanese, were writing her scripts. Uncle said they knew there was a dangerous game being played behind the scenes by somebody other than the Japanese they all wondered about. They were more interested in what she looked like, enjoyed the music and the banter. After the war, he was surprised to hear about the POWs forced to help. He said it explained her scripts. He always felt her sentence didn't fit. If she was helping the POWs with her, and they were released, why wasn't she? Typical SNAFU. Somebody had to pay and she was selected. He said it was those Japanese who committed the horrible crimes against POWs that should have paid the price, forced to accept responsibility who laughed at justice and simply walked away.

[@MakerInMotion]

Maybe it's not that the Army didn't care, they just knew they couldn't stop it. Confiscating all the radios would harm morale and backfire. Telling people a certain frequency is forbidden would only make them tune in more. The "Streisand Effect."

[@blogbalkanstories4805]

@@The_ZeroLine And a hero she was. She put up what resistance she could under the circumstances. That was more than anyone could ask for.

[@blogbalkanstories4805]

@@MakerInMotion They were far more restrictive when it came to other broadcasts - and were at least partly successful.

[@jamesengland7461]

She and the broadcast crew managed to avoid being tortured and murdered. That's a great feat in itself.

[@kenshores9900]

So true!

[@perrynnlynch3811]

Good point. It could have been much worse for her and her team.

[@realhorrorshow8547]

I wonder how many of those who prosecuted her and sent her to jail would have had the courage to trick the kenpetai. Those boys made the SS look soft.

[@tammyhenson7295]

Tortured or murdered in Japan or murdered, interned or tortered in the US...hmmm, decisions.

[@CycoWarriorx]

Veeeeeery true!!!!

[@johnnieireland2057]

Poor girl, got caught up in a whirlwind of conflict while she was just trying to peacefully live her life.

[@The1stHomosapien]

poo girl

[@roskcity]

poo girl

[@viz12345]

GODDAMN PATRIARCHY...

[@bryansmith1920]

Don't we all

[@allthatjazz641]

stab'd in the back by FDR when his treacherous administration refused this American citizen her passport, stranding her in enemy hands, FDR was the low life traitor here.

[@douglasturner6153]

I grew up after WWII and many neighbors dad's were Pacific veteran's. They occasionally talked about any humorous experiences and all enjoyed Tokyo Rose broadcasts . The dialogue was funny and often over the top ridiculous. Especially they enjoyed the music she played.

[@MusMasi]

sad that she got punished so harshly for it.

[@drlca6601]

Pacific veterans*

[@antonioacevedo5200]

It's heartwarming to know that the Japanese cared so much about entertaining American servicemen that they let Rose broadcast. Sarcasm intended.

[@douglasturner6153]

@@antonioacevedo5200 That's right. We don't hear enough about their sensitive side during the war.

[@Free-Bodge79]

Putting the record straight . As normal the good doctor works his magic. Informative and compassionate.

[@SVSky]

Had no idea her show was produced and written by Allied POWs. Changes my view of her a lot.

[@secretagent86]

same here

[@CoronadoBruin]

It's truly an incredible story. It's mind-boggling that she was able to survive without a ration card, even giving up some of her food to others, and refused to renounce her citizenship to a country that couldn't care less. Besides, I'm also a native southern Californian who went to UCLA (undergrad). Her story is much better known among those of us born here and who went to school at UCLA. She's more than just a bit of a hero to us, actually. The Wikipedia entry is a good one for Iva Toguri: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iva_Toguri_D%27Aquino

[@therealuncleowen2588]

Agreed.

[@WERob-to5sp]

Tokoyo Rose is still a Japanese Goebbels, Maybe not his person but as Fenton stated there were several women. They were mouthpieces of the violent totalitarian empire.

[@qtig9490]

Same. Caught up in the maelstrom what else could they do. It doesnt sound like it actually affected morale at all - maybe even the opposite.

[@whistlingsage9817]

My dad was a U.S. Marine Radioman in WW 2. He and I talked about her when President Ford pardoned her in the seventies. He said most of her propaganda was along the lines of "your families back home have forgotten about you", and "your girlfriends are cheating on you". He said that none of her propaganda really hit home, and no one was particularly demoralized by any of it. He said they (the Marines) enjoyed her sense of humor, and appreciated the entertainment. He said he didn't doubt that she was forced to broadcast under duress, and was glad that she was pardoned.

[@glenchapman3899]

My uncle said much the same. if anything she lifted moral of the troops rather than destroy it.

[@johnemerson1363]

It is hard to believe her when you are listening to the radio with half a dozen letters from home in your lap every time the mail catches up.

[@PerryKobalt]

If Kempetai knows English they would've been dead for long. *Thankfully none of Kempetai Knows Knowledge of English*

[@reeyees50]

your gf is cheating on you while you in the army is not "propaganda" thats real life

[@johnemerson1363]

@@reeyees50 Sorry, but that happens all the time even today. My point was that she tells the troops that no one at home cares but they get mail from home as often as possible. Her handlers thought she was trying to undermine morale but the facts were otherwise. Every effort was made to get mail to the troops as often as possible. I doubt that the Japanese made the same effort for their troops.

[@NateGerardRealEstateTeam]

Her story is a lesson in staying curious and not judging. A skill that can serve us all well.

[@Pfsif]

Don't let the "Cancel Culture" here you say that, they will DOXX you.

[@fasx56]

Nate Gerard Your comment is right on and really applies to her story and what happened during the war.Most of us had heard of Her and Her propaganda but not the circumstances of how she got there. As Paul Harvey used to say during his many years of broadcasting, Wait till you hear the Rest of the Story.

[@jasonkrantz3643]

I see what you did there, Coach.

[@Jonijonh]

This comment should be at the top. You are right on point.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Best way to approach life.. great comment

[@samsabastian5560]

What I like about Mark's presentations, is that they are well researched and above all, truthful. Thank you for that Mark.

[@krondarr8865]

My dad served in the Pacific from 43 until 46 on a carrier and he told me that the crew actually liked listening to Tokyo Rose mainly for the music but a lot of them were amused by the propaganda they tried to spout. He said it gave them a lot of material to make jokes about. He even told me once that the captain would sometimes let the music play during actual combat against the kamikazes. He said it actually helped with the crews morale.

[@viking-vise9255]

Thanks Mark. You helped me understand a little more of what my dad would talk about. He was a Marine in the Pacific and often spoke of Tokyo Rose broadcasts but mostly about the humor they found in them.

[@kirklawrence4326]

it's always amazing to me about how the public is fed one thing, and reality is often to the contrary. I wonder what things will be uncovered about the times in which we are all living now and how that information will differ from what we gather in any of the news medias we can tap. Great story, Mark. Well done!

[@secretagent86]

excellent observation

[@shaunwild8797]

We are all being fed lies daily and we happily eat it up.

[@michaelmckinnon1591]

Politics in a nutshell

[@dougthompson5586]

@@shaunwild8797 everyone but you right ?

[@MercSambo]

its more amazing that good knowledge is so readily available, but most people ignore it. The public feeds on what it chooses.

[@crispycritterz]

I met her once when she was running a curious shop on Chicago’s north side . She was a very quiet, reserve woman.

[@secretagent86]

thanks for sharing this

[@roskcity]

I think I believe the man, his account is 15 years old.

[@SSN515]

Were there a lot of cats in the curious shop? If so, I hope they were OK. Cats and curious usually don't do so well.

[@furrysharker]

Toguri's Gifts near Clark and Belmont, as I recall.

[@QueenBee-gx4rp]

@@SSN515 Give him a break-or brake as many of the younger gen would say.

[@keiththomas3141]

My Dad was always talking about her. Thanks for posting this informative video. Now I got the chance to hear her myself. I'm glad she was pardoned. Definitely a victim of circumstances.

[@briankistner4331]

My Dad was a Pacific War vet. He said that when she reported American loses, the numbers actually represented what the Japanese had lost.

[@Sporkmaker5150]

She wouldn't have been provided with those actual numbers and would have broadcast whatever she was ordered to. Likely he meant that as a figure of speech, and that the real world casualties were generally the opposite of the official Japanese propaganda. Pacific vets on the ground knew what was up as they were kicking ass.

[@firemangan2731]

I think shes justified on saying american rather than Japanese, if she were to say japanese loses then who knows what could’ve happened to her.

[@mysterycrumble]

i'm not even massively into the subjects covered by this channel yet it's still my favourite channel on youtube. first class.

[@mysterycrumble]

or maybe i wasn't massively into these subjects until i found this channel! honestly, just superb.

[@cyngaethlestan8859]

KZbin is a bugger for that. I follow several uploaders simply for the sheer quality of the material and presentation. If last year you asked me about films released on LP records or high quality digital audio on VHS tapes, (before CDs came out) I'd thought you needed to sit down. I watch things on subjects all over the place - - Wonderful.

[@thomasmaloney843]

Dad listened to her show all the time in the Luzon mountain jungle That was the only entertainment they had There was just nothing but enemy troops where he was

[@captainpinky8307]

ANd they weren't going to provide entertainment....

[@gonkmaster717]

Mark Felton's content is better than random alien conspiracies.

[@dgh25]

that doesn't say much...

[@Jamie-zs8ok]

Mark Felton is the Alien

[@Fractal_blip]

@@Jamie-zs8ok he's not the norm that's for sure

[@koalabrownie]

I really enjoy Mark's content too but can we stop crying about the history channel? Just forget it and move on.

[@daveybernard1056]

That's what "they" want you to think.

[@georgetunstill2341]

I was 15 years old when President Ford pardoned Miss Toguri and I remembered hearing about her during history class when I was school. I knew some of the backstory but not much until I saw your video. She was really a victim of circumstances and had to find a way to keep herself safe and sane during the war because she couldn't find a way back home to the US. She was a very a smart lady who didn't let what happen to her during and after the war affect her love for her country.

[@oncall21]

Excellent find Dr Felton. to put footage to the voice of 'Tokyo Rose' is a feat in itself. Thanks for sharing!

[@yeahwhatever3576]

Thank you Mark. I admit I was one of those many people who assumed Tokyo Rose was a nasty piece of work.

[@therealuncleowen2588]

Until today, so did I.

[@ShinyProspect]

@@davidb2206 Sure buddy.

[@brendon1689]

@@davidb2206 It should be enough to say that the Australian POW was acquitted of treason.

[@flimsyjimnz]

@@davidb2206 Instead of wanting to defend her they would've wanted her executed for deceiving them.

[@ELCADAROSA]

Yep, I was one of those who associated "evil" with "Tokyo Rose". Thanks, Dr. Felton, for relating the truth and story of her.

[@torehaaland6921]

A good thumb of rule, consider everything you have been told about in USA regarding history, other cultures and countries and all international affairs to be either directly untrue, or massively tailored away from reality. That's the status of knowledge in USA, all sorts of it. And why USA now is sliding downhill.

[@45CaliberCure]

@@torehaaland6921 Critical thinking is now racist. Anything to do with logic is assailed by our media, public schools and politicians. There is no respite. Day by day they erase history and impose their own hideous version of a past that never happened. They are the real traitors, working from within to spoil every aspect of our culture, however imperfect it might be.

[@stevemccarty6384]

@@torehaaland6921 Sure, fine; but we should not forget how savage that war was. It was brutal! It was beyond brutal. The huge bombs that we dropped on Japan to end that war were too. So, let's kiss and make up now, but at the time it was a bloody, vicious conflict. Sad? Yes, but true? Absolutely.

[@MusMasi]

the only thing evil was how she was treated by both governments, even the one of her birth.

[@Sunfade38]

I never knew the circumstances she worked under, nor the real story. Thanks Mark, you run a great channel.

[@HiraethRestorations]

Toguri, Cousens, Ince, and Reyes really deserved medals. Entertaining allied troops(like my own uncle KIA in May 1944) from the enemy’s capital without undermining morale was a brilliant feat.

[@FM-ig3th]

My Father, a WW2 Vet had no love for this woman. With your great work Mark, I know now that Dad's hatred was misguided.

[@billh230]

It wouldn't be easy to blame your dad for how he felt. Looking at it through his eyes and no knowledge of her situation, she did appear as a traitor. We now know that wasn't the case. But in 1945, that was a pretty easy assumption to make. I'm just gratified Pres. Ford did the right thing by pardoning her and restoring her citizenship- which, even as a convicted felon, Iva shouldn't have lost in the first place.

[@jbdbean242]

In the grand scheme of things and the vast, brutal suffering of millions upon millions of innocent people at the hands of Imperial Japanese aggressors and their allies, her story is pretty small potatoes. So she's been glamorized in some movies and getting disproportionate attention. Your father deserves that respect and attention. Your priorities are misguided.

[@christopherderrah3294]

As a kid my friend's dad talked about listening to Tokyo Rose while in the navy. He said that they really liked the music on her show.

[@furrysharker]

My wife's friend used to chat with her at the Asian gift shop she worked at near the Chicago Wrigleyville neighborhood.

[@user-njyzcip]

And I graduated top of my class in the Navy Seals, and I've been involved in numerous secret raids on Al-Quaeda, and I have over 300 confirmed kills. I am trained in gorilla warfare and I'm the top sniper in the entire US armed forces.

[@bogdanbucurean2087]

@@user-njyzcip ok loli profile picture

[@barftrooper102]

Bull

[@saudade2100]

I know the shop, it was on Belmont, around the corner from Clark. Toguri Trading or Toguri Mercantile, some name like that.

[@furrysharker]

@@saudade2100 Yes, Toguri Gifts on the south side of Belmont. This was back in the mid 1990's or so when she still worked there.

[@trentland]

You could have found her in her store in Chicago until she passed. She was there every day, you'd never have known.

[@Tpainactual]

Same thing can be said about escaped nazis and war criminals.

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@Tpainactual She was a US citizen not a war criminal.

[@Tpainactual]

@@Davey-Boyd aiding the enemy makes you a traitor.

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@Tpainactual She did not aid the enemy. And aiding the enemy under duress is not always a crime. For example, divulging information under torture is not seen as traitorous, and those undergoing said torture are seen as victims. She was a victim as she was abandoned by her country in the arms of her countries enemy, but she stayed loyal. Then screwed over when she returned. Typical USA and their false righteousness, false freedom and hypocrisy.

[@jacklewis5452]

Didnt she have a restaurant with her husband? Yoshi's? Excellent food if I recall.

[@garyheiden3120]

she probably did more good than harm.....playing all that good music. she never renounced her citizenship. glad to hear she was pardoned in the end. R.I.P.

[@krondarr8865]

I would agree my dad said her music and show was a morale booster on his ship. He was navy 43-46.

[@SeeLasSee]

Having a cheerful woman’s voice cheekily taunt them probably was helpful to the men.

[@dynasty0019]

​@@SeeLasSee It's a "don't threaten me with a good time" style morale booster.

[@tindoortailgator]

Mark - Thank You for Setting the Record Straight - Stay Safe, Great Historical Presentation as Usual...

[@thebigone6071]

Mark is the king of history!!! I bet he knows more about WW2 than any person alive or dead!!! The 🐐 of historians!!!!

[@johndaugherty4127]

I highly doubt that.

[@thebigone6071]

@John Daugherty stop hating my g!

[@larryashmore489]

Absolutely!!

[@oldcremona]

All great historians know that the more you learn, the more there is to learn.

[@thebigone6071]

Old Cremona u rite my g!!!

[@StephBer1]

I'm Australian and grew up thinking all the terrible things about Tokyo Rose from the old movies. It is appalling that she was imprisoned when she did nothing malevolent. And I never knew anything about the Australian Major who ran the operation. They took an incredible risk to provide entertainment instead of propaganda. If they hadn't been so crafty they would have been shot and some-one much worse taken over. In their own way they were still patriotic and helping the war effort. Thank you Mark for telling the true story.

[@williamramos1280]

She opened up a little import shop on Belmont Avenue in Chicago, importing Japanese china and bronze foo dogs saki cups etc. I used to go there and speak to her but nothing about the War. She got older and gained a considerable amount of weight!

[@humansvd3269]

probably sad, stressed.

[@Persian-Immortal]

When I studied about her, I thought she was a hero.

[@XOriente]

I used to go there too. I was a poor student. She taught me to play go, and told me how to doctor ramen soup mix, a valuable skill for any student. She would also throw handfuls of Japanese sweets into my bag (I used to buy dishes and chopsticks from her.) I never mentioned the War, I thought it would be disrespectful to bring it up.

[@Persian-Immortal]

@@XOriente really, that's very nice.

[@ElHombreGato]

Heh heh.... Japanese china lolol

[@bimmerfan2126]

She ran a Japanese import curio shop in Lincoln Park, used to shop there, didn’t know she who she was till after her passing.

[@dennismason3740]

I've heard her name sneered since 1953. This video is stunning. Thank you, Mark, for this.

[@b.s.c.l2959]

Her voice was soothing and a comfort to listen to nevertheless. I enjoyed her routine and laughed a lot. RIP T.R

[@Lachausis]

This should be made into a 40's-like noir style movie. Damn, that would be a great flick to watch!

[@mikeserrano734]

Jamie Chung can play Tokyo Rose

[@Lachausis]

@@mikeserrano734 if you could see past the fact that she's korean, but she does look remotely similar to the original tokyo rose

[@billh230]

Finding a production company, screenwriters and a director willing to put together something even just remotely accurate would be difficult.

[@Lachausis]

@@billh230 because they've never done something like that before...

[@zombienomicon9682]

except amazon or netflix would cast a black as Tokyo Rose

[@mikestone9129]

May she rest in peace.

[@Happynlucky]

I grew up listening to Toyko Rose stories from pop's who served in WWII. Pop's was in the Midway campaign after seeing the carnage of Pearl Harbor as a young sailor. Based on Pops stories I never was interested in seeing what she looked liked. Thank you Mark Felton you were born to narrate. Excellent narration.

[@TorToroPorco]

Bravery comes in many forms. Staying alive without betraying your principles and your country is a very fine balancing act.

[@dgray3771]

@@davidb2206 She risked her life by broadcasting nothing but music and nonsense. Better not get caught trying to trick the Japanese... So no she was not on the side that suited her best. So "if japan had won" never would be a good outcome for her.

[@dgray3771]

@@davidb2206 maybe watch less of Pacific. And read up on the matter.

[@RaduB.]

What can a person do against an unfair system?.... They ruined a big chunk of her life.

[@jjeherrera]

That's what war does...

[@xwormwood]

@@jjeherrera no, this is what the USA during peace time did

[@joesterling4299]

If she had been a German accused of treason in Germany or Japanese similarly accused in Japan, during the war, she would have been summarily shot. The justice system did work in the end, despite the inflamed passions of the time that delayed it.

[@MrDirigible]

@@joesterling4299 no it didn't, that innocent woman was made an example and lost 10 grand and years of her life imprisoned plus had the stigma of a felony arrest record follow her up until Ford pardoned her. She lost her freedoms as well as those years of her life due to a zealous government who has proven to stomp over the rights of it citizens without regret until much much later if at in some cases. Just because the Nazi and Communist governments of this world have been deplorably evil doesn't excuse the evils and injustices perpetrated by our own government.

[@BangFarang1]

@@joesterling4299 She just got a pardon, which means that she was considered guilty and condemned by the justice system, the court did not quash the verdict.

[@thegunslinger1363]

Always good to see a Mark Felton video.

[@BaldurtheImpious]

Thank you for another wonderful slice of history!

[@richardstevens2306]

Absolutely fascinating how the reality of this situation differs from popular belief. Thank you Mark.

[@Svensk7119]

Thank you, Doctor Felton, for informing us about someone of who we have all heard, but have never been told.

[@secretagent86]

this is an outstanding video Mark. You really opened my eyes on this topic. American flyers imprisoned in Vietnam's Hanoi Hilton were pressured in many ways too. Have you done or could you do a video on that? yes I know about the famous morse code blinking. Thanks President Ford for pardoning this woman. Peter from Canada

[@joejankoski8471]

Proof that there are often multiple perspectives and "truths" in any story. Thank you for an unbiased look at this moment in history.

[@garypulliam3740]

I wouldn't categorize his take as entirely unbiased.

[@jeffohmart7053]

Multiple perspectives, absolutely. One truth. When there appear to be multiple truths, you have to dig deeper and peel more layers of the onion.

[@Logotic]

I got to know Ms. Toguri in her later years, when she worked at the family business, Toguri Mercantile Co, a big Oriental knick-knack shop on Belmont in Chicago. I have no insight into what she did or didn't do during the war, didn't know about the Tokyo Rose connection until much later, but I always found her to be a very laidback and friendly person.

[@Porsche996driver]

Love you Mark! Wow thanks for shedding light on this “thorny” topic! My dad served in the Pacific in ‘45. He said he only remembered the music! She was a UCLA grad caught out without a passport wow. Gerald Ford was a decent guy, good of him to balance his pardon of “Tricky Dick” with “Orphan Annie!”

[@johannesnicolaas]

As a historian I read many times about her. And always it was in a mean way. So I thought she was a real nasty collaborator. Thank you for restoring her honor and true identity.

[@blitzkrieg3482]

Best history channel!

[@kelvinjones7425]

Thanks for setting the record straight. A good story high in human ingenuity in difficult circumstance. Defeating an enemy by only neutralizing a potent resource. Also an excellent example of team work.

[@erikgramling7739]

Excellent! Fascinating. I wonder if subtitles could be added when Rose speaks? It's muffled to me and I only caught 20% of the words.

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

Thank you for saying that. I was wearing ear buds, and wondering if they needed replacing.

[@ricardobalaguer9548]

This is one of my favorite's touching stories of WWII! Thank you Mark for bring it back in your channel, and so good explained with every detail.

[@apr8189]

Just when we think we have the answers, Mark Felton changes the questions.. Another great listen right there.

[@erichloehr5992]

I’ve always admired the subversive work they did and respect the crew and Toguri immensely. Thanks for doing a segment doing them justice!

[@chrisnorman1183]

Amazing story of Tokyo Rose's history Mark, one small criticism would be that the recording of Tokyo Rose are a little hard to understand due to the age of the recording. Might have helped to place some subtitles. Besides that mate flawless work as always!

[@glengamble526]

Click CC (closed captioning). Problem solved.

[@onwilson2]

Thanks for the story Mark. It was sad, and touching at the same time. I really felt for her and all of the POW's who were forced to betray their country and then victimized by their own country. It just shows that we are all imperfect human who will always lurch from mistake to mistake. Let's hope that time will honour her for her dangerous and heroic work.

[@CaptCanuck4444]

Well done, Mark. These are important stories to tell, to set the record straight.

[@simoncorporation3]

Thank you for the balanced analysis. I always find your clips informative on par with educational lectures & documentaries.

[@digitalmagic101]

it is with great sadness that she had to go thru all of that before during and after the war, may she find piece with our lord.

[@godfellas483]

Interetesting...I never knew she lived out her days in Chicago until 2006. I lived there for 40 years, and just found that out. Thanks Mark!

[@wealth53]

Amazing story! This deserves a movie with you as a consultant.

[@lee20454]

From the bottom of my heart, I must admit that your spectacular and historically deep investigations are a real treat. Please continue your wonderful work.

[@troymadison7082]

As always, awesome content Dr. Felton...I look forward to your videos.

[@michellekaiser6021]

My dad listen to her show during the war and thought it was great because the jazz was good he was a radioman so he said he piped her show to the boat. His boat was sunk off the cost of Borneo in June 45. My dad took me to meet her at her shop in Chicago starting when I was a kid in the 70s that was a short walk from our home they had great relationship and they were always warn and friendly to each other and she was a very sweet person and always nice to see and it was a very coo shop like you don't see any longer

[@ejr3312]

Brilliant video as always, magnificent work Mr. Felton.

[@NinaRossBusiness]

Another quality video Dr. Felton. Thank you for posting.

[@derekrayment8092]

Mark showing something I didn't know yet again. Always very interesting.

[@sameyers2670]

Thank you Mark this was interesting, I had never heard of this before

[@kksan]

She is a good example of showing how a speck of dust from the era can feel like a mountain on the head of an ordinary individual

[@CoreyIsTheName]

Man, I wish someone with your writing ability and narrative skills would make long-form videos. LIke 30+ minutes. These are so good, but so short. I know they take a ton of work and I appreciate what you do. Keep up the awesome work.

[@johnthomas4516]

Well, my estimation of Gerald Ford has improved since watching this.

[@therealuncleowen2588]

Good. President Ford was a thoroughly decent human being. I suggest you watch the video of his inauguration and the following speech. It's about 15-20 minutes. He didn't seek the office of President. His reaction to being sworn into office is not what you'd expect. I'm not saying he was a saint nor a great President. But the country was in good hands when he was in office.

[@christianmotley262]

But it's still a Ford, I'd rather have an older Pontiac...

[@lawrencebraun7616]

@@christianmotley262 This country was in a lot better shape under President Ford then it is today

[@billh230]

@@lawrencebraun7616 Yup- and that was during the aftermath of Viet Nam, Nixon having resigned in disgrace, and seemingly out of control inflation.

[@christianmotley262]

@@lawrencebraun7616 yes father, forgive me for I have sinned...

[@e.sherrymiller6032]

It's a shame that she was scapegoted and imprisoned. Good for President Gerald Ford.

[@e.sherrymiller6032]

@@davidb2206 | Meaningless. As has too often been so in other cases, selected evidence may been used to secure a conviction.

[@e.sherrymiller6032]

@@davidb2206 | Read the testimony of those who actually heard her. They have no hidden agenda.

[@michaelgrenon7593]

@@davidb2206 Please post the links to the evidence you've found, I'd love to read them for a comparison in stories.

[@e.sherrymiller6032]

@@davidb2206 | Polical correctness barely existed at that time. Had it had a significant presence, maybe the Rosebergs wouldn't have been convicted. One very significant presence though was Joseph McCarthy and his minions. So the fact that she was convicted despite first-hand evidence to the contrary, that it was a hate-fitlled era, speaks for itself. Remember that history is written by the winners, which may describe your sources.

[@davidorf3921]

@@davidb2206 lets be honest here the relocation of Japanese Americans to those camps should be a source of national shame to the USA bearing in mind that they did not do the same to the German Immigrants at the same time typing as an honest person who does his own research :-)

[@philippevandensande5874]

Respect to you, Mark ! You have once more drawn a picture with more than one color or shade, and shone the light of truth and respect on a fragile being.

[@teddyanator4603]

I'm a Japanese American and have never even heard of something like this before! I was screaming JUSTICE FOR ANNIE during the video and was ecstatic that she lived to 90 and received a presidential pardon

[@technoaudiojunkie]

In the U.S., acceptance of a pardon is predicated on the notion that you are admitting guilt but accepting forgiveness by the state (Burdick vs. United States, 1915).

[@joeyoung4121]

@@technoaudiojunkie I'm glad you took the time to research and find out that fact. interesting.

[@craigwall9536]

@@technoaudiojunkie I think she was probably ok with it; she actually DID do what they said she did, but to her it was worth paying her dues. The fact that the State Department shafted her was a separate issue. There is also the truism that to other people you are what you seem to be...even if you didn't want to. That means the public feelings needed to be assuaged even if that was unfair (as it surely was). So for that reason also I suspect she was willing to suffer it. She didn't serve her whole term; not sure about the fine but that wasn't all that much. They did provide a path to redemption and never took away her citizenship. So in the end, she was still an American Girl.

[@aesop8694]

@@technoaudiojunkie What happens in the US when you report the truth yet you are persecuted. (Snowden, Manning and Assange vs. United States 1984)?

[@kellybreen5526]

This was a great clearing of the air. I had heard of Tokyo Rose and had a bias against her. After hearing this story about her my opinion changed 180 degrees. She wasn't a traitor, in fact she might have helped the Allies morale.

[@hoosierpatriot2280]

Life: Hold please, Dr Felton just uploaded!

[@sunnydaysahead2398]

My Grandfather was her attorney in the 50’s. It was the most expensive trail back then. I met Tokyo Rose at my Grandfather’s funeral in 1973. My Grandfather became a very good friend of hers. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@douglasjackson5007]

Thanks for sharing Ms. Toguri's story, Mark. Back in the 60's I'd occasionally stop at Ms. Toguri's store - located just east of the 'L' station on Belmont in Chicago. She had a welcoming smile and always eager to chat. I still have the Japanese game 'Go' I bought there. It was a popular game with us while I was attending Southern Illinois University. I haven't played the game in years, but I always remember her when I come across it.

[@Scazoid]

Damn it Mark, always uploading when im trying to sleep... Welp imma watch this first, who needs sleep anyway.

[@koyore]

I first met her when I was 13 yrs old. My father took me to shop at.the family store in Chicago I did not know her history till my 30's. I saw her one more time.but fore she passed. I paid my respects to the family at the store. It is now gone on Belmont. So many sweet memories of her helping me shop the massive selection of Japanese goods in the store. Always so kind to this eager girl in awe of all.Japanese it was like a mini department store.

[@michaellucas862]

An enlightening video. I can't imagine the position she and others like her were put in. I enjoy your videos, Mark.

[@chaplainhyena1523]

Learn something new every time I tune into this channel. Thanks Mark

[@johnandrews3568]

amazing... I had bought in to all that negative press about her. Mark always gets us the story behind the story! Thanks Mark.