kangyimusic

On 15th Feb 1942, Singapore fell to the Japanese Empire and the island was named 'Syonanto' which means 'Light of the South'.

1st Movement: The Last Stand
A famous last stand in military history occurred at Bukit Chandu as part of the Battle of
Pasir Panjang on 14th Feb 1942. Lieutenant Adnan led 42 men of the Malay Regiment and was
responsible in defending.
The piece starts off with uncertainty created by a 12-tone row as the Adnan’s men anticipated the
arrival of the Japanese. Some Japanese soldiers, disguised as local soldiers, marched towards the
Adnan’s men. The ploy was discovered because the British Army marched in a line of three rather
than four. Next, the Adnan chord appears to give further commands. The Japanese began a
second assault with heavy shelling. Hundreds of invaders charged at Adnan’s men and the defense
line shattered. Low on ammunition, Adnan’s men fixed their bayonets and both sides charged at each
other. Adnan became the last man alive and the Japanese tied him to a tree and stabbed him to death.

2nd Movement: The Sook Ching Massacre
The Japanese was most suspicious of the Chinese population in Singapore because many had
provided assistance to China during the Sino-Japanese war. The Sook Ching Massacre (18th Feb –
4th March 1942) then became the solution – a systematic extermination of suspected anti-Japanese
elements. All Chinese men between 18 and 50 were ‘screened’ by hooded informants. Whether a
subject survived depended on the whim and fancy of the ‘informants’ and Japanese soldiers. Those
consigned to death were loaded onto trucks and brought to remote locations and were subsequently
shot.

3rd Movement: Remembering Shinozaki Mamoru
Shinozaki Mamoru, a.k.a Singapore’s Schindler, was responsible for saving thousands of Chinese
and Eurasians during the occupation. Shinozaki was the advisor to the military administration and
subsequently the welfare officer in the civilian administration. His liberal issue of safety passes
protected many Chinese people from being killed by the Sook Ching Massacre.
The famous ‘Sakura’ (cherry blossom) melody is used to depict the sinister Japanese colleagues
surrounding Shinozaki. Then fragments followed by the full melody of ‘Furusato’ (home) appear.
‘Furusato’ is a good choice to represent Shinozaki because while he saved many Chinese people, he
still loved his nation and wished that the war would end sooner. Using ‘Furusato’ together with a
famous Chinese melody ‘Jasmine flower’, the piece re-creates memories of the interactions between
Shinozaki and the Chinese people. The coda is a call for eternal peace between the Japanese and
Chinese people.