19. Food Shortages

Food shortages were a salient feature of life during the Japanese Occupation. As shortages caused food prices to soar, the local population turned to land cultivation for food. Besides growing their own food, those who could afford it, turned to the black market to supplement their needs. Many people perished either from malnutrition or disease. There was high unemployment as well as high inflation. Those who were able to work just worked, not only to earn the money but to get rations. Father Chung Chow recalled that he only received four gantang of rice every month which had to feed nine persons in the Chan family - his parents, three siblings, his wife, himself, and his granduncle Ying Kau and Ah Choon who were staying in the same house with them.

Usual food during Japanese Occupation

Feeding nine persons with this small ration of rice was a humbling lesson in survival. They mixed cut pieces of long beans to cook with the rice to increase its volume. Thus, they had more to eat and would not feel hungry. Long beans was one of the few types of vegetables available in the market and it was the most palatable. Sometimes, they would use yam or sweet potato to mix with the rice. This became their staple diet for the duration of the war. Even salt and cooking oil were rationed.

Market

Those who have money would buy black market foodstuffs, for example, rice was sold at $5 to $6 a gantang. Father Chung Chow was the sole-breadwinner, and he had to work from 7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. everyday, seven days a week without any day off.

He received Japanese Invasion Money (JIM) of about $2.00 a day as wages which he would use to buy the essential foodstuffs, and pay the bills such as house rent and utilities, and to pay 'tributary money' to the Japanese authorities. He worked hard and provided enough food and other necessities for everyone in the family to survive the hardships of war.

The men who worked outside were sometimes given rice and porridge to eat. Father Chung Chow recalled that his Japanese boss used to give the workers glutinous rice balls stuffed with sour plums for lunch. The women usually ate the "rubber" noodles. These noodles looked like rubbery plastic and were transparent when cooked. They were very tough, just like rubber. They were also given sweet potatoes and tapioca.

Palm oil was usually used for cooking and it was red in colour and had a funny kind of a smell. Children usually eat porridge. Fresh cow  milk was cooked with sugar to get condensed milk that could be kept longer. Salt and sugar were expensive items. Many learn to survive with substitutes such as making soap from coconut oil. There was no entertainment. Even the possession of a simple radio was punishable with decapitation or beheading. After dinner, it was time to go to bed. Lights off was at 10.00 p.m..

Nippon-go

The Japanese introduced Nippon-go but there was little reason to learn the language beyond how to say the basic salutations and many of the vulgar words. People were also forced to sing the Japanese national anthem "Kimigayo".

Next: 20. Demise of Chan Keng San