the cover of the 1st issue of Shukan Anpo published in June of 1969
The Beheiren (previously) was a Japanese activist group formed in 1965 to protest Japanese involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1969 they started their own periodical called Shukan Anpo (Weekly Anpo). It managed to reach a significant number of students and intellectuals, rallying a group of new-leftists who were dissatisfied with policies and programs at the time. Shukan Anpo generally consisted of several longform essays, reports on other political movements in the U.S. and around the world, photo-journalistic reports on incidents around Japan and political cartoons.
instructions on how to create an exploding package of leaflets
Perhaps because the publication was aimed at students it included various how-to topics – everything from effective methods of fundraising to creating DIY protest tools.
The illustrations, which are scattered throughout the publications, are particularly amusing, and lend color to the climate of the time. We’ve scanned several and picked some of our favorites. All 15 issues, which ran from 1969 to 1970 are available as PDF downloads.
Instructions on creating DIY protest lanterns
an illustrated map of a planned demonstration course in the city of Hamamatsu
In the above illustrated cartoon, a Japanese deity (perhaps Izanagi) wakes from a slumber and decided to check up on the island of Japan. “All is normal,” he reports after inspection, “just as when it was created.” But then a tank falls out of the land. Then another and another. “What’s going on?” yells the deity in puzzlement as gods (Buddha, Christ) come to see what all the commotion is about.
Illustrated instructions on how to make DIY paper masks to protest the use of poisonous gas
an illustration that accompanied an essay advocating for the use of marijuana and LSD
