List of literary works published in Asia Raya

A total of sixty-nine poems, sixty short stories, and three serials were published in Asia Raya, a newspaper in the Dutch East Indies and early Indonesia. First published on 29 April 1942, months after the Empire of Japan invaded the Indies, Asia Raya was established under the occupation government and intended as a vehicle for pro-Japanese propaganda – including literature. Run by both Japanese and native staff,[1] the newspaper remained in publication until 7 September 1945, closing less than a month after Indonesia proclaimed its independence.[2]

Front page of Asia Raya, 23 July 1942

During the occupation, the Japanese overlords enacted censorship standards, which Asia Raya – as an organ of the occupying forces – followed strictly. Writers looking to have their works published were limited in themes they could select by the Cultural Centre (in Indonesian, Poesat Keboedajaan; in Japanese, Keimin Bunka Shidōsho (啓民文化指導所)) in the capital at Jakarta. They were told that works dealing with internal struggle or otherwise depressing topics would "poison" society with confusion and despair. Instead, writers hoping to be published had to focus on positive themes in an effort to instill positive traits in society; by the end of the occupation, this meant a nationalistic struggle.[lower-alpha 1][3] To subvert these policies, writers often hid more personal anti-colonial subtexts in their works.[4]

Asia Raya's contributors were Japanese or native, with the latter more active; works by two foreign authors, Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, were also published in translation. The single most-published writer in Asia Raya was Rosihan Anwar, a recent senior high school graduate, who published seven poems and nine short stories while working for the newspaper.[5] Andjar Asmara, a former film director, published the most serials; both of his serials were based on films he had made before the occupation.[6][7]

The following list is divided into three tables, one for poems, one for short stories, and one for serials; the tables are initially arranged alphabetically by title, although they are also sortable. Author's names are given as recorded in Asia Raya, with explanatory notes indicating pseudonyms where known. Titles are given in the original spelling, with a literal English translation underneath. Dates, originally in the Japanese kōki (皇紀) calendar, are given in the Gregorian calendar. Unless otherwise noted, this list is based on the one compiled by Mahayana (2007, pp. 209–215).

Poems

Usmar Ismail published several poems and short stories.

Multiple poems by Rosihan Anwar were published.

Noer Soetan Iskandar published a poem on fasting.

A poem by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was translated and published.

Poems published in Asia Raya

Title	Date	Author	Note
"Al-Qoeran al-Karim" "The Quran of Karim"	15 June 1945	Hj. Aboebakar
"Angin Foedji" "Winds of Fuji"	3 July 1943	Usmar Ismail
"Angkatan Baroe" "New Period"	22 May 1945	Rosihan Anwar
"Angkatankoe" "My Period"	29 May 1945	B.H. Loebis
"Asia Raja" "Great Asia"	21 May 1942	St. P.B.
"Banjak Arti Kilat Matamoe" "The Many Meanings in Your Eyes"	2 June 1942	Darmawidjaja
"Bantoean Toean" "Lord's Help"	6 September 1944	Romoesha
"Bermoekim di Moesim Bertanam di Zaman" "Living in the Seasons, Harvest in the Ages"	31 May 1942	St. P.B.
"Boenglon" "Chameleon"	26 November 1942	Gegap Gempita
"Dharma Pemoeda" "Youth's Religion"	28 June 1945	B. Rangkoeti
"Diponegoro"	8 February 1945	Rosihan Anwar
"Djangan Tak Goena" "Not Useless"	11 June 1945	Karim Halim
"Djeritan Hidoep Baroe" "Cry of a New Life"	5 April 1945	Rosihan Anwar
"Djeritan Malam" "Cry in the Night"	10 July 1945	Noersamsoe
"Doa" "Prayer"	17 February 1945	B. Rangkoeti
"Doa" "Prayer"	6 July 1945	B.H. Loebis
"Doa" "Prayer"	25 August 1945	H.B. Jassin
"Dokoritoe" "Independence"	2 June 1945	Takahashi Taisa	[lower-alpha 2]
"Fadjar Naik" "Dawn Rises"	23 June 1945	A. Soebyarto
"Gita Negara" "Song of the State"	27 February 1943	M.S. Azhar
"Hari Raja" "Holiday"	30 September 1943	Djoeffrie
"Hasrat Angkatanku" "My Period's Needs"	16 July 1945	Afandi Ridhwan
"Indahlah Noesa" "Beautiful Islands"	10 June 1944	Rosihan Anwar
"Ingatlah" "Remember"	1 January 1943	Un­known	[lower-alpha 3]
"Kebesarannja" "His Greatness"	23 August 1945	Karim Halim
"Kenangan Diponegoro" "Remembering Diponegoro"	7 February 1945	Ma'roef Anas
"Kepada Toean" "To, Sir"	28 June 1945	Un­known	[lower-alpha 4]
"Kewadjiban" "Duty"	21 August 1945	H.B. Jassin
"Kisah di Waktoe Pagi" "A Morning-time Story"	1 April 1944	Rosihan Anwar
"Kodrat Waktoekoe" "Nature of My Time"	8 July 1944	Soetomo Djaoehar Arifin
"Laoetan" "Ocean"	21 June 1942	Roestam Effendi
"Lebah Sekawan" "Gang of Bees"	23 January 1943	Boedi Moerni
"Loekisan" "Drawing"	10 April 1944	Rosihan Anwar
"Menghadapi Moesoeh" "Facing the Enemy"	25 July 1945	Toha
"Menoedjoe Tjita" "Towards Hope"	18 July 1945	S. Wakidjan
"Minat Poetra Dewasa" "A Grown Boy's Wish"	9 March 1943	M.S. Azhar
"Moesafir" "Wayfarer"	29 March 1945	Rosihan Anwar
"Moesoeh Mendarat di Balikpapan" "Enemy Landing at Balikpapan"	7 July 1945	Takahashi Taisa
"NamaMoe Toehan" "Your Name, God"	13 July 1945	Karim Halim
"Njanjian dari Pendjara" "Songs from Prison"	21 July 1943	Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi	[lower-alpha 5]
"Pahlawankoe" "My Hero"	21 July 1945	Agni Wiratma
"Pandai Besi" "Blacksmith"	16 October 1943	Noersamsoe
"Pembangoenan Nippon Baroe" "Building a New Japan"	11 February 1943	Un­known
"Pemoeda Kini Bergelora" "The Youth are Impassioned"	24 July 1945	A. Djaoehari
"Pemoeda Perantara" "Youth in the Middle"	2 June 1945	Noersamsoe
"Pemoeda Perdjuangan" "Youth in the Struggle"	30 June 1945	Takahashi Taisa
"Pemoeda Zaman" "Youth of the Ages"	23 May 1945	Karim Halim
"Pentjalang"	12 June 1943	M.S. Azhar
"Perdjuangan Seriboe Djoeta Manoesia" "Struggle of a Thousand Million People"	28 October 1943	Hassan Noel Arifin
"Permenoengan" "Reflection"	17 May 1942	Darmawidjaja
"Poeasa" "Fasting"	19 August 1944	Noer Soetan Iskandar
"Ratna Satria" "Ratna the Knight"	5 June 1943	B.H. Loebis
"Renoengkan Sedjenak" "Contemplate for a Moment"	23 June 1945	El Hakim	[lower-alpha 6]
"Renoengkan Sedjenak" "Contemplate for a Moment"	27 June 1945	Hartono Andjasmara
"Satoe Arti" "One Meaning"	31 July 1945	Suchitra
"Sayat Sembiloe" "The Sayat Knife"	21 November 1942	Darmawidjaja
"Sebelum Perdjoeangan" "Before the Struggle"	19 June 1945	Taslim Ali
"Semangat Pemoeda" "Youth's Passion"	12 June 1945	Panyam Noer
"Soeara Sedjarah" "Voice of History"	14 July 1945	Taslim A.
"Soenting Melati" "Acquiring Jasmine"	1 January 1943	Gegap Gempita
"Soerat Antjaman" "Threatening Letter"	17 May 1942	Cloboth
"Tanah Airkoe" "My Homeland"	8 July 1944	Usmar Ismail
"Tekad Boelad" "Determination"	17 July 1945	Wiwiek Hidajati
"Tempat Pemoeda" "Place for Youth"	7 November 1943	Koesoema Endah
"Terima Kasih Iboe" "Thank You Mother"	22 December 1944	H.R.
"Tetap" "Stable"	11 July 1945	Un­known
"Tinggalkan Dakoe di dalam Sunji" "Leave Me in Silence"	16 May 1942	Darmawidjaja
"Tjiptakan Doenia Bahagia" "Create a Happy World"	19 July 1945	H.B. Jassin
"WahjoeMoe Koedoes" "Your Sacred Revelation"	20 July 1945	Karim Halim

Short stories

One short story by Achdiat Karta Mihardja was published.

Two short stories by Rabindranath Tagore were translated and published.

Andjar Asmara published three short stories and two serials.

Short stories published in Asia Raya

Title	Date	Author	Note
"Aroes Mengalir" "The Flowing Current"	15 July 1944	Karim Halim
"Batoe" "Stone"	1 February 1944	Tetsoekitji Kawai	[lower-alpha 7]
"Beladjar jang Penghabisan" "The Last Studies"	14 January 1943	Sastrosoewignjo
"Bintang Koekoes" "Star of Steam"	1 January 1943	O.S.	[lower-alpha 8]
"Boekan Karena Akoe" "Not Because of Me"	15 April 1944	Aoh Kartahadimadja
"Darah Laoet" "Blood of the Sea"	1 July 1944	H.B. Jassin
"Dengan Dibimbing oleh Toehan" "With God's Guidance"	25 July 1945	Achdiat Karta Mihardja
"Di dalam Mesdjid" "In the Mosque"	1 June 1945	Darsjaf Rachman
"Di Moesim Panen" "In the Harvest Season"	Un­known	Cloboth
"Di Tempat Asoehan Garoeda" "Where the Garuda is Kept"	15 January 1944	Hoemio Niwa	[lower-alpha 7]
"Dimana (Daidantjoo)" "Where is (Daidantjoo)"	10 May 1945	Rosihan Anwar	[lower-alpha 9]
"Ditjari" "Sought"	14 June 1942	Andjar Asmara	[lower-alpha 10]
"Djawabnja" "The Answer"	21 June 1942	Zahar
"Djiwa Pahlawan" "Soul of a Hero"	1 June 1944	Hodidjah Machtoem
"Djoeroe Rawat" "Nurse"	15 February 1945	Poetra Zaman
"Djoewariah"	12 January 1945	Rosihan Anwar
"Djonggol Desa" "Village Representative"	14 April 1945	Rosihan Anwar
"Doenia Tjopet" "World of Pickpockets"	2 May 1942	Abu Sulaiman
"Dosa jang Tak Dapat Diampoeni" "Unforgivable Sin"	21 June 1942	A.A.
"Dr. Soegianto"	3 February 1945	Rosihan Anwar
"Gadis Berkoedoeng Perioek Kaju" "Girl Maimed by a Wooden Pot"	9 October 1943	S. Harutaro
"Hoedjan dan Panas" "Rain and Heat"	10 February 1945	Noersamsoe
"Indonesia Tanah Kekasih" "Indonesia, Land of Lovers"	6 September 1945	Usmar Ismail
"Irama Masa" "Rhythm of the Times"	27 January 1945	Poetra Zaman
"Isjarat Anai-Anai" "Signs of Termites"	28 June 1945	Soedjani
"Kemedja Lama" "Old Shirt"	14 July 1945	Inoe Kertapati
"Ketika KOKKI Moelai Berkibar di Djawa" "When KOKKI Flourishes in Java"	23 February 1943	Maru Furura
"Kitjizo ke Medan Perang" "Kitjizo Goes to the Battlefield"	1 January 1944	Josikei Hino	[lower-alpha 11]
"Kjai Gondolajoe"	16 June 1945	Darmawidjaja
"Korban Gadis" "Virginal Victim"	1 April 1943	Winarno
"Lajar Poetih" "White Screen"	1 April 1944	Usmar Ismail
"Laoet Perhoeboengan" "Connecting Seas"	15 July 1944	Un­known
"Latihan Gerilja" "Guerrilla Training"	26 May 1945	Inoe Kertapati
"Melangkah Teroes" "Keep Advancing"	11 July 1945	Un­known
"Memoedja Majat Kekasih" "Worshipping a Lover's Corpse"	8 May 1942	Kamadjaja
"Menjamboet Poeasa" "Welcoming the Fast"	17 August 1944	Rosihan Anwar
"Mr. Doel"	5 July 1942	Andjar Asmara	[lower-alpha 10]
"Oentoek Saoedara" "For You"	15 June 1943	Rosihan Anwar
"Pahlawan Moeda" "Young Hero"	26 August 1944	Rosihan Anwar
"Pak Sewo" "Mr Sewo"	24 April 1945	Noersamsoe
"Pak Tani Poelang" "The Farmer Returns"	22 May 1943	Un­known
"Paman Koe" "My Uncle"	15 June 1944	Rosihan Anwar
"Pandai Besi" "Blacksmith"	1 September 1944	D. Djojokoesoemo
"Pemoeda Pantjaroba" "Youth in Transition"	1 August 1944	Soetomo Djaoehar Arifin
"Perdjoeangan Batin" "Mind's Struggle"	31 May 1942	Tabrani Adris
"Perhitoengan Njawa" "Counting Souls"	9 May 1942 and 10 May 1942	Hamid	[lower-alpha 12]
"Pertjintaan dan Pengorbanan" "Love and Sacrifice"	4 September 1943	S. Harutaro
"Poetri Pertiwi" "Princess Pertiwi"	24 May 1945	Soetomo Djaoehar Arifin
"Pradjoerit Nogikoe" "Soldier from Nogiku"	5 February 1944	Kan Kikotji	[lower-alpha 7]
"Ratapan"	9 May 1942 and 10 May 1942	Rabindranat Tagore	[lower-alpha 13]
"Resiko Goenting" "Problem with Scissors"	12 May 1942	Cloboth
"Salah Sangka" "Mistaken"	30 September 1943	Katjamata
"Seboeah Bingkisan" "A Package"	1 February 1945	Aoh Kartahadimadja
"Seroean Azan" "Call of Adhan"	17 May 1945	Karim Halim
"Si Amat Toekang Betjak" "Amat the Pedicab Driver"	8 January 1943 and 9 January 1943	M. Basri	[lower-alpha 12]
"Soeara jang Memberi Ilham" "Voice which Inspires"	5 May 1942	Andjar Asmara	[lower-alpha 10]
"Tamoe" "Guest"	2 June 1942	Rabindranat Tagore	[lower-alpha 14]
"Tanda Bahagia" "Sign of Happiness"	1 September 1944	Bakri Siregar
"Toentoenan" "Guidance"	21 August 1945	Darmawidjaja
"Trem Berdjalan Teroes" "The Trem Treks On"	12 June 1943	Rosihan Anwar

Serials

Serials published in Asia Raya

Title	Date	Author	Note(s)
Kartinah	30 April 1942 to 25 June 1942	Andjar Asmara	[lower-alpha 10][6]
Noesa Penida	30 June 1942 to 14 September 1942	Andjar Asmara	[lower-alpha 10][6]
Roekmini	21 January 1943 to 19 February 1943	E.S.N.	[6]

Explanatory notes

1. By the end of the occupation the Japanese had begun helping Indonesians prepare for their independence. This included, among other efforts, forming the Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence for deliberations and assisting with the proclamation of Indonesian independence, which was drafted in the home of a Japanese admiral (Dahm 1971, pp. 100–111).
2. Title in Japanese
3. Taken from a calendar advertisement.
4. Credited to the Central Office of Independence War Funds
5. In translation
6. Pseudonym of Abu Hanifah (Jassin 1993, p. 15)
7. Edited by Rosi Tani
8. A fairytale
9. Title partially illegible (in parentheses)
10. Pseudonym of Abisin Abbas
11. Edited by Rosihan Anwar
12. In two instalments
13. In two instalments, translation by Darmawidjaja
14. Translation by Darmawidjaja

Footnotes

1. Mahayana 2007, pp. 177–178.
2. Mahayana 2007, p. 181.
3. Jassin 1993, pp. 14–16.
4. Jassin 1993, p. 18.
5. The Jakarta Post 2011, In memoriam.
6. Mahayana 2007, pp. 201–202.
7. Filmindonesia.or.id, Abisin Abbas.

Works cited

• "Abisin Abbas". Filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
• Dahm, Bernhard (1971). History of Indonesia in the Twentieth Century. Praeger. OCLC 230842.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• "In memoriam: Rosihan Anwar, the Last Mohican". The Jakarta Post. Jakarta. 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
• Jassin, H.B. (1993). Kesusastraan Indonesia di Masa Jepang [Indonesian Literature in the Japanese Period]. Jakarta: Balai Pustaka. ISBN 978-979-407-307-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Mahayana, Maman S. (2007). Ekstrinsikalitas Sastra Indonesia [Extrinsic Events in Indonesian Literature] (in Indonesian). Jakarta: RajaGrafindo Persada. ISBN 978-979-769-115-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)