The pictures found on this page were taken by an unknown Japanese Airman or Soldier, sometime prior to the invasion of the island by the U. S. Forces.

There are some that show what the sugar cane processing mill looked like before being destroyed during the assault. Sugar cane was the primary agricultural product produce by those native to Tinian. It was also the main product on the islands of Saipan and Rota and other islands in the Marianas.

An Aviator	Same Aviator	Another Aviator	A Jap Plane, probably for parts
Some Airman Sending Off Another	The Sugar Cane Mill	Inside the Mill	View of Surrounding Area From the Mill
Another View From the Mill	Tinian Town	Tinian Town

After taking over the islands the Japanese maintained production of sugar cane processing. This was an effort to support their costs during the occupation. On the island of Saipan, one enterprising company distilled whiskey from the sugar molasses and sold it in Japan as "Genuine Old Scotch Whiskey, Made in Saipan.

Most of the civilians brought into the islands to work the plantations, were Japanese. But also imported were Okinawans from the Ryukyu Islands. These people were a mix of Chinese and Japanese. Their standards of living were low, but they were considered hard working and honest people. There was not much love lost between the Okinawans and the people from mainland Japan.