Palace of Ghosts: Singapore's Untold History

In the last post, we followed Marquis Yoshichika Tokugawa on his first visit to Singapore in 1921—a seemingly low-key personal trip. But Japan’s presence in the region was anything but recent. From the decades old trafficked sex workers trade to growing business networks, Tokugawa arrived as a ground swell of presence was taking place. In Part 3, we trace its evolution—from rising commercial interest to far murkier pursuits. Read Part 2 here

The previous post explored the theme of historical memory in the lead-up to VJ Day, focusing on the Fall of Singapore in 1942. It introduced Marquis Yoshichika Tokugawa—a largely overlooked figure whose role in those dramatic events has long remained in the shadows. He is one of several key figures whose hidden stories form the untold history at the heart of Palace of Ghosts , all of them intricately connected to the Palace that gives the book its name. In this second post of the series, we begin to unravel his story and ask: Who was Tokugawa? Read Part 1 here Hunter, Scholar, Nobleman The life Sultan Ibrahim of Johor reads like an epic novel—an extraordinary blend of adventure, intrigue and romance. But while the Sultan’s story often steals the spotlight, Palace of Ghosts reveals a cast of equally fascinating characters who shaped his destiny in profound and sometimes surprising ways. One of the most compelling figures in this saga is Marquis Yoshichika Tokugawa—a Japanese aristoc...

VJ Day Victory over Japan Day, the day that World War II (WWII) ended in Asia, is commemorated around the world on both August 15th, when Japan surrendered in 1945, and on September 2 when the surrender documents were formally signed, also in 1945. As the anniversary of VJ Day draws near, ceremonies and reflections will unfold around the world. In Malaysia and Singapore, however, the date passes with relatively little official recognition. The Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore, including the Fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942, and ending with Japan’s surrender three and a half years later, remains a defining but selectively remembered chapter in Southeast Asian history. An AI-generated image of Lieutenant General Arthur Percival surrendering to General Yamashita (generated using ChatGPT, June 2025,  prompt: Percival surrendering to Yamashita) Historical Memory: What We Remember ... Or Forget Certain events, and associated images, have become iconic. Some contemporaneous...