Under the Japanese (16 Feb 1942 to 15 Aug 1945)

With the British gone in Singapore, things have changed in our way of life when the Japanese took over our country. Every morning in the Japanese Occupation in schools instead of singing Britain's national anthem How God Save The Queen, we students at that time have to sing the Japanese national anthem Kimigayo. Not only that, schools also have to teach their students lessons in the Japanese language so it's compulsory for teachers to attend Japanese language lessons before teaching their students in Japanese. The only thing is that some teachers at that time build resistance against the Japanese so they taught their students in English but when the Japanese were coming to inspect, the teachers would then use Japanese to teach their students till the inspection was over.

When it comes to food problems in Singapore under the Japanese, the Japanese would issue people ration cards to purchase rice that can last a month (Adults could purchase 4.8 kg of rice and 2.4 kg for children).

But as the war progresses, the amount rice for adults decrease every 25%. People who can't afford the rice will have to resort to staple food like sweet potatoes and yam because they were considered to be cheaper and can be grown in gardens.

Money under the Japanese Occupation were issued but it's value was low as time progresses. The Banana Money was the main currency in Singapore during the occupation since Straits currency became rare. The reason why it's value was low as time progresses was because the "Banana currency" started to suffer from high inflation so the government during the Japanese Occupation would just print out the money which explains the low value.

                                                              Banana Money (Above)

Trade in Singapore under the Japanese Occupation was a different story. With the new restrictions done by the Japanese authorities, certain trade were restricted so some merchants decided to start a black market, a market where merchants sold illegal trade at that time during the occupation. Because of the Banana Money low value, Straits currency was used when purchasing illegal trade in the black market 

                      

Website: http://www.3833.com/node/1175 ( banana money image)

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Singapore ( Info source)