The Pen Butai was formed in 1938 after a meeting between the
Cabinet Intelligence Department and writers
Kan Kikuchi,
Masao Kume,
Eiji Yoshikawa,
Riichi Yokomitsu,
Haruo Satō,
Nobuko Yoshiya and
Fumio Niwa. Those who participated were offered free travel, accommodation and food, access to off-limits war areas and the possibility to interview important military figures. 22 men and two women were flown overseas in September 1938; a smaller group followed two months later. The subsequently published works by the writers involved were supportive of the war as had been expected, ==See also==