japanese army advanced into vietnam in september 1940 before starting fights with USA, with the aim of cutting the routes of british and american supplies to china. japanese army made an agreement with french colonial government and controlled all over vietnam. japanese occupation army forced vietnamese to sell rice and foods for the army. however, food shortage was serious in 1944 coupled with bad weather condition in the year, and many people in vietnam starved to death. according to vietnamese authority, the number of death reached 2 million. the viet minh lead by ho chi minh enjoy full support of people to fight against japanese military rule. they distributed handbills and appealed to the people. they appealed that japanese army is killing asian people under the slogan of "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere".