"Japanese Fleet Departing Hainan Island" is one of the well-known paintings created in the genre of sensō-ga by the famous Nihonga painter, Kawabata Ryūshi. It is a part of the permanent collection of The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT). The monumental composition in paper employs traditional sumi ink and minerals pigments to create an illustration of the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII. The painting features a powerful array of warships sailing off from the important region of Hainan Island, which had been occupied by Japan. Instead of creating a scene of an incredibly hectic and realistic battle, the artist opts for creating a highly graphic design. The metallic shapes of the ships' hulls seem to pierce the waters with such strict grandeur that conveys discipline, strength, and the relentless movement of the military forces. Ryūshi skillfully incorporates natural aspects into industrial warfare. The expansive sky and agitated sea waters are illustrated by means of minimalist ink washes, so that the silhouette of the warships looks dark and imposing. This piece of art serves as a great example of how classical traditions of Japanese artists were employed to create propaganda for the army. The most remarkable element of the painting is the sky, which challenges the laws of time and nature. Ryūshi depicted both a shining sun to the right side of the painting and a crescent moon to the left at the same time. In the middle of the dark space, located between the sun and the moon, there is a bright white Southern Cross constellation hanging. This indicates that the location of the setting is in the South Seas, reflecting the "Southern Cross romance" (Nanyo roman).
Rather than depicting a chaotic or violent battle, Ryūshi chose a highly stylized, graphic composition illustrating Imperial Japanese Navy warships leaving the occupied Hainan Island.
