In the period leading up to World War II, Japan's intentions in the Pacific Rim nations were masked by the stated intent to free the area of European and American influences, the promise of promoting national independence and the development of a "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere". The plan was welcomed in many areas that endured centuries of western colonial rule. The replacement for the western influence was, of course, Japan's influence. Support for the plan rapidly waned under the severe Japanese rule, and the emerging recognition that the occupied nations were to become simply the "southern resources area" for the Japanese military-industrial machine. Japan's method of initiating control of the economies of the newly occupied territories was, immediately upon arrival, to replace the local currencies with new banknotes, prepared in advance, which are now rwferred to as "Japanese Invasion Money" (JIMs). Among the area where JIMs were issued included China (including Hong Kong), Burma (currently Myanmar, Malaya (currently Malaysia), Netherlands east Indies (currently Indonesia) and Philippines. Eventually, as the invasion stabilized in 1942, control of all the invasion currencies became consolidated under the control of Japan's Southern Development Bank. Two years later, upon Japan's surrender, all the invasion currencies became worthless. This set includes the following banknotes: China 5 yen, Netherlands East Indies 5 cents, Malaya Ten Dollars, Burma Ten Rupees and Philippines Ten Pesos. It comes in a presentation folder with a Certificate of Authenticity.