Tokyo Rose
Preserved but no longer current.
The name given by U.S. service men to a woman broadcaster of propaganda from Japan during World War II. Several U.S.A.-born Japanese (Nisei) girls were identified as taking part in these broadcasts, notably Iva Togori, of California, and Ruth Hayakawa.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Tokyo Rose” mean?
The name given by U.S. service men to a woman broadcaster of propaganda from Japan during World War II. Several U.S.A.-born Japanese (Nisei) girls were identified as taking part in these broadcasts, notably Iva Togori, of California, and Ruth Hayakawa.
Is “Tokyo Rose” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.