It was WWII that brought to an end a significant Madras international link — settlements in Burma aka Myanmar. Following the Japanese takeover of that country, thousands of Indians fled the place they had called home, several of them for generations. This exodus finished off the Nagarathar trade with Burma for good. And 15 years later, further instability in Burma would result in another wave of refugees, for whom Burma Bazaars and Colonies were opened in Madras. In addition, there was at least one air raid on the city by the Japanese, in 1943. It caused no damage, but fear of the Japanese led to the famed Evacuation of Madras a year earlier.
The city’s first interactions with the Japanese were therefore not encouraging. But there was a significant population in the city that sympathised with Netaji Subhas Bose and his Indian National Army, which acted in collaboration with the Japanese. Two decades later, a Japanese Consulate was opened in the city and has existed ever since. Thereafter, the city became increasingly aware of Japanese goods — initially handicrafts and textiles, and then, electronics.
