“Think of Koiso as your father”, Governor-General Koiso tells Korean conscripts as they are sent off to war (Jan 1944)

Governor-General Koiso, the colonial ruler of Korea from 1942 to 1944, appears in a quintessentially authoritarian strongman photo montage in this January 28, 1944 Keijō Nippo article. In the main photograph Koiso speaks with a stern expression as the self-styled “benevolent father of Korea,” while rows of Korean conscript students sit on the floor listening intently and following his every word. Their faces would gush with emotion as he welcomes them to "think of Koiso as your father", according to this propaganda article.

These students had just completed a two-week training program at the First Army Volunteer Training Center in Nohae-myeon, and Koiso had arrived to deliver a motivational send-off speech before they were dispatched to wartime labor and production sites. He had already addressed the same group at the start of their training program two weeks earlier (covered in a January 16, 1944 article that I posted separately).

Koiso’s speech is saturated with ideological language drawn from State Shinto and wartime imperial doctrine. He invokes the “True Meaning of the National Polity” (国体本義), references the “Three Divine Edicts and the Divine-Human Shrine,” and urges the conscripts to embody what he calls the “Himorogi Spirit.” These ideas reflected Koiso’s belief that Koreans could rediscover their supposed “true selves” through participation in Shinto ritual and the study of Japanese mytho-historical texts such as the Nihon Shoki. According to Koiso, Koreans’ ancient ancestors were actually Japanese, and reconnecting with these roots would allow them to transcend their present identity and unify with the Japanese nation. He described this transformation as becoming fully “penetrated with the True Meaning of the National Body” (国体本義の透徹), a concept promoted by his favored Kokugaku scholar and Shinto spiritual leader, Master Imaizumi. Koiso elaborated on these ideas in greater detail in the speech he gave at the conscripts’ induction ceremony on January 15.

The articlethe January 16 article identifies the training center as being located in Nohae-myeon in Goyang County, but the January 16 article describing the induction ceremony places Nohae-myeon in Yangju County. Since Goyang and Yangju were adjacent districts at the time, it is possible that the township lay near the county boundary or that administrative reporting differed between sources.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippo) January 28, 1944

Devote All Efforts to Increased Production
Governor-General Speaks to Conscripted Students
Departure Ceremony for Conscripted Student Trainees

The second group of conscripted students, who entered the First Army Volunteer Training Center in Nohae-myeon (노해면, 盧海面), Goyang County (고양군, 高陽郡) — the cradle of Korean volunteer soldiers — on January 15th, completed their two-week training program. On the morning of January 28th at 11 a.m., a departure ceremony was held in the training center’s small auditorium in the presence of Governor-General Koiso.

On that day, Governor-General Koiso, accompanied by Secretary Kobayashi and Director of Educational Affairs Ōno, returned the salutes of Director Kaida, instructors, and the conscripted students who lined up to welcome him at the entrance. He first withdrew to a separate room, where he received a report from Director Kaida regarding the overall situation of the special training given to the students. As he headed to the departure ceremony, he offered words of fatherly concern to those responsible for leading the students directly to their decisive battle workplaces after departing the center — speaking as the benevolent father of Korea, with heartfelt consideration for the sons who would set out.

Although the training period had been only two short weeks, under the devoted guidance of the director and instructors, combined with the conscripted students’ own single-minded dedication to the Imperial Way, the faces of the several hundred student conscript warriors lined up at the center of the hall bore a tightness and discipline entirely different from that seen at the entrance ceremony two weeks earlier. The ceremony began with the national rites.

The director took the podium and declared:

“Since entering, you have generally observed the regulations of this training center well, and the results are worthy of great commendation. This brings joy for the sake of the Imperial nation. However, it is deeply regrettable that there remains room for further reflection and effort in the matter of practical execution. This is due to the insufficiency of my own virtue and shortcomings in guidance, for which I feel profound responsibility. The workplaces to which you now go lead directly to the decisive battlefield. You must give thought to this, devote yourselves fully to your mission as conscripted warriors, empty yourselves in the sacred duties entrusted to you, and offer your utmost in order to set His Majesty’s sacred mind at ease.”

Following this address, Governor-General Koiso quietly stepped onto the platform.

Immediately after the entrance ceremony on January 15th, he had come to explain the True Meaning of the National Body and to expound at length upon the establishment of a Righteous Korea based upon the philosophy of the Three Divine Edicts and the Divine-Human Shrine. At that time he had promised, “If I have the opportunity again, I will return once more while you are here.” True to his word, he now appeared again before the conscripted students during their stay.

As usual, his eyes filled with a gentle, paternal radiance, he gazed upon the assembled students for a moment and said:

“Seeing how your gaze and bearing differ from two weeks ago fills me with heartfelt satisfaction. For this I thank the director and instructors. At the entrance ceremony, I gave you an address, but in the rush of that occasion you may not have been fully prepared to listen with open and unclouded minds, and perhaps not all of what I said penetrated. I shall not repeat it. However, there is one thing I wish to say.

“Korea, in both human and material resources, occupies an exceedingly important position in winning this Holy War. Therefore, Korea must exert its full strength in accordance with the Sacred Will. In the future, conscription will be implemented for certain age groups, and even company presidents and key executives deemed important will be conscripted, renewing their spirit and pressing forward in increased production. You who have been conscripted are distinct from those conscripted in general. If you, as conscripted warriors, grounded in the True Meaning of the National Body, are unable to advance where you ought to advance, then it would be difficult to expect much from others who differ from you.

“Your conscription period is set at two years. However, if you conduct yourselves admirably at your workplaces, I have requested that you be entrusted with responsible positions, regardless of whether you are conscripted or not.

“In the case of the first group of conscripted students, because the date of receiving their conscription notices was pressing, they were granted leave after departure. You, however, will proceed directly to your workplaces. If any of you have circumstances requiring you to return home, your company will grant leave directly. It is your own responsibility to communicate properly with your families and spare them anxiety.

“Clearly understand that a portion of the responsibility for the quality of your future efforts rests also upon me, Koiso. When I tour the various provinces, there may be opportunities for me to meet you personally at your worksites.”

At this point he lowered his voice and said with deep feeling:

“If you wish, think of Koiso as your father. You may depend on your father — but think of him also as a father who at times speaks sternly.”

A wave of emotion passed across the faces of the students. The Governor-General continued in a gentle tone, offering considerate advice regarding their future lives.

“When you begin practical work, you will keenly feel how different it is from the academic theory you have studied until now. When you encounter men of strength who have come down from the mountains, you may feel your own strength to be lacking. Yet strive to be superior in spirit. Finally, what I wish to say is this: as I told you at the entrance ceremony, you must uphold the ‘Himorogi spirit’ as a conviction of the Japanese man and never forget it. Always rise to the forefront, bearing this Himorogi spirit, and press forward.”

Thus, on the day their training concluded, the Governor-General once again emphasized the “Himorogi spirit,” exhorting these sons as they set out for their decisive battle workplaces.

Then, on behalf of the conscripted students, Mr. Toshikawa Kikō delivered a fervent reply:

“We shall, without fail, work splendidly in accordance with the words of His Excellency the Governor-General!”

The ceremony concluded at 11 a.m. with the group singing “Umi Yukaba.”

[Photo: Departure ceremony for conscripted student trainees — Governor-General Koiso speaking fervently]

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年1月28日

増産に全力を尽くせ
総督、徴用学徒に説く
徴用学徒退所式

半島志願兵揺籃の地―高陽郡盧海面第一陸軍志願兵訓練所に十五日入所した。第二次徴用学徒は二週間の錬成過程を終えて二十八日午前十一時から同訓練所小講堂で小磯総督臨席の下に退所式を挙行した。

この日小磯総督は小林秘書官、大野学務局長を伴い玄関まで堵列して迎える海田所長以下教授、教官を初め徴用学徒に挙手の礼を返しつつ、ひと先ず別室に入り、海田所長から徴用学徒に対する特別訓練一般状況に関し聴取。退所後徴用学徒を直ちに決戦職場へ引率する関係者に半島の慈父として赴く子の上に馳せる思いやりのある慈しみ溢れる注意を与えて退所式場に臨んだ。

二週間の僅かな錬成機関ではあったが、所長以下教授、教官の懇切な指導の下に徴用学徒自身の皇民道に対するひたむきな精進とが相俟って、式場の中央に整列した〇〇〇名の学徒徴用戦士の面には二週間前の入所式当時とは間違えるように引き緊まりが漂い、式は国民儀礼に始まった。所長登壇して、

『入所以来概してよく本訓練所の諸規定を遵守、その成果は大いに見るべきものがあり、皇国のため欣快とするところである。実行力に於いてもう一層の反省と努力の存するを認めることは甚だ遺憾である。これは所長自らの徳の足らざるところで指導のよろしきを得ない点があり、自責の念にかられる次第である。諸子の今から就く職場は決戦場に直接通ずる。諸子はよろしくここに思いを致し徴用戦士としての使命に徹し、与えられた神聖なる職務に己を空しうして挺身もって聖慮を安んじ奉らねばならない』旨の訓示があって、引続き小磯総督は静かに歩を壇上に運ぶ。

去る十五日入所式直後、来所して国体の本義を説き、道義朝鮮の確立を三神勅と人神殿の哲理に基礎づけて諄々と解明した総督は、その日”再び機会を得れば諸子在所中にもう一度来所する”と告げた約束に違わず、いま再び在所中の徴用学徒の前に現れたのだ。例により親しみのある慈光を両眼一杯に漂わして総督は一同の上に暫く眼を落して、

『二週間前とは異なる諸子の眼光、態度をみて監督は心から欣快に堪えない。この点所長以下に感謝する。入所式に当り諸子に一場の訓辞を与えたが慌しい入所の気持から虚心坦懐に人の話を聴き取ろうとする気が足らず、自分の話したことの全部が滲透していない憾みもあるが、敢えて重ねて言わない。只諸子に一言したいことは朝鮮は人的、物的両面の資源に於いて聖戦を勝ち抜く上に至大なる立地条件に置かされているだけに半島は全力をあげて聖慮に副い奉らねばならない。今後一定年齢層に徴用を実施、更に重要と思われる社長幹部以下を徴用し、気魄を新たにして増産に邁進してもらう。徴用を受けた諸子は一般から徴用を受けた者とは選を異にする。諸子が徴用戦士として国体本義に立脚し邁進すべきところに邁進し得られないとすれば、諸子と異る徴用戦士に期待することは困難であろうと考える。諸子の徴用期間は二箇年となっているが、職場に於いて真に立派である場合は徴用非徴用は別としても責任ある地位にもつかしむる様に要望している。

第一次徴用学徒の場合は徴用礼状を受け取った期日が切迫していたので、退所後休暇を与えたが諸子は直ちに職場に赴いて貰う。各自事情があって帰家の必要がある場合は会社から直接休暇をあたえてもらうことにする。家庭によく通信して心配を与えないのは諸子自ら取るべき処置である。諸子今後の努力成果の良否による責任の一半は小磯にも委ねられていることを明確に自覚してもらいたい。各道を巡視する場合、現場に於いて諸子と親しく接する機会もあろう』

ここで一段しんみりと声を落して、『希望せば小磯を親父と思え。親父に甘えてもいいが、時には峻厳なこともいう親父と思え』学徒の面にはさっと感動の一色が流れ、総督は更に優しい語気をもって今後の生活の上に思いやりある注意を投げるのだった。

そして、『実務につけばきょうまで学んだ学理と遊離していることを痛感するであろう。山から出た力男に接せば自己の力の足らざるを感ずるであろうが、自ら精神的に優っていることに努めてもらいたい。最後に言いたいことは入所式当時にも言った「神籬精神」を奉持して行くことこそ日本男子の信念として忘れてはならない。常に陣頭に起ってこの神籬精神を奉持して邁進してもらいたい』と訓練を終る日、再び神籬精神を強調して決戦職場に赴くわが子を悟す総督であった。

それより徴用学徒を代表して利川基弘君から、『断じて総督閣下のお言葉に副うよう、立派に働きます』と烈々たる答辞があって、”海行かば”を合唱同十一時閉式した。【写真＝徴用学徒訓練退所式、烈々と説く小磯総督】

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive

When all of Korea was forced to bow to Ise Grand Shrine and vow before the Shinto gods to annihilate Imperial Japan’s enemies: a chilling moment at 1:22 PM on December 12, 1943

On December 12, 1943, during one of the darkest chapters of Imperial Japanese colonial rule over Korea, the entire peninsula was mobilized for a synchronized prayer toward the Ise Grand Shrine in central Japan. At precisely 1:22 PM, every Korean was compelled to bow towards the east to swear a vow to the enshrined pantheon of Shinto gods to annihilate Imperial Japan's enemies, the U.S. and Britain. This extraordinary event, designed to demonstrate loyalty to the Empire, marked a departure from the usual rituals of the time.

This event marked the one-year anniversary of the Emperor's secret journey to the Ise Grand Shrine on December 12, 1942 to pray for victory at Guadalcanal. At the time, it was considered very unprecedented for the Emperor himself to stand alone before the Inner Shrine sanctuary at Ise to recite a prayer for victory. Contemporary press reports noted that this didn't happen even during the First Sino-Japanese War or the Russo-Japanese War (link). 

Under colonial rule, daily life in Korea was punctuated by strict, state-imposed ceremonies. At 7:00 AM each morning, Koreans were required to perform remote worship (宮城遥拝) toward the Imperial Palace. At noon, they observed a moment of silence (正午の黙祷) to honor Japan’s war dead. These two times of the day were usually marked by loud sirens. Every Korean was expected to participate, with members of local neighborhood cells (patriotic groups) strictly organized to ensure compliance. Even buses and trains stopped at that moment, forcing passengers to partake.

On October 23, 1944, Koreans would once again be mobilized for a synchronized prayer, this time toward Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine. At precisely 9:15 AM, every Korean was compelled to bow in reverence to Imperial Japan’s war dead, who were enshrined as gods. 

This forced mass worship was a chilling manifestation of Imperial Japan’s assimilation policies, aimed at erasing Korean identity and replacing it with blind devotion to the Empire. The ritualistic nature, combined with the total control over public and private life, reflects the deep cultural and spiritual subjugation that Koreans endured.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) December 13, 1943

A Perfectly Solemn Moment
A Vow of Certain Victory Across Every Corner of the Korean Peninsula
Yesterday Was the Day of Nationwide Shrine Worship

At 1:22 p.m. on December 12, 1942, the sacred moment when His Majesty the Emperor most reverently paid homage at the Ise Grand Shrine—this day, this very hour, was humbly recalled. One full year later, at that same moment, the one hundred million subjects standing firm on the home front, each from their respective places, reverently turned their gaze and worshiped toward the distant land of Ise.

On this day, here too on the beloved Korean peninsula, twenty-five million people together raised the national flag at every household. Beneath the crystal-clear winter sky, the pure Hinomaru vividly re-created the emotion of that day and that hour, remaining utterly pure and utterly solemn.

Fired with single-minded fighting spirit to annihilate the hated enemy, America and Britain, Sunday was no obstacle. In every workplace, selfless devotion to production on the home front continued unabated. Then, at last, 1:22 p.m. arrived, and the radio solemnly announced the time of nationwide shrine worship.

Ah, at that moment, without distinction of age or gender, those walking the streets, those operating machines, those working in the kitchen, all alike straightened their collars, set their expressions firm, oriented their posture toward the distant east, and quietly, quietly bowed their bodies low. They offered up a burning fighting spirit, resolved to strike and strike until the enemy was utterly destroyed.

For ten seconds, twenty seconds, heads bowed deeply and ever more deeply, the noble Imperial Presence advancing toward the land of Ise seemed to revive vividly and reverently within the hearts of the people. The Emperor’s august resolve, solemnly pledging before the distant Imperial Ancestors the inevitable destruction of the vile enemy, returned with overwhelming force to the hearts of the common people.

As they silently intoned, “Strike and strike until they are destroyed!” the fighting spirit overflowed through the entire bodies, emotion surging until hot tears streamed down their cheeks. Raising neither head nor gaze, focusing the mind’s eye, they vividly saw the heroic spirits who perished gloriously in the Battle of Attu, and the loyal spirit of Admiral Yamamoto, who soared heavenward amid the dense clouds of the South Pacific, pointing unmistakably across the Pacific Ocean.

We shall annihilate them! The American and British demons who must be struck down without mercy! Even should they come advancing, piloting aircraft no more formidable than dragonflies, escorting funeral fleets resembling earthen coffins, not a single plane nor a single ship shall be allowed to return in satisfaction. The sacred land of the Divine Realm shall never be violated; enduring with heaven and earth, it is eternally indestructible. We, the one hundred million, will resolutely defend it to the end.

If they rely on numbers, we shall meet them with numbers. If they rely on intrigue, we shall counter with intrigue. Thus, we solemnly and forcefully swore again and again to pursue the demons of America and Britain, the enemies of all humanity, to the very ends of the earth.

The winter sky remained endlessly deep and clear. The rising-sun flags shone ever more brilliantly. The twenty-five million people of the Korean peninsula, bodies and souls devoted to the nation in selfless sacrifice, offered worship toward the distant land of Ise with resolute determination to fight through and win even the third year of the Sacred War.

(Photograph: Silent prayer of production warriors)

[Transcription]

京城日報 1943年12月13日
ぴたり厳粛の一瞬
半島津々浦々に必勝の誓い
きのう総神拝の日

昭和十七年十二月十二日午後一時二十二分畏くも天皇陛下伊勢神宮御親拝の御時刻ーこの日この刻を謹みて顧み奉る一億銃後蒼生は満一年後の同時刻、各自在所より恭しく遥かなる伊勢路の彼方を拝し奉ったのである。この日愛国半島でも二千五百万斉しく戸毎に国旗を掲げれば澄み渡りたる冬空に清浄の日の丸はあの日あの刻の感激をそのまま再現してあくまで清くあくまで厳粛である。

宿敵米英撃滅のひたぶる闘魂を昂揚して日曜日もものかは、各職域に銃後生産の滅私奉公を続ければ、やがて午後一時二十二分ーラジオは厳かに総神拝の時刻を告げるのであった。ああこの刻、老幼を問わず、男女の差別なく道往く人も、機械を操る人も厨房に在る人も一斉に襟を正し面を引き緊め遥なる東方に姿勢を整え静かに静かに体を伏し撃ちてし止まむ。撃ちてし止まむ火と燃える闘魂を捧げ奉ったのであった。十秒二十秒深く深く頭をうなだるれば尊き玉体を遥けき伊勢路に進めさせ給い醜敵必滅を御力強く遠つ御祖に御誓い遊ばされた宸襟のほどが、ひしひしと民草の胸内に勿体なくも蘇って来るのであった。

撃ちてし止まむ、撃ちてし止まむと念ずれば闘魂いよいよ五体に溢れ激情は熱涙となって頬を伝う。更に頭もえ上げず心眼を凝視すればアツツ島に玉砕せる英魂、南太平洋の密雲に天翅けりし山本元帥の忠魂がまざまざと太平洋の彼方を指さすのである。殲滅せん、米鬼、撃たて止むべき英鬼、蜻蛉に等しき飛機を操るとともに土造に似たる葬送艦隊を進め来るとも一機一艦たりとも満足には帰さじ、神州不犯の聖地は天壌と共に永劫不滅われ等一億断じて護り抜かん。

量を恃まば量を以て、謀略には謀略を以て人類の宿敵米英鬼共を地球の涯まで追い撃たんーと厳にまた強く断じて断じて誓い奉るのであった。冬空は飽くまで深く澄み日章旗は更に清々、二千五百万民草の五体また殉国滅私、聖戦第三年目をも勝ち抜かんとの決意も凛々と遥かなる伊勢路を奉拝したのであった。

【写真＝増産戦士の黙祷】

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive

See also:

• When all of Korea was forced to bow to Yasukuni Shrine to worship Imperial Japan’s war dead as gods: a chilling moment at 9:15 AM on October 23, 1944 (link)
• Everyone in Korea was required to immediately stop exactly at 7 am for the Kyūjō Yōhai prayer vowing loyalty to the Emperor and at noon for the moment of silence honoring Imperial soldiers, even cars and trains had to immediately stop in the middle of traffic at the same time for prayers (Aug. 1943) (link)
• Koreans in Seoul streetcar observing mandatory daily Moment of Silence at noon in 1943 to honor Imperial soldiers; caption reads “they offer infinite gratitude for the blood-soaked toil of the generals who are fighting valiantly to destroy the U.S. and Britain on the pathetically brutal front lines” (link)
• Imperial Japanese cartoon from 1943 shows how Koreans were forced to bow to the Emperor every morning, speak Japanese, and accept poverty without complaints (link)

Daughter of collaborator 이진호 (李軫鎬) promoted as model Korean woman devoting unpaid labor to Imperial Japan’s war effort (Seoul, February 6, 1944)

This article is yet another example of "model Korean" propaganda, which props up an exemplary Korean collaborator as a model for all Koreans to follow. 

Ms. Makiyama Tae

The subject is 31-year-old Makiyama Tae, a mother of a 6-year-old daughter, and the eldest daughter of prominent Korean collaborator Lee Jin-ho (1867-1946), who built a notable career under Japanese rule as a provincial governor, a senior education official in the colonial administration, and later a parliamentarian. In 1944, Makiyama is praised for performing unpaid labor for the Patriotic Women's Association, where she conducts outreach to rural Korean women with the stated aim of “transforming” their clothing, food, and housing to conform to wartime needs.

At the same time, the propaganda logic is strained. Presenting Makiyama as a model to be emulated would likely have been alienating to many ordinary Koreans. She operated from a position of elite privilege, backed by wealth, status, and political connections, while the article implicitly asks working women and rural peasants to accept unpaid or minimally compensated labor under vastly different material conditions. 

The article also reveals the extent to which the Patriotic Women’s Association functioned as an instrument of total war mobilization. Civilian homes were recast as extensions of the military-industrial system, tasked not only with producing rudimentary goods such as straw bags, but also with performing labor directly connected to weapons manufacturing, including the manufacturing of winding coils for engine stators.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippo) February 6, 1944

Working Women (7)
Planning Nutritious Meals for Wartime
Ms. Makiyama Sweats “Without Pay”

With the slogan “Even housewives shall contribute to the strengthening of the war effort,” the Greater Japan Patriotic Women’s Association has launched a nationwide all-out mobilization movement. As Minister of Health Koizumi has stated, “Housewives should, insofar as possible, participate in wartime production for strengthening the war effort from within the home.”

This represents a decisive leap beyond the usual forms of labor service such as making sandal straps, pasting paper bags, or collecting scrap metal. Housewives are now called upon to devote themselves directly, within their own homes, to the production of wartime materials.

Already in the Home Islands, households are producing military straw bags (kamasu) or winding coils for engine stators brought into the home, while hinges for weapon-packaging crates are assembled in rotation by neighborhood Patriotic Women’s Association members. The home itself has become a battlefield. Now is the autumn in which six million members of the Patriotic Women’s Association in Korea must wholly commit themselves to wartime life.

At the Wartime Living Division of the Korean Headquarters of the Patriotic Women’s Association, located in Seorin-dong, Jongno Ward, Seoul, new forms of guidance are about to be implemented so that housewives may offer up every aspect of their “clothing, food, and shelter” to the nation. Standing prominently among the wartime living instructors is 31-year-old Ms. Makiyama Tae.

Ms. Makiyama is the eldest daughter of the well-known House of Peers member, Mr. Lee Jin-ho (이진호, 李軫鎬).

When the all-out mobilization movement of the Patriotic Women’s Association began last October, she volunteered to join the Korean Headquarters. “I do not need a salary. If I can instill wartime consciousness into Korean women, that alone will fulfill my every wish. Please allow me to realize this long-held aspiration of mine.” Such was her impassioned appeal.

Her plea, made with her whole being aflame with fervor, was accepted, and Ms. Makiyama took up her post. Three months have passed since then, and the advance of Korean women has been remarkable. “I have been entrusted with the ‘housing’ section and am devoted entirely to designing improvements to women’s daily lives. To presume to instruct others would be unthinkable. Through my daily work, I myself am given profound self-reflection and a new path forward. This is a joy beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

She seeks only to devote herself to the task of how to raise the often-lagging awareness of current affairs among Korean women to the necessary level. “I have only just begun studying this problem,” Ms. Makiyama says with a modest demeanor. Behind her few words lies a sharp, deeply held resolve that action must come before words.

Soon after graduating from the First Girls’ High School, she entered married life, and for the past ten years has served as a Patriotic Women’s Association member, contributing to various activities. However, as the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese war gave way to the Greater East Asia War, the situation changed dramatically, and the duties of women on the home front grew ever more demanding and ever more important.

“This will not do. There is no progress in protecting only individuals. We must call out to the masses of Korean women…” Ms. Makiyama could no longer remain still. Fortunately, with only a single six-year-old daughter, Fumi-chan, she was relatively unencumbered, and resolved last autumn to enter the Patriotic Women’s Association full-time. Her husband, of course, and her strict father, Mr. Lee, were deeply moved, blinking back tears as they offered their encouragement.

The implementation of the Korean Volunteer Soldier System and the mobilization of students for the front followed one after another in dizzying succession. The time had come for Korean women to rise up in total mobilization. Witnessing with her own eyes the many Korean women who, without shedding tears, waved the Rising Sun flag and stood resolute as they sent their children off to the field of battle, Ms. Makiyama felt her efforts spurred on with renewed force.

“Why must wartime life be pared down so severely? I fight every day to answer that ‘why.’ In particular, I struggle over the transformation of clothing, food, and shelter for Korean women in farming villages. This has been my dream for ten years, and to see it realized is the fulfillment of a lifelong wish of my entire being,” Ms. Makiyama said, smiling brightly.

(Photograph: Ms. Makiyama Preparing Wartime Nutritional Meals)

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年2月6日
はたらく女性（７）
戦う栄養食の設計へ
”無報酬”で汗する牧山さん

家庭婦人も戦力増強へーを合言葉に大日本婦人会では全国的に総蹶起運動を展開しているが、小泉厚相も述べる如く『家庭婦人はなるべく家庭で戦力増強の生産に参加する』というにある。

従来のように鼻緒造りとか紙袋貼り或は金属回収の勤労奉仕作業を一段と飛躍、直接家々において戦時物資の生産に挺身する事となった。

すでに内地では軍用叺織又は発動機固定子のコイル巻を家庭に持込んで製造したり兵器包装用箱の蝶番が隣組の日婦会員の奉仕で交替に組合わされている。

家庭も戦場、今こそ半島六百万日婦会員は戦時生活へ徹するの秋だ。府内鐘路区瑞麟町日婦朝鮮本部戦時生活部では家庭婦人の『衣、食、住』一切を挙げてお国へ捧げる為の新しい指導がなされんとしている戦時生活指導者の一人牧山多恵女史（３１）の姿が大きく浮び上る。

牧山さんは人も知る貴族院議員、李家軫鎬氏の長女である。

日婦総蹶起運動の始まる昨年十月志願して日婦朝鮮本部に入り、『給料など要りません。半島婦人に戦時意識を吹っ込むことが出来れば私の希望の全部なのです。永い間の私の希望を叶えさせてください』

全身熱情にしての請が入れられ牧山さんは就職した。あれから三ヶ月目覚しい半島婦人の進出ぶりだ。「私は『住』の部を任せられて専ら婦人の生活改善の設計に当っていますが、他人様を指導するなどとは以てのほかで日々の仕事を通じ私自身大きな反省と新しい進路が与えられます事は望外の歓びです」

半島婦人の立遅れかちの時局認識をどうして水準に引上げるべきかについて献身的な努力を希うのみです。勉強はこれからですと牧山さんは謙譲な態度で語る。言葉より実践だと深い決意が少い言葉の裏に鋭く秘められている。

第一高女を卒えて間もなく家庭生活に入るとこの十年間は婦人会員として各種行事に奉仕したが、支那事変から大東亜戦争と戦局は大きく転換し銃後婦人の務めは益々繁忙且つ重要性を増して来た。

『これではいけない。個人を守っていたのでは進歩がない。半島婦人大衆に呼び懸けなくては．．．』と牧山さんは居ても立ってもいられなくなった。幸い家庭には六歳になる女児の婦美ちゃん只一人という身軽さから昨年秋日日婦入りを決意した。夫君はもとより厳父李家氏も感激の瞳をしばたたいて激励した。半島志願兵制度の施行、学徒出陣と目まぐるしい転換が行われた。半島婦人は今こそ総蹶起すべき秋は来た。日の丸の旗を打振りつつ眼に涙さえ浮べず毅然として我が子を戦いの庭に見送る幾多の半島婦人の姿を目のあたりにして牧山さんの努力に一段の拍車が掛けられた。

『何故戦時生活はかく切り詰めなければならないかーこの何故に答える為に私は日々を闘っています。殊に半島農村婦人の衣食住の切り替えについてたたかいます。これが十年間の私の夢であり、これが実現をみることが畢生の望みです』と牧山さんは明るく微笑んだ。

【写真＝戦時栄養食を作る牧山女史】

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive

See also: Niece of Korean collaborator nobleman Yoon Deok-yeong (윤덕영, 尹徳栄) was featured in 1939 article declaring ‘I really want to marry a Japanese man’ and adopting the Japanese surname ‘Izu’ to improve her marriage prospects (link)

Nazi Germany donated copies of Mein Kampf to Seoul Imperial University in 1941 to teach Korean students “the great path of building a New World Order”

This February 1941 Keijō Nippo article documents something that is rarely discussed in the history of colonial-era Korea: the active, state-level transfer of Nazi German ideological materials into the university system in Seoul.

Professor Hupper overseeing the donation of Nazi German books at Seoul Imperial University.

According to the report, more than seventy German books were formally donated to Keijō (Seoul) Imperial University, including Mein Kampf, with explicit emphasis on its value for teaching students how Germany “fought, and how it achieved victory,” and for guiding Imperial Japan's youth along the path of constructing a “New World Order.” The article frames the donation as a deliberate effort to unite Japan and Germany not only politically, but spiritually and ideologically, through education.

The donation was overseen by Eugen Ott, Germany’s ambassador to Imperial Japan at the time, and Professor Hupper at Seoul Imperial University. Within a year, Ott would be dismissed from his post after his close associate Richard Sorge was exposed as a Soviet spy. Professor Hupper would later be featured in a December 12, 1941 article praising Imperial Japan's declaration of war against the United States.

What makes this article significant is not merely the presence of German books, but the explicit endorsement of Mein Kampf as instructional material for educating college students. This is rare evidence that Nazi ideological influence did reach Korean universities during the colonial period, mediated through Japanese imperial institutions and justified as part of the "New World Order" envisioned by the Axis powers.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippo), February 25, 1941

From Germany to Keijō (Seoul) Imperial University
Gift of Books in the Spirit of Friendship
More Than Seventy Volumes Arrive in the First Shipment

As a profound token of friendship from Germany, an allied nation, more than seventy newly published scholarly books have recently been presented to the preparatory division of Keijō (Seoul) Imperial University. The donation was conveyed by German Ambassador Ott to Japan, through Professor Hupper.

From the time of its founding, the university’s preparatory division has made German a core subject, instilling in its students the robustness of the German spirit. Deeply impressed by this, Ambassador Ott reported the matter to his home country. In Germany as well, voices arose among the people to the effect that the sincere scholarly dedication of these young students should not merely bind the two nations through international relations, but should unite them spiritually as well. As a result, the books were sent directly to the preparatory division in the name of the German state.

Going forward, it has been decided that new books will be presented twice each year, with more than ten volumes donated on each occasion. The preparatory division is currently considering how it might appropriately reciprocate this friendship that transcends national boundaries.

The donated books are housed in the preparatory division’s affiliated library and are freely available for students to read. They have become daily companions, a source of personal cultivation, and indispensable materials for the study of the German language. The more than seventy donated volumes may be broadly classified as follows: nineteen on literature, sixteen on art, seventeen on history, and numerous other valuable works on politics, architecture, industry, and related fields. All are excellent resources for understanding conditions in Germany.

Among them, Hitler’s Autobiography stands out in particular. Through the greatness of Hitler himself, it vividly portrays “how Germany fought, and how it achieved victory,” clearly expounding the nation’s powers of leadership and guidance. Under the new system, it points the way for Japanese youth to walk the great path of building a new world order together.

For the past three years, Ambassador Ott has also personally funded annual awards recognizing excellence in German language studies at the preparatory division, presenting commemorative books as prizes through the German Consulate General in Dalian, Manchukuo. The number of recipients has already reached ten as of this year.

Professor Hupper, who served as the intermediary for the present donation, commented as follows [Photo: Donated books]:

“I would be delighted if this occasion encourages even greater enthusiasm for the study of the German language in the future. For understanding Germany, and for understanding Germany’s traditional spirit as well, it has long been hoped that our two nations, which share similar historical circumstances, would become ever more closely bound in the cultural sphere in this way. From now on as well, books will continue to be sent from Germany, permanently, as serious research materials for young students.”

[Transcription]

京城日報 1941年2月25日

独逸から城大へ
友愛の贈書
初回分七十余冊着く

盟邦ドイツから深き友愛の証しとして学術による新刊書籍七十余冊が、この程オットー駐日ドイツ大使より、フッパー講師の手を通じて城大予科に贈られて来た。これは開校当時からドイツ語を正科としてドイツ精神の逞しさを学生に吹き込んでいた城大予科に感激したオットー大使がこれを本国に報告。ドイツでもまたこれら若人の真摯な研究心は両国の親善を単に国際的に結びつけるものではなく、精神的にも合一すべきである―との国民の声が大きくなって、ドイツ国の名において直接城大予科に贈られて来たものであるが、今後毎年二回、その都度十余冊の新刊書籍を贈呈されて来ることになっており、城大予科ではこの民族を超越した友誼に対して何らか報いる方法はないものかと考慮中である。

贈書は予科附属図書館に保管されて学生達の自由閲覧を許され、日々の好き伴侶ともなり、修養の糧ともなって、独逸語研究には、なくてはならないものとなっている。寄贈の書籍七十余冊を大別すれば、文学に関するもの十九冊、美術十六冊、歴史十七冊、その他政治、建築、工業等に関する貴重な文献多数であるが、何れも独逸の国情を知る好個の資料ばかりであり、中でも”ヒトラー自伝”はヒトラーそのものの偉大さを通じて”ドイツは如何に戦い、如何に勝利を得たか―”を克明に描いて、独逸国民の統率ぶりを明らかに説き、新体制下、日本青年に同じ世界新秩序建設の大道を歩むべきを先達している。

オットー大使は三年前から毎年城大予科の独逸語優秀性に自費を割いて満州国大連独逸総領事を通じ賞品として記念の書籍を贈っていたものであるが、この受賞者は今年で既に十人を算えている。贈呈の仲立ちを引受けたフッパー講師は語る【写真＝贈られた書籍】

"これを機会に将来独逸語の研究が熾んになれば結構です。独逸を知る上に、また独逸の伝統的精神を知る上にも、同じ歴史国情を持つ両国が、こうして更に文化的な方面から、年達に結びついて行くことは、ながい間希望せられていたものなのですからー。これからも永久に青年学徒の真剣な研究資料として独逸から贈られて来ることになっています"

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive

Nazi German community in Seoul December 1941 celebrating Imperial Japan’s declaration of war

At the beginning of the Pacific War in December 1941, there was apparently a small community of German residents working and living in Seoul, many with Nazi ideological leanings as demonstrated in this photo and article. Here are the four German residents featured in this article:

• Mrs. Weske and her child (featured in the accompanying photo with a Nazi flag)
• Mr. Budewell (44 years old), missionary
• Mr. Hupper (36 years old), lecturer at Keijo Imperial University
• Mrs. Rita Buchwald (30 years old), married to deceased Dr. Jeon 

One interesting note is that Mrs. Rita Buchwald was married to a deceased Korean medical doctor by the name of Dr. Jeon. He is described by Mrs. Buchwald as "Japanese (日本人)", but that was not unusual in those times. To clarify that the "Japanese" person was ethnic Korean, she would have probably used the word 半島人 (literally, "peninsular person") or 朝鮮人 (literally, "Joseon person"). Unfortunately, the two Hanja of his first name are smudged and too hard to read on the scanned newspaper articles.

Another interesting observation is that Dr. Jeon and Mrs. Buchwald lived at 84 Gwanhun-dong in Jongno District, only a few house numbers away from the Lim family (address 90 Gwanhun-dong), which was prominently featured in a December 10, 1943 article proudly sending their son to be enlisted in the Imperial Army. 

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) December 12, 1941

Emotion of Axis Nationals in Residence
Victory Already Certain
German Lady Ms. Weske Speaks

Living by the spirit of the Japan–Germany Axis—hands clasped firmly together—she has, under the skies of a foreign land, devoted herself to praying for the growth of her homeland Germany and wishing for the prosperity of Japan. When this reporter visited the home of the German lady Mrs. Weske at 70 Tongui-dong, Seoul, and brought her the joyful news of the Tripartite Pact between Japan, Germany, and Italy, Mrs. Weske was beside herself with delight, almost leaping for joy. Her blue eyes, shining behind her spectacles, burned with hope as she spoke animatedly. Though her Japanese was not fluent and could not fully carry her feelings, she expressed a joy too great to contain.

“Ever since before, I had wished for just such a deep and firm agreement. For someone like myself who lives in Japan, it brings a very real sense of certainty. And so long as I am German, this feeling is one that runs through the entire German people, a shared national feeling. When Japan and Germany, together with Italy, unite their young and surging energies, it seems to me inevitable that true peace will be brought to the world. The results Japan has achieved in the Pacific this time strike me as the victory of precisely that youthful spiritual power which must bring about such inevitability. I felt I understood this with complete clarity, more than anything else. It is curious, is it not? Just hearing that the pact has been concluded makes the people around one feel suddenly closer, as though they were compatriots.”

[Photograph: Mrs. Weske speaking emotionally together with her beloved child]

Now Comes the Final Hammer Blow
The Fiery Spirit of Professor Hupper of Keijo Imperial University

At a residence in 1-1 Yeonji-dong, Seoul, the German missionary Mr. Budewell (44), together with Mr. Hupper (36), a lecturer in the preparatory division of Keijo Imperial University, with whom he had been anxiously sharing concern for their homeland, spoke with mingled joy and deep emotion upon hearing the news that Germany, honoring its bond of trust with its ally Japan, had joined hands with Italy and firmly pledged itself to attack the U.S. and Britain.

“At last, it has been done. That is exactly how it should be. Anything else would be a lie. How could Germany possibly remain silent when our ally Japan has struck the U.S. and Britain with the hammer blow? The Nazi spirit would never permit it. From this point on, even if it means dying together, the peoples of Japan, Germany, and Italy must unite as one and fight through to the complete destruction of the U.S. and Britain. At that point, all the boasting of the U.S. and Britain will amount to nothing more than fragments of delusion. The Japanese Navy’s command of the Pacific on this occasion is the clearest possible proof. Let us raise a cheer for the brave officers and men of Japan and for the glorious German Army—banzai!”

Praying for Unending Military Fortune
Remarks by Mrs. Rita, Widow of the Late Medical Doctor Jeon

Raising the rallying cry of annihilating the enemies of humanity, Britain and America, in order to build a new world order, Germany and Italy, our allied powers, have finally risen to action. On the eleventh, the day of this robust advance, a German resident of Seoul, Mrs. Rita Buchwald (30), born in Berlin and widow of the late Dr. Jeon [illegible first name](전, 全) , a medical doctor, living at 84 Gwanhun-dong, spoke with emotion, her emerald-colored eyes shining, as she expressed gratitude for the great victories of our Imperial forces and took heart from Germany’s declaration of war against the United States.

“Following your country’s lead, my Germany and Italy have also declared war on the United States. I had been so restless, waiting and waiting for my homeland Germany to follow Japan and declare war on America. Now I feel relieved. Since strong Japan will strike down Britain and America, Germany’s victory is already clear. Japan and Germany together will fight bravely to build the happiness of a new world. I am the wife of a Japanese man. I take the greatest pride imaginable in having become the wife of a fine Japanese man. The joy of my homeland Germany joining hands with Japan to strike the U.S. and Britain is beyond words. I pray for the everlasting fortune of the Imperial forces.”

[Transcription]

京城日報 1941年12月12日

在留枢軸人の感激
勝利は既に確実
ドイツ系夫人ウさん語る

はっしと手を握り合った日獨枢軸の精神に生きて異国の空にひたすら故国ドイツの生長を祈り日本の繁栄を希っているドイツ系夫人ウヰスケーさんを京城通義町七〇の自宅に訪い日獨伊三国協定の快報を齎せば雀躍せんばかりに喜んだウヰスケーさんは眼鏡の底の碧眼を燃え出る希望に輝かしながら派手に語り得ない日本語をもどかし気に包み切れない喜びを語った。

『以前からそうした底深い協定が欲しいと思っていました。それは私のように日本に生活している者にとっては確固とした一つの実感でそしてこの実感は私がドイツ人である限り全ドイツに通じる民族の実感でありましょう。日本とドイツとそしてイタリー、この三国が若い沸り上る力を合せれば世界に真の平和を紊すことは必然だと私には想えます。日本がこの度放った太平洋での戦果はそうした必然をもたらすべき若き精神力の勝利だと私には想えるのです。そのことが私には何よりはっきりと判るのでした。不思議ですね。協定を結んだと聞いただけで周囲の人が同国人のようにぐっと近づいて感じられるのは』【写真＝愛児と共に感激を語るウ夫人】

今ぞ最後の鉄槌
城大フ教授の気焰

城内蓮池町一ノ一宣教師ドイツ人ブデウェル氏（四四）万で祖国を案じ合っていた城大予科講師フッパー氏（三六）は祖国ドイツが盟邦日本との信義を重んじてイタリーと手を執り、米英爆撃の約束を固めた報に喜びながら感激を交々に語る。

『とうとうやりましたな。それでよいのです。そうこなくちゃ嘘ですよ。盟邦日本が米英に鉄槌を下したのになんでドイツが黙っていられましょうか？ナチス魂が断じて許しません。この上は死なば諸共日獨伊の国民が一丸となって米英覆滅を期して戦い抜くことです。そこには米英の豪語も一片の囈言にすぎなくなるでしょう。今回の日本海軍の太平洋制圧こそは最も如実な証拠です。日本の勇敢なる将兵と栄あるドイツ軍のため万歳をやりましょうー』

祈る武運長久
故全医博夫人
リータさん談

世界新秩序建設のため人類の敵米英を抹殺せんの合言葉を翳して盟邦獨伊も遂に起った。この逞しき進発の十一日、わが皇軍の大いなる戦果に感謝し獨の対米宣戦布告に勇を鼓して戦う在城ドイツ人寛勲町八四医博故全[illegible]氏未亡人ベルリン生れリータ・ブクバウルド女史（三〇）はエメラルド色の瞳を輝かせて感激を語る。

『お国の後を追ってわがドイツとイタリーも対米戦を宣告しました。私は早く祖国ドイツが日本に従って対米宣戦をしないものかと気が気でなりませんでした。これでほっとしました。強い日本が米英をやっつけて呉れる以上はドイツの勝利は明かですわ。日本とドイツは共に新しい世界の幸福を建設するため勇ましく闘うのです。私は日本人の妻です。立派な日本人の妻となったことをこの上なく誇りとするのです。故国ドイツが日本と手をとって米英を撃つ喜びは何とも言えません。皇軍の武運長久を祈ります。』

Sources:

• National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive
• Internet Archive, Keijo Nippo December 12, 1941

Wartime rations often vanished amid corrupt neighborhood leadership, leading to so much public anger that Imperial officials pleaded, ‘let us avoid becoming emotional with one another’ (Feb. 1945)

In this post, we will look at the institution of the town council (町会) in the cities of wartime Korea under Imperial Japanese rule, and examine why it became a lightning rod for public anger in the 1940s. The document below is a roundtable discussion printed in the colonial government’s propaganda newspaper on February 1, 1945. It stages a conversation among women from a wide range of backgrounds—neighborhood cell (patriotic group) leaders, wives of company and government employees, a midwife, a shopkeeper—who all comment on the urban ration-distribution system.

What emerges is a picture of a rigid, top-down administrative hierarchy that shaped everyday life in wartime cities. Each neighborhood was broken down into patriotic groups of a few households; these groups were overseen by kumi (association) leaders responsible for hundreds of residents. Above them stood the town council of each dong, which held the power to appoint or dismiss local leaders. The concentration of authority at the top, the lack of electoral accountability, and the informal discretion exercised at the lower levels all created space for favoritism, intimidation, and the quiet disappearance or diversion of rationed goods.

The roundtable appears to give voice to public frustration, but its function becomes transparent at the end: the colonial authorities step in with the “official” conclusion, promising greater transparency, urging leaders to show ration ledgers upon request, and calling on residents to “avoid becoming emotional with one another.” The article closes with a separate announcement about turning private homes into small factories—a glimpse into how thoroughly civilian life had been militarized by early 1945, when the boundary between domestic space and wartime production had nearly vanished.

The illustration accompanying the article shows two women carrying a circular notice (廻覧板) that lists the rationing tickets for iriko (dried anchovies). The notice is titled “Iriko Rationing Tickets (イリコ配給券)” and specifies the allocations for each patriotic group: the first patriotic group receives 30 tickets, the second receives 25, and the third receives 28. At the bottom, the notice is signed by the OO Town Council (町会). A small child stands nearby, and above the child is a caption that reads: “Even when the rations are meager, we want them to be meager in an open, transparent way! (乏しくても明るい乏しさであって欲しい！)”

TLDR: A rigid, opaque ration system left Korean city residents at the mercy of corrupt and unaccountable neighborhood leaders and town councils, breeding widespread anger in 1940s wartime Korea.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippō), February 1, 1945

Circulating Boards Showing Town Council Ration Amounts
Fed Up with the Arrogance and Unhelpfulness of the Officials
Neighborhood Gossip Around the Water Well (5)

Matsuyama Chito (company employee’s wife):
As patriotic group members, our daily lives are inseparable from the town council, which supports us in many ways. But why are the council officials and staff so high-handed? It would be one thing if they were merely high-handed, but they are unhelpful on top of it.

Nakamura Fusae (government official’s wife):
It would be better if town council officials were elected by the residents.

Irie Koku (company employee’s wife):
The association leader who oversees the patriotic group that I know is a morally low and unpleasant person, and ration distribution is always muddled because of him. The town council never replaces him, and we are left dealing with the consequences.

Takenaka Sachiko (wife of a ration shop owner):
An association leader is responsible for guiding hundreds of people, so that person ought to be someone of respectable character. And the association leader’s wife also needs to be someone who commands respect. In reality, the husband is out working, so it is the wife who ends up running things at home.

Asō Misaki (patriotic group leader):
The circular notices sent down from the town council are often difficult to understand and do not get through clearly to the patriotic group members, so sometimes we rewrite them in simpler form before circulating them.

Hirose Take (midwife):
And sometimes the circular notices arrive late, which causes trouble. The other day, during the water-supply stoppage, the notice came only after the stoppage period had ended.

Shirakawa Tomoko (factory worker’s wife):
Regarding rationing and the town council: there are times when items that the Seoul government has set at fixed quantities arrive in smaller amounts. Is there no better way to give us clear information? For example, even though the soap ration is clearly determined by grade and household size, in practice the distributed amount is less. One gets the feeling that quantities disappear somewhere between the town council, the association leaders, and the patriotic group leaders. If the town council would announce to all patriotic group members how much was allocated to each association and each patriotic group, we would not be left with unnecessary suspicions.

Umemura Masuyo (widow):
Even if the rations are meager, I would like them to be meager in an open, transparent way. As Ms. Shirakawa said, I would like the town council to attach a circular notice clearly indicating the ration amounts each time there is rationing. When the system is vague as to how much was rationed, items easily get diverted sideways. Clear disclosure would prevent that, and I very much want it implemented.

All:
Yes, we truly want that.

Asō Misaki (patriotic group leader):
The town council must become our town council. For that, the town council needs to get rid of its bureaucratic attitude so residents and officials can be on friendly terms. When the town council office is busy, patriotic group members can go help. I often hear people criticize patriotic group leaders, but our duties are actually quite demanding. We do not interact directly with the town council very often, but we constantly mediate between the association leader and the patriotic group members, which can be discouraging. With rationed goods, for example, the distribution coupons for one-time-only items coming from the Seoul government or the department store are given to us by the association leader. But we do not know how much the association leader received or how the coupons are divided among the patriotic groups. So when the ration seems small and the patriotic group members blame us, we do not know what to say.

Kataoka Yoshiko (company employee’s wife):
In some town councils, they circulate a distribution ledger showing exactly how much the town council received and how it was allotted to each association and each patriotic group. There is no trouble over rations in those town councils and patriotic groups, and their mood is bright. I envy them.

Hirose Take (midwife):
I truly envy that. In our town council, if you dare go ask about ration amounts, you get yelled at. To avoid further trouble, we just swallow our complaints.

Irie Koku (company employee’s wife):
We will all end up complaining endlessly at this rate. Enough talk about town councils. We housewives want to contribute more to the war effort. Is there any work we can do from home?

Matsumura Fumiko (company employee’s wife):
At our place, we sew buttons on military uniforms…

Irie Koku:
Where should we apply for that kind of work?

Asō Misaki (patriotic group leader):
The Patriotic Women’s Association should be able to arrange it. If housewives could do even an hour a day of work at home, it would add up to a substantial amount of national labor power.

Nakajima Nobuko (wife of a general-merchandise shop owner):
It would be good if the Patriotic Women’s Association took a more proactive role.

Umemura Masuyo (widow):
Indeed. We housewives understand very well that we must fully live out the wartime life. These days our own children remind us of it. Rather than moral exhortations, we need clear, practical guidance on concrete ways to contribute. =End=

Response from the Authorities:
Let us avoid becoming emotional with one another

◇ There seems to be a concern about the disclosure of ration quantities by the town councils. To establish an open rationing system, we have instructed town councils to make the allocated quantities to the town councils, associations, and patriotic groups known to all residents. Any town council or association leader not doing so should implement this immediately.

If a patriotic group member is not satisfied with the ration quantities from his patriotic group leader and association leader and requests to inspect the distribution ledger kept by the town council, both sides must avoid becoming emotional. The town council, the association leader, and patriotic group leader should willingly present the distribution ledger and make every effort to inform residents about rationing details.

It is said that town council officials act in an overly bureaucratic manner. That may be true in some cases, and when things are busy, their choice of spoken words may indeed become rough. Even so, we ask that everyone interact with one another with the awareness that we are all residents of the same town. (Town Council Section, Seoul City Government)

Household-Factory Program to Begin Soon

◇ The enthusiasm among housewives for labor service is truly welcome. Until now, home-based work was voluntary, but from now on, the plan is to mobilize all households across Seoul for labor, turning homes into small factories. Implementation is scheduled soon, and when the time comes, we hope everyone will participate energetically. (Patriotic Women’s Association, Seoul City Branch)

[Transcription]

京城日報 1945年2月1日

町会配給量の回覧板を
役員の横柄と不親切には閉口
紙上井戸端会議（５）

松山チト（会社員夫人）：愛国班員の生活が町会を離れては考えられない位何かと町会にお世話になりますが、どうして町会役員や職員の方達はあんなに横柄なんでしょう。横柄だけならよいんですが、おまけに不親切で。

中村房江（官吏夫人）：町会の役員はその町民の選挙制にでもしていただけたらよいんですがね。

入江コク（会社員夫人）：私の知っている班ではその所属する組長が私的にも道徳的にも下劣な人物で配給ものにもいつもゴタゴタしていますが町会では人を代えてくれないので困ります。

竹中幸子（配給店主婦）：組長といえば何百人という人の指導に当る方ですから人格的にも尊敬出来る人であって欲しいと思います。そして組長の夫人も尊敬出来る立派な人でないと困ります。実際問題としては主人は外で働くのでその夫人が切盛りするのですから。

麻生ミサキ（愛国班長）：町会から廻ってくる回覧板は難解で班員に徹底しないことが往々あり、私どもでは安易に書き替えて回覧するときもあります。

広瀬タケ（産婆）：それに回覧板がおくれることがあって困ります。この間も水道の断水の時、断水期間が終ってから通知して来ました。

白川友子（工員夫人）：配給と町会ですが、府庁で数量が一定された品物を尠く配給してくることがあります。こんなのもう少しどうにか私達にもはっきりするような方法はないものでしょうか。たとえば石鹸の配給にしても等級と人員数ではっきりしている数量を実際はそれ以下の数量で配給するのです。どうも町会から班員にくるまでの間に消えるような気がして、これなども町会から組長に、組長から班長に廻した数量など町会から一般班員に告知して頂ければ、いたずらな猜疑心を生せずにすみますね。

楳村増代（未亡人）：乏しくてもそれが明るい乏しさであって欲しいと思います。その意味です。白川さんのいわれたように町会配給品は配給のある毎に町会から配給数量を明示した回覧板を添えて頂きたいと思います。どれ位配給したかが曖昧な制度では横に流れ易くなりますし、それを防止する意味からも是非実行して頂きたいのです。

一同：本当にそうして頂きたいのです。

麻生ミサキ（愛国班長）：町会が私達の町会であるということにならなければいけませんね。その点町会役員と町民が親しみ合うためには町会のお役所風を一掃して頂き、また町会事務の忙しいときは班員がお手伝いに行くという風にしてゆきたいと思います。よく班長が悪い、と聞きますが、班長の仕事もこれで仲仲急がしいものです。直接町会とは余り接触はありませんが、組長と班員の間に入って随分情けないときもあります。配給ものでも府庁百貨店などから来る単発の物資購入券など組長さんから割当を戴くので、どの位組に来て、どういう風に各班に割当てるのか解らず、配給が少ないといって班員からせめられるときは、どうしていいかわからなくなります。

片岡よし子（会社員夫人）：町会によっては配給品が町会にどれ程来て各組、各班にどういう割当をしたか一目瞭然に判る配給表みたいなものを廻している所がありますが、そこの班や町内は配給にからんだいざこざは一つもなくても明るくて羨ましいです。

広瀬タケ（産婆）：それは本当に羨ましいですね。うちの町会では配給品に関して町会へ問い合わせに行こうものなら怒鳴り散らされますし、あとが面倒なので泣き寝入りです。

入江コク（会社員夫人）：どうも不平になりそうですわね。町会のことはこれ位にして、私達主婦ももっと戦争のお役に立ちたいと思いますが、家庭で出来るお仕事はないでしょうか。

松村史子（会社員夫人）：私どもの所では軍服のボタンつけをしていますが．．．

入江コク（会社員夫人）：どこへ申し込んだらよいのでしょうか。

麻生ミサキ（愛国班長）：婦人会で斡旋してくれるのではないでしょうか。主婦が一日一時間でも何か家庭内でお手伝いの出来る仕事が出来たら全体では随分大きな戦力になるのではないでしょうか。

中島信子（雑貨店主婦）：婦人会の方がもっと積極的に働きかけて下さるといいのですね。

楳村増代（未亡人）：本当ですわね。私達主婦も戦時生活に徹し切らねばならぬことはよく知っています。最近は子供たちに教育されている位ですから、精神的指導より、もっと直接のためになる具体的な指導が望ましいと思います。＝終り＝

当局の答：お互いが感情的になるまい

◇町会配給の数量明示が問題になっているようですが、明るい配給生活を確立するため、町会、組、班に割り当てられた数量は一般町民にも知らせるよう指導している。若しそういう方法をとってない町会や組長は即時実施して頂きたい。

配給数量に納得がゆかず組班長なり、町会の配給台帳の閲覧を班員が乞う場合は、お互いが感情的にならぬようにして、町会も組、班長も心よく提示するよう、配給内容に努めて町民に知らせるようにしている。

町会役職員がお役所風を吹かすといわれているが、一部にはあるかも知れぬし、また忙しいような時はつい言葉遣いが乱暴になり勝ちになるかも知れぬが、お互いに同じ町民だという気持で接して頂きたい（京城府庁町会係）

近く家庭工場化実施

◇何か勤労をという主婦の傾向は洵に喜ばしいことで、従来家庭内の勤労は希望者のみがやって来たが、今後は全府内の家庭人総勤労を実施し、家庭の工場化を図り、近く実施するとなっていますから、そのときは皆さんにも張り切って頑張って頂きます（大日本婦人会京城府支部）

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive 

Inside the 1943 Seoul Crackdown on Western ‘Demonic Music’: Imperial Japan’s Campaign to Purge American and British Records, From Hawaiian Jazz to Dvořák, and Confiscate "Unhealthy or Unsuitable" Japanese and Korean Music Records in all of Korea

This article from 1943 offers a rare glimpse into one aspect of the severe censorship regime that Imperial Japan imposed on all its domains, including Korea. Here, we visit a coffeehouse in front of Seoul Station, where the owner is busy getting rid of American and British music records. Apparently, any music from American or British composers was now forbidden. That meant that Stephen Foster's folk music needed to go. Dvořák's music was also deemed unacceptable, because even though his nationality was Czech, he was considered to have strong ties to the U.S., especially since he wrote the New World Symphony there. On the other hand, music from composers of the Axis nations of Germany and Italy were considered acceptable. 

Original caption: Mr. Kawamoto donating hostile-nation records.

Throughout 1943, the newspaper issues featured brief, periodic announcements of music record confiscations. Here, I am showing you one representative notice from May 1943 that features the confiscation of American and British music records as well as "inappropriate" Japanese and Korean-language music records. We can see here that the neighborhood cell (Patriotic Group) leaders were tasked with inspecting and gathering the banned music records from all the households under their jurisdiction and submitting them to the League of Mobilization at the town (eup) level for disposal and recycling. The League of Mobilization was the one and only political party of Colonial Korea that had a hierarchical structure that extended down to the neighborhood cell level to exert oppressive, totalitarian control over the Korean people.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippo) March 20, 1943

Over One Hundred Selected Records
The First Spear in Sweeping Away American and British Music
Mr. Kawamoto Immediately Goes to the Military Government Office

Chief Dōmoto of the Information Section recently made a forceful statement: “Now is the time to drive out from our homes and our streets the American- and British-made jazz and demonic music that whip up the noise of the city and drive madness into the very marrow of people’s brains!” The web of ideological subversion that spreads through cultural channels cannot be cut in a single day. The harmful influence of American- and British-style records is one such danger.

Rising to the call, declaring “We must eradicate this demonic music without fail…,” is Mr. Kawamoto Ishi"iwa (age 39), owner of Seoul Café in front of Seoul Station, known as a “Western-music coffeehouse.” On March 19th, the very day of Chief Dōmoto’s statement, he immediately went to the shelves holding the numerous Western-music records stored in his shop and selected over one hundred American- and British-type records, including parts of The Foster Collection, Dvořák’s New World Symphony, Hawaiian Jazz, and World Folk Songs, and decided to proceed with the donation process through the Military Government Office. On March 19th, Mr. Kawamoto spoke:

“As you can see, I have collected Western-music records extensively as a hobby, so there are many. Even sorting out the American and British records will take several days. But I also have many works by musical saints of the Axis nations, like Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and Italy’s Verdi, so there is no shortage of wholesome entertainment. At this opportunity, I intend to sweep out all American and British records entirely and donate the whole lot.”

[Photo: Mr. Kawamoto donating hostile-nation records]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippo) May 16, 1943

Collection of Hostile-Nation Records

[Miryang] In the town (eup), in order to heighten hostility toward the enemy and strengthen the movement to reject enemy nations under the wartime system, it has been announced that all records from enemy nations, America and Britain, will be collected. This includes Japanese-language and Korean-language records whose musical content is deemed unhealthy or unsuitable for performance in the present circumstances. The goal is to sweep them all away and elevate the people’s fighting spirit toward certain victory, urging each member of the League of Mobilization to voluntarily contribute such materials.

The notice provides:

▲ Patriotic Group Leaders are to survey in advance the American- and British-made records possessed by each member of their group.

▲ Patriotic Group Leaders are to gather the records submitted by each member and bring them collectively to the Town (eup) League.

▲ Care must be taken not to damage records that fall under the contribution requirement. In view of material shortages at this time, used records are also to be thoroughly collected as part of resource recovery.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1943年3月20日

選りだした音盤百余枚
米英音楽一掃へ一番槍
河本さん早速武官府へ

巷の喧噪に拍車をかけ脳髄のシンまで狂わせる米英製ジャズや鬼畜音楽を今こそ家庭から街から駆逐せよーとの堂本情報課長の談話は大きく響いた。文化面を通じこの思想謀略の網は一朝にして断ち切れない。米英的レコードの害毒もその一つ。『鬼畜音楽を断じて絶滅しよう．．．』と立ち上ったのは『洋楽の喫茶店』でしられた京城駅前京城茶房主人河本石岩さん（３９）で、課長談話のあった十九日、早速店内に積まれた夥だしい洋楽レコードの棚から『フォスター選集』『ドボルザーク新世界』『ハワイアンジャズ』『世界民謡集』の一部などの米英的レコード百余枚を取出し武官府を通じて献納手続きをとることとなった。十九日河本さんは語る。

御覧のように洋楽レコード専門に趣味的に集めてあるため数も多く米英レコードを選り出すにも数日かかる有様です。しかしベートーベンやモーツァルト、バッハ或は伊太利のベルデ―など枢軸国楽聖のも多数あるので、健全娯楽にはことを欠きません。米英レコードはこの際一掃して全部を献納しようと思います。【写真＝敵性レコード献納の河本さん】

京城日報 1943年5月16日

敵性音盤回収

【密陽】邑では決戦体制下敵愾心昂揚と敵国排撃の運動強化を図り、この際敵国米英の音楽内容不健全にして時局柄演奏不適と認める国語盤及び朝鮮語盤も一掃し国民必勝の士気を昂揚せんと各聯盟員の自発的供出促進を促し回収方を通告した。

▲愛国班長をして各班員の所持せる米英のレコードを予め調査せしめる。

▲愛国班長をして各班員の供出せるレコードを取纏め邑聯盟へ持参せしめる。

▲供出該当レコードを破損せしめざぬ様注意する、なお資材不足の折柄資回収の意味において中古品レコードも併せて供出方徹底せしめる。

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive 

See also:

• Not content with merely banning U.S. and British jazz music, colonial authorities forced cafes, bars, and restaurants to throw out all phonograph records, and replaced the in-store background music with Imperial Japanese military songs and news propaganda blaring on the radio (Jongno, Seoul, 1943) (link)

• In 1944, Imperial Japan launched an “all-out campaign” to erase Hangul from public life, mobilizing teachers and Korean youth to destroy Korean signs, books, and even phonograph records (link)