Korean schoolgirls in 1943 mending military uniforms almost nonstop with minimal breaks from 8:30a to 4p as Imperial Japanese soldiers loom over watching

 

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) July 19, 1943

A heart of sincerity in every stitch

Repairing military uniforms at Gyeseong Academy

In their fiery training, the military maidens sewed damaged military uniforms with sincerity in every stitch. Under the guidance of Principal Sanshū and teachers Aikawa and Minami, fifty students from the Home Economics department and the Research department of Seoul Gyeseong Women's Academy have been working from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the school's workshop since July 18th mending piles of military uniforms. The maidens, sparing little time to eat, were covered in holy dust, and their needle points pulsed with gratitude saying 'thank you soldiers!' as they carefully applied cloth to the tears that told of the hidden military accomplishments of the soldiers. The hands that held the needles and the feet that operated the sewing machines were also filled with energy. The soldiers who came to instruct them were also grateful for the enthusiasm with which they made progress on the first day. This mending service will continue until the end of the 21st, sacrificing two days of summer vacation. Photo: Repairing military uniforms at Gyeseong Academy.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) March 13, 1943

Mending military uniforms

"Let's give thanks to the soldiers who protect our country," said the courageous maidens, expressing their gratitude on the home front and dedicating themselves in sweat to their labor service, their gratitude wrapped in pure white work clothes. "When it comes to mending military clothes, we can handle it", insisted the maidens. Here at Baewha Girls' High School, under the guidance of sewing instructors Shimizu and Yoshihiro, they have been at work since March 10th meticulously repairing the military uniforms that have been in the line of fire. Without a second thought, and with sincere gratitude, they are sewing up the tears and reattaching the buttons to give new life to complete military uniforms. The girls said, "When we think of the soldiers who wear these military uniforms that we mended going to the front lines, our hearts dance and our fingertips tremble with joy as we hold our needles." (Photo: Maidens mending military uniforms)

Source 1: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-07-19 

Source 2: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-03-13

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年7月19日

一針にも赤心

啓星女学院の軍衣修繕

一針一針に誠をこめて、火の出るような訓練に、いたんだ軍服縫い込む軍国乙女たち。京城啓星女学院家政科、研究科生五十名は三州校長、相川、南両先生指導の下に十八日から同学院作業場で朝八時半から午後四時迄山と積まれた軍服の繕い作業に奉仕。食事を摂る時間も惜しんで聖塵にまみれ、秘めた武勲を物語る破れ目に丁寧に布を当てて縫いつける乙女達の針先には”兵隊さん有難う”の感謝の念が脈動する。針持つ手、ミシン動かす足にも思わず力がこもる。指導に来た兵隊さんも初日の進捗振りの熱き心に感謝するのだった。この繕い奉仕作業は夏休みを二日食い込んで二十一日一杯まで続ける。【写真＝啓星校の軍服繕い】

京城日報　1943年3月13日

軍衣の繕い奉仕

”国を護る将兵に感謝の念を捧げましょう”と銃後の感謝を純白の作業衣に包んで勤労奉仕に汗する乙女達の姿は甲斐甲斐しい。ここ培花高女では”軍衣の修理ならわたしらにやらせて戴きます”と去る十日から清水、義弘両裁縫先生指導の下に火線を超えて来た軍衣の修理に細心の針を運んでいる。脇目もふらず、ひたすらに感謝の誠をこめて、破れを縫いつけたり、ボタンをつけなおしたりして、完全な軍衣に更生させて行く。”このつくろった軍衣が再び兵隊さん方に着られて第一線に征くのかと思うと、こうして針を運ぶ指先が踊る心にふるえます”と女生徒達は語るのであった。【写真＝軍衣繕う乙女たち】