Small community of ~100 Russian Tatars in Seoul featured in 1942-1944 propaganda articles: a young 19-year-old Tatar girl is praised for filling out immigration forms for her neighbors, a Tatar woman is commended for scolding her friends with red fingernails for wearing 'British-American' cosmetics

This is my translation and transcription of four news articles from Keijo Nippo, a propaganda newspaper and mouthpiece of the government of Japan-colonized Korea. These have never been republished or translated before, to the best of my knowledge.

The following articles, spanning the period from 1942 to 1944, are about a very tiny (~100 member) Russian Tatar community which existed in Seoul during World War II. The Russian Tatars were refugees from the Russian Revolution who fled persecution in Russia. Many of the Russian Tatar refugees who arrived in Imperial Japan settled in mainland Japan, most notably in Kobe where the first mosque in Japan was built in 1935 (Kobe Masjid), but a few also settled in places like Japan-colonized Manchuria and Korea. The community in Seoul apparently engaged in trading mostly in clothing and miscellaneous goods in the Honmachi area, which is now the area just south of Myeongdong Cathedral. In 1943, about a block away from present-day Seoul City Hall on Mugyo-ro, they built their own elementary school called the Nugman Academy, where their children could learn the Tatar language and culture, including Islamic doctrine. 

Imperial Japan had a very complicated policy towards Muslims, as shown in this excellent academic article, but to ordinary Koreans who knew nothing about this, it must have seemed very unfair that this small community was given special privileges not given to the Koreans, who made up 97% of the population of Korea but were largely not allowed to teach their children Korean language and culture in schools by the 1942-1944 period.

Sorry if I have butchered some of the transcriptions of the Russian Tatar names, since Japanese kana transcriptions of foreign names confuse l and r, b and v, s and sh, etc. To those readers who are more familiar with Russian Tatar names, please let me know if you can suggest any corrections.

Martiya, the 19-year-old Tatar girl who helped fill out immigration forms for her neighbors, belonged to a local cell of the Korean Federation of National Power (国民総力朝鮮連盟, 국민총력조선연맹), the single ruling party of Japan-colonized Korea. The local neighborhood cells were known as 愛国班 (aikoku-han or aeguk-ban), which roughly translates to 'patriotic organization'. Members of the cells would report each other for infractions, perhaps for breaking rules like speaking Korean in public. They would organize 'patriotic' activities like defacing effigies of Roosevelt and Churchill, and also distribute food rations and other assistance. Similar local cell organizations still exist in countries like Cuba and North Korea.

See also the Russian Tatar family in Busan featured in this 1942 article: https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2021/12/in-1942-busan-korean-pastors-and.html

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo　(Keijo Nippo) February 28, 1942 

Thanksgiving Dedication to Victorious Japan

Refined Turkic Tatar Daughter

The Central Cultural Association of the Turkic Tatar Nation in Seoul, whose members number more than one hundred and are definitely ethnic Asians despite differences in appearances, are united in their gratitude for living in Japan during the Greater East Asia War. The temporary travel control regulations for foreigners came into effect on December 10 of last year, and all foreigners residing in Seoul were required to submit a notification form in the new format all at once. More than one hundred Tatar city residents prepared to complete the form, but filling out a two-page application form for each person proved to be a difficult task for those who were not literate in Japanese.

The one who took on the task of filling out the forms on behalf of the Tatar residents was Martiya (19), the second daughter of Mr. Waliullah Ibrahim of the Noor Trading Company at 20 Honmachi 3-chōme, Seoul. Knowing the confusion of her compatriots, she said, "Please let me do it. It is the greatest joy to be allowed to live in Victorious Japan as a member of the Asian race, and it is my duty to protect the homefront as one of the Imperial people." Every night, she would diligently write on behalf of her compatriots, and she has completed nearly three hundred pages of forms without delay.

As a member of local patriotic organization living the 'neighborhood cell' spirit, Martiya's actions were highly praised by Mr. Shimada, chief of foreign affairs at the Honmachi Police Station, who accepted the documents. On February 27th, he recounted the following about Martiya's actions:

"Martiya is the second daughter of Mr. Waliullah Ibrahim, the vice president of the Tatar Cultural Association. She is a warm and kind girl who graduated from Naniwa High School in Fengtian (present-day Shenyang). She alone worked at home taking care of the paperwork of more than a hundred people from the same ethnic group as their representative when the regulations came into effect and foreigners had to file notifications. Her recognition of the current situation and her initiative in cooperating with the authorities is admirable." [Photo: Martiya, the subject of this beautiful story]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-02-28

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 9, 1943 

Japanese Language School

Established by Turkic people in Seoul

The Holy War to establish the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere continues with extreme intensity to the south and the north, and all Asians in the Co-prosperity Sphere rose up in the autumn to "stand with Japan". The Turkic Tatar group living in Seoul was grateful for the Imperial Army's struggle and wished to establish an educational institution for their own people to become a fully Asian people. On the Day of the Imperial Rescript on September 8th, a new private school, "Nugman Academy," was established to provide Japanese-style education. There are currently 72 Turkic Tatars in 21 households in Seoul, mainly centered in the Honmachi precinct, who are engaged in the clothing and ready-made goods trade. All of them came to Japan after the Russian Revolution and are spending their days living comfortably in Japan, but they have not been blessed with educational institutions. With the donation of 50,000 yen from Ms. Shamshinoor Nugmanov (45), who lives at 366 Sindang-dong in Seoul, a two-story building was purchased for 39,000 yen at 31 Mugyo-ro in Seoul, and the "Nugman Academy" was established. The founder, Mr. Kabdullah Hakimov (52), who lives at 3-28 Namdaemun Avenue in Seoul, applied for approval from the Seoul Provincial General. The school is to open at the beginning of October, and the first class of 20 boys and girls is to be admitted. The school is to emphasize the Japanese character of the school by teaching the Tatar language, Islamic doctrine, and National Education mainly in Japanese. [Photo: Ms. Shamshinoor Nugmanov]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-09-09

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 2, 1944

Consoling the Heroes in White with the Tatar Dance

The billion people of the Co-prosperity Sphere stood together in solidarity and vowed to unite as Asian peoples holding each other's hands. A group of Turkic Tatars living in Seoul could not contain their emotions: "Let us offer our sincere thanks to the heroes of the Imperial Army," said 12 lovely students of Nugman Elementary School in Mugyo-ro, Central District, whose school had recently opened. They will hold a performance to comfort the heroes in white at the Army Hospital on the occasion of the auspicious occasion of the Anniversary of the Founding of Japan. The 19th performance of the classical "Tatar Dance" by Saniya and three other children will be a flower bouquet of consolation filled with sincerity, and is expected to be applauded by the heroes. [Photo: Tatar Dance]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-02-02

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 20, 1944 

"No Red Fingernails!", scolded the Turkic woman

On February 11th, during the festival of the Founding of Japan, Erestan Tarpishov and 12 other lovely Turkic Tatar children from Nugman Elementary School in Mugyo-ro, Seoul held a performance to comfort the heroes in white, and they had a thrilling day. One of the ladies who accompanied the children, Salima, saw that many of her friends had painted their fingernails red. The comfort visit ended as Salima asked the young women, "What is the matter with you inappropriately showing red fingernails to the Japanese soldiers? Let's put a stop to all these British-American cosmetics..." This extraordinary act by Ms. Salima Battersen was brought to the attention of Mr. Masaoka, Director of Gyeonggi Provincial High School, who recently visited the provincial government office and praised her for her Japanese spirit. [Photo: Ms. Salima Battersen]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-02-20

(Transcription)

1942年2月28日　京城日報

”戦捷日本”へ捧げる感謝

床しいトルコ・タタールの娘さん

容貌こそ異なれ亜細亜民族に違いなく大東亜戦争下の日本に住まう有難さに結束して起つ在城トルコ・タタール民族中央文化協会に属する会員は百名からある。昨年十二月十日から外国人臨時旅行取締規則が施行されて京城在住の外国人は一斉に新様式の届け出を為すこととなったが、百名を超ゆる在城のタタール人居住者は夫々手続き準備を進めたものの、一人頭二枚宛の願書は文字を知らぬこれ等の人々にとって困難な仕事であった。

同胞の困惑を知って「私にさせて下さいな」と代書を一手に引き受けたのは京城本町三丁目二〇ヌル商会ワリウラ・イブラヒム氏次女マルチヤさん（一九）で『私共亜細亜人種として戦勝国日本に住まわせて戴くことは、この上ない喜びであり、国民の一人として銃後を守ることは当然の務めです』と毎夜代書に精出し三百枚近い同族間の届け出を滞りなく済ませたのであった。

”隣組精神”に生きぬく愛国班員としてマルチヤさんの行為は書類を受け付けた本町署島田外事主任も激賞しているが、二十七日マルチヤさんの人為を次の如く語った。

マルチヤさんはタタール文化協会副会長ワリウラ・イブラヒム氏の次女で奉天の浪花高女出身の温順で感心な娘さんです。規則施行に伴う外国人届け出に際し百人余りの同族間の書類を一人で引き受け自宅で代表役を勤めたのです。時局を認識して率先協力するマルチヤさんの行為は見上げたものです。【写真＝美談の主マルチヤさん】

1943年9月9日　京城日報

日本語学校

在城トルコ人設立

大東亜共栄圏確立の聖戦は南に北に極度の激烈さで続けられ、”日本と共に起て”と共栄圏の全亜細亜人は総起ちの秋、京城在住のトルコタタール人団体では皇軍の格闘に感謝すると共に、完全なる亜細亜人に成り切る為の同族間の教育機関設立を願望していたが、八日大詔奉戴日を期し日本的教育に新発足の私設学校『ヌグマン学院』の開設をみることとなった。本町署管内を中心に現在府内で洋服既製品商を営むトルコタタール人は二十一戸の七十二名があり、何れも帝政露西亜革命後日本に渡り安居楽業感謝の日を送っているが、教育機関に恵まれず現在に至ったが、府内新堂町三六六シャムシノール・ヌグマノフ女史（四五）の寄付金五万円をもって学校開設をみることとなり、府内武橋町三一に二階建て一棟を三万九千円で買受け、『ヌグマン学院』を開設することとなり、設立者府内南大門通り三ノ二八カブドラ・ハキモ氏（五二）は京城府尹に認可申請を行った。十月初旬開校をまって第一回男女二十名を入学せしめ日本語を主体にタタール語、マホメット教義その他国民教育一般を教育し、日本的性格を強調することとなった。【写真＝シャムシノール・ヌグマノフ女史】

1944年2月2日　京城日報

タタール踊りで

白衣勇士慰問

亜細亜人は亜細亜人の手でと、十億の共栄圏民族は団結の誓いも固く総蹶起した。府内に住むトルコタタール人の一団も感激の情抑え難く、『皇軍の勇士へ感謝の誠を捧げましょう』と新しく開設をみた中区武橋町ヌグマン小学院の可愛い生徒さん十二名は紀元の佳節を期して陸軍病院に白衣の勇士を慰問の演芸会を催します。サニヤ嬢ほか三名の古典舞踊”タタールの踊り”第十九種目は何れも児童の赤誠こもる慰問の花束で勇士にヤンヤの喝采が期待されます。【写真＝タタールの踊り】

1944年2月20日　京城日報

赤い爪は駄目

叱るトルコ娘

去る紀元節の十一日府内武橋町ヌグマン小学院の生徒エレスタン・タルピーショフ他十二名のトルコタタールの可愛い児童が白衣の勇士慰問の演芸会を催して感激の一日を送りました。そのとき付き添いの婦人の一人サリマさんは友人の多くが指の爪を赤く染めているのを見て『苟も日本の兵隊さんにお見せするのに赤い爪とは何事ですか。米英的な粉飾は一切止めましょう．．．』と若い娘さんの間を説いて廻って慰問を終えました。この奇特なサリマ・バテルセン嬢の行為は正岡京畿道高等課長の知るところとなり、この程道庁に出頭してその日本精神をいたく賞讃されました。【写真＝サリマ・バテルセン嬢】