This is another fascinating historical article that I stumbled upon during my visit to the National Library of Korea a few months ago. This piece is a PSA by the Imperial Japanese military authorities addressing the Korean people on August 23, 1945, just over a week after Imperial Japan's unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, which marked the end of World War II. This immediate 'lame duck' period after Imperial Japan's surrender was one of uncertainty and transition, as the regime awaited the arrival of Allied forces to assume control. It's worth noting that Soviet forces had already entered Korea by August 14th, but American forces did not arrive until September 8.
 |
| Ethnic Japanese residents of Seoul planting turnips in their urban garden. |
The regime's radio broadcast on August 18th, just 3 days after surrender, was full of bluster with defiant threats to take military action against protesters, but this PSA one week later seems jumbled and confused despite its best effort to put on a brave face, as if the regime is suddenly unsure of how to address the Korean people. Readers at the time would have surely picked up on this and noticed that something was off, that the regime was not its usual confident, optimistic self. Its string of denials, threats, and reassurances no longer sound so convincing, given the regime's diminished stature. The regime does its best to insist that it is still in charge of Korea, but even it has to acknowledge now that Korea is going to be independent soon. Its desperate denials about expropriations, repatriations, leaflets, and atrocities against ethnic Japanese people only seem to confirm the stark truth of those rumors.
To long-time Japanese readers of Keijo Nippo, reading this PSA would have been jarring and distressing. There are no longer calls to destroy the US and Britain, and there is even a sentence insisting that US and Soviet forces are "certainly not bandits". The admonition that "Koreans should deeply realize that Korea will not become independent through war actions" only reveals to readers that Koreans are still waging an armed uprising against the regime. Their stern warning not to listen to the Committees for the Preparation of Korean Independence (조선건국준비위원회) essentially gives these committees free publicity, telling the entire Korean nation about their existence and only accelerating their political rise. The colonial regime is rapidly unraveling and fading into irrelevance before their very eyes, and a new and unfamiliar reality is suddenly setting in.
I have also included two articles that were placed adjacent this PSA, as if to lighten the mood with some optimism. One article is about the reopening of movie theaters, as if the newspaper is encouraging Koreans to have fun watching movies instead of fighting colonialists. The other article is about ethnic Japanese in Seoul still defiantly planting their urban gardens, even though their repatriation to Japan is in the horizon.
[Translation]
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) August 23, 1945
Be prudent without any anxiety or hesitation!
The Korean Peninsula before the construction (of a new order)
Hearing from Colonel Gotō about the mindset of the people of Korea and Japan
Since August 15th, due to the sudden change in circumstances, there has been some disturbance among the Korean and Japanese people, which is gradually calming down due to strict punishment by the military authorities. The cause of the disturbance was a failure to accurately understand the current situation and being misled by mere rumors. The military authorities and the Governor-General's Office have declared that security is being maintained, and are requesting a calm and composed attitude from the Korean and Japanese people in handling the new situation. The current situation is such that combat operations have ceased in accordance with the Imperial Rescript, and everything will likely be handled smoothly and peacefully according to the formal and rational ceasefire agreement made with the Allied nations. Some people are under the impression that Korea is already able to have an independent government, but Korea is still under Japanese rule, and Japan's sovereignty remains unchanged. The issue of Korean independence will only come up after all negotiations concerning the Empire with the Allied nations are completed. Below, we will hear from Colonel Gotō of the Press Department of the Korean Military Administration about the current situation, and the mindset of the Korean and Japanese people in dealing with it.
Q: Various rumors are circulating, but what is the actual situation now?
A: According to the formal agreement between Japan and the USA, UK, USSR, and China in Manila, detailed agreements will be made for each place based on its local situation. All processes will be carried out based on these agreements.
Q: So Korea remains under Japanese rule until then?
A: Of course. Korea remains a part of Japan until the agreement is concluded, and it is a matter of course that Japan continues governing Korea. Hence, it is unacceptable for outsiders to interfere at this juncture. Some seem to think that Korea will become independent immediately and start governing from that day, which is a grave misunderstanding. Therefore, no orders should be issued by the Independence Preparatory Committees, and absolutely no one is to be involved with any of their social functions.
Q: However, it seems that some have played a part in expropriation mayhem.
A: The recent attempted expropriation incidents are nothing but banditry. There is neither the right nor basis for expropriations yet. Even among belligerent countries, personal properties are not to be touched. Even the US, at the start of the war, froze assets of Japanese residents but did not seize them. We have been abroad several times, and we cannot remember our personal property ever being seized. Of course, temporary occupation may be conducted for military purposes, but this does not apply to the situation in Korea.
Q: B-24 planes came and dropped leaflets the day before yesterday.
A: I do not think the content of the leaflets was particularly inappropriate. However, some of the wording used had a commanding tone, but they do not have the right to give us orders yet. Probably the translation was poor. We are not to take orders directly from them. We only take orders from His Majesty the Emperor. Therefore, they should negotiate with the Japanese government, and we will receive orders from our government.
Q: There were rumors of harm to mainland Japanese people.
A: That is an absurd story. Such perpetrators will be dealt with by the occupying forces, even if Japan does not take action. The world’s morality would not accept it. If such actions are taken, the situation will only become more complicated. The military exists to protect the lives and properties of civilians. There is a reason why the Imperial Rescript to endure the unbearable was issued. It is also the military's mission to strike down such disruptive elements.
Q: What should be the attitude of Korean people at this time?
A: Koreans should deeply realize that Korea will not become independent through war actions and that independence has not yet been established. Currently, there are only talks about granting independence to Korea, but nothing concrete has been decided yet. Therefore, this autumn is a very important time for the people of Korea. They must carefully consider what actions to take. To make an analogy, even opening a small shop cannot be done in just ten or twenty days. Similarly, Korea will require a considerable process and time until independence. Disruptive actions or confrontations with foreign countries during this crucial period of construction may lose the trust of the Allied forces and could even make independence impossible.
Q: Have military families been repatriated?
A: Do not joke about such matters. Not a single person has been repatriated. However, some families of deployed soldiers who had been living in officers' quarters for a long time have been returned home. This has to do with the intended purpose of the officers' quarters.
Q: What should be the mindset of mainland Japanese people?
A: If they understand the above situation, there should be no reason to panic. I think it is questionable to only think about hurriedly repatriating. It is unlikely that Korea will declare war on Japan as soon as it becomes independent. They should demonstrate the composure of citizens of a great nation. Otherwise, they will only be laughed at by the world. There are two main reasons for causing anxiety among mainland Japanese people. One is the rumor that Korean insurgents might harm Japanese people. However, as said earlier, both Japan and the Allied nations are paying utmost attention to maintaining security, so there is no need to worry. If such an unfortunate incident occurs, it will be dealt with severely, either by Japan or by the occupying forces. The other is the fear that the occupying forces might cause harm, but it is unlikely that they would commit violence in front of international monitors, especially after the ceasefire. The US and Soviet forces are certainly not bandits.
Reopening of Movie Theaters
Citywide Simultaneously from August 25th
The permanent movie theaters within Seoul, which had been closed since August 15th, will reopen all at once on August 25th. In mainland Japan too, thanks to the Imperial mandate, entertainment institutions such as movies, plays, and other performances will resume nationwide simultaneously from the 25th, contributing to the brightening of national life.
Since the issuance of the major conscription, the entertainment industry, including movies, theaters, and other performances, voluntarily suspended their shows as part of self-restraint by the operators. Regarding the reopening of these entertainment activities, the Ministry of the Interior has been actively guiding and nurturing the reconstruction of a healthy and bright national life, and had been preparing a concrete plan for the reopening date and procedure. After discussions with the Information Bureau and industry representatives, permission was granted to reopen these entertainment facilities from the 22nd. Instructions to this effect have been sent to all relevant parties nationwide. At the same time, the restriction on performance times has also been temporarily lifted, allowing for evening performances without issue.
Repatriation to Other Places
Sowing Seeds of Hope in One Tsubo Gardens
People are not hurriedly uprooting vegetables from their one-tsubo (about 3.3 square meters) gardens because of rumors about repatriation to mainland Japan. They are harvesting summer radishes that have come into season for tonight's meal and then sowing turnips and Chinese cabbages to eat in the fall. Someone was seen doing this on August 21st in the evacuation ruins of Kōgane-machi [area immediately to the east of present-day Euljiro 1(il)-ga station].
They have lived in the Korean peninsula for thirty years, built their home here, made Korean acquaintances, and have come to think of the growing beauty of the streets of Seoul as their own family's glory. Even today, the streets of Seoul remain their city, and the talk of repatriation to mainland Japan sounds like just some traveler's tale. The reason they dug air-raid shelters together with Koreans during enemy air raids and endured long periods of inconvenient lighting restrictions was all for the love and protection of the beautiful city of Seoul. It is uncertain whether the Governor-General's Office of Korea will yield its political power after three months or six months as part of the ceasefire treaty, but on the day when Korea steps forward under a new order, the hearts of these people who has loved the Korean peninsula for thirty years will not change.
"I do not feel like returning to my homeland even after the reconstruction of the Korean peninsula is complete, but even if I did go back, someone in Korea would eat these vegetables," said the person with the hoe, wiping sweat while sowing turnips in the post-evacuation vegetable garden.
[Transcription]
京城日報 1945年8月23日
何の不安迷いぞ慎重たれ
創業前の半島
後藤中佐に聴く内鮮人の心構え
事態の急遽に依る十五日以来の内鮮人間の動揺も軍当局の厳たる処罰に依り漸次平静に復しつつあるが、動揺の原因は現状を正確に認識せず、単なる流言に惑わされた為で、軍当局並びに総督府では治安の確保を言明。新事態に処する内鮮人の冷静沈着な態度を要望している。現在の事態は、聖断を拝し戦闘行為が中止されたのであって、聯合国との間に取り極められた正式合理的な停戦協定に依って平静円滑に総てが処理されるであろう。一部には既に朝鮮が独立政権を行使し得るかの如く考えている向もあるが、未だ朝鮮は日本の統治下にあり、其統治権は微動たもせず、朝鮮の独立は聯合国との間に帝国に関する総ての処理が完了してから初めて議題に上がるのである。以上朝鮮軍管区報道部後藤中佐に現在の事態と、之に処する内鮮人間の心構えを聴く。
問：巷間種々流言が飛んでいますが、現在正確な事態はどうなっていますか？
答：マニラに於ける日本と米英ソ支の間の正式協定によって現地毎に現地の情勢に基いて細部協定が行われる。その協定に基いて総ての処理が運ばれることになろう。
問：それまでは朝鮮は日本の統治下にある訳でしょう。
答：勿論だ。協定が成立して、前に言った処理が完了する迄は朝鮮は依然日本の一部であり、日本が其統治に当るのが当然である。従って此の際他所の者が入って手をつけるが如きことは許されない。一部には直に朝鮮が独立し、其の日から政治を行い得るが如くいうものがあるようだが、誤解も甚だしい。従って独立の準備委員会等から号令を発したり社会機能の如何なることにも絶対に手はつけられない。
問：しかし一部に接収騒ぎを演じたこともあったようですが。
答：最近行われようとした接収事件は正に匪賊行為だ。未だ接収する権利もなければ根拠もない。抑も交戦国同志でも個人の財産には手はつけられないのだ。米国にしても開戦と同時に在住邦人に対し資産凍結令は出したが、其の財産を奪ってはいない。我々も幾度か外国に出掛けたが、未だ個人の財産に手をつけた覚えはない。勿論軍事上の必要があれば一時占領することは行われるかも知れないが、然しそれも朝鮮の事情に於いては適用出来ない。
問：一昨日B24がやって来てビラを撒布しましたが。
答：ビラの内容は別に不穏当ではないと思う。唯命令口調の言葉が一部使用されてあったが、未だ彼等には命令する権利はない。多分訳文が拙かったのだろう。我々は直接彼等から命令を受けるいわれはない。我々が命令を受けるのは唯天皇陛下からである。従って彼等としては日本政府に交渉すべきであり、我々は日本政府から命令を貰うのである。
問：一部には内地人に危害を加えるなどという流言もあったようですが。
答：とんでもない話だ。そんな奴は日本が手を下さずとも進駐軍が処理する。又世界の道義が承知しないだろう。若しそんなことをすれば事態は益々紛糾するばかりだ。軍隊は一般の生命財産を守るために厳存している。忍ぶべからざるを忍べとの聖断が下された謂れもここにある。左様な不穏分子を叩くのも軍の使命である。
問：この際朝鮮人のとるべき態度は？
答：朝鮮人は、朝鮮が戦争行為をもって独立するのでなく、まだ独立の成立もしていないということを深く自覚すべきである。現在のところ朝鮮は独立させてやろうという話だけで、具体的には何も決定していない。従って朝鮮の人々にとっては今が最も大切な秋である。何をなすべきかを慎重に考慮して掛からねばならぬ。早い話が、小さな店を一軒出すにしても十日や二十日では出来ないだろう。これと同様に朝鮮としても独立までには相当の過程と時日を要する。この創業の大切な時期に於いて内輪でごたごたしたり外国と事を構えたりする脱線では聯合軍の信意を失い、独立も不可能にならんとも限らない。
問：軍人の家族は引き揚げになったそうですね。
答：冗談いっては困る。一人も引き揚げてはいない。ただし古くから官舎に居残っていた出征軍人の遺家族は一部帰還させた。それは官舎の用途によるのだ。
問：内地人の心構えは？
答：以上の事態を心得ていたら慌てることもなかろう。急遽引き揚げばかり考えるのはどうかと思う。まさか朝鮮は独立と同時に日本に宣戦を布告するでもあるまい。もっとどっしりと落ち着いて大国民の襟度を示すべきである。こんなことでは世界から笑われるばかりだ。尤も内地人に不安を起させたのは二つの原因を挙げることが出来る。一つは朝鮮の不穏分子が日本人に危害を加えるだろうという流言が飛んだこと。しかし、これは前にも言った如く日本、聯合国ともに治安の確保にもっとも注意しているので心配はない。若しそんな不祥事が起ることがあれば厳重処断されるであろう。それも日本がやらなくとも進駐軍によって行われるであろう。もう一つは進駐軍が危害を加えるだろうということだが、これも列国監視の前でしかも停戦後に於いて暴行を加えられるものではない。米ソ軍は決して匪賊ではないのだ。
映画館の再開
二十五日から府内一斉
十五日から閉鎖していた府内の常設映画館は二十五日から一斉に開館する。内地でも有難き聖旨に副い国民生活の明朗化に一役買って映画演劇興行物など娯楽機関が二十五日から全国一斉に復古再開される。
大召喚発以来、業者側の自粛によって自発的に開演中止となっていた映画演劇寄席その他の興行物の再開については、内務省でもこの際、健全明朗な国民生活の再建の上から積極的な指導と育成を期し、その期日方法など具体案をねっていたが、情報局業者側と打合せの上、二十二日からこれら娯楽機関の再開を許可。その旨全国各関係方面に指令した。同時に上演時間の制限も一応撤廃され、夜間の興行も差支えないこととなった。
引き揚げを他所に
一坪園芸に希望の種播き
内地引き揚げのデマに驚いて一坪農園の蔬菜を急いで抜いているのではありません。時季の来た夏大根で今晩の食膳を飾り、その後にこの秋食る蕪や白菜を播付けている。人が二十一日黄金町の疎開跡にあった。
半島に来て三十年。家を建て、半島の知人もつくり、京城の街の美しく膨らみゆくことをわが家の栄えのごとく思って来た人々にとっては、きょうも京城の街はわが街であり、内地引き揚げなど旅人の言葉にしか聞こえなかった。敵空襲下に半島と一緒になって防空壕を掘ったのも、長い不自由な灯管をつづけて来たのも、みなこの美しい京城の街を愛し護るためだったからだったのである。停戦条約等の段階を踏んで朝鮮総督府が統治権を委譲するのは三ヶ月向うか、半年向うか判らないが、朝鮮がすこやかに新秩序のもとに踏み出して行く日、三十年半島を愛して来た人の心に変りはない。
『私は半島の新建設が遂げられても郷に帰る気持ちはありませんが、よし帰ったとしてもこの野菜は朝鮮の誰かが食べてくれるでしょう』鍬を持つ人は汗を拭う手の下でそう語りながら疎開後の蔬菜園に秋食う蕪を播付けるのである。
【写真＝黄金町にて】
No comments:
Post a Comment