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
