Showing posts with label 1943. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1943. Show all posts

Monday, April 22, 2024

Elderly Korean farmer Kim Chi-gu (김치구, 金致龜) featured in 1943 article fervently donating 150,000 kg of rice to the Imperial Japanese Army every year and receiving honors from Prime Minister Tojo at a formal awards ceremony in Haeju

I wanted to share an intriguing article that I recently came across in an old issue of the Keijo Nippo newspaper, a known propaganda tool for the Imperial Japanese regime during their colonial rule over Korea from 1905 to 1945. This particular article, from 1943, a time marked by the Pacific War and significant food shortages, shines a light on a Korean farmer from Bongsan-gun, Hwanghae province—now part of North Korea.

Original Caption: Patriotic Elder Mr. Kim Chi-gu (top photo), with his eldest son Kim Hyang-gwan (향관, 享寛) (right photo) and his second son Kim Hyang-cheol (향철, 享喆) (left photo)

The article narrates the tale of a farmer who committed to donating an enormous amount of rice—1,000 koku annually (about 150,000 kg) for a decade, starting in December 1938. Typically, stories in this newspaper featured middle to upper-class Koreans as exemplars of loyalty to the Japanese regime, but this one interestingly focuses on a farmer. What makes this story even more unique is the scale of the donation during a time when food scarcity was rampant, and the colonial authorities were desperate to boost agricultural output.

Given the context and the fact that this was a period of harsh exploitation under Japanese rule, the narrative of voluntary large-scale contributions to the Japanese military raises questions. The farmer, described as a model patriot, was likely a wealthy landlord with numerous tenant farmers, which possibly allowed him to make such substantial contributions.

The ceremony awarding him took place in Haeju, also in present-day North Korea. One can only imagine the real motivations and pressures behind such a donation. Given the socio-political dynamics and the subsequent Soviet occupation of the region post-1945, the fate of this farmer, if he didn't manage to flee south, could have been dire under the new communist regime.

What was the real story behind this farmer's "generosity"? This article seems to raise more questions than answers.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) April 6, 1943

Minister of the Imperial Army Bestows an Award Upon the Patriotic Elder

The Patriotic Elder Has Two Sons

Continued Devotion to Donating Rice for Military Use

Born in the Imperial nation, yet unable to serve in its conquests due to age and frailty, the Patriotic Elder felt the bitter sadness of his unfulfilled duty. A fierce war was raging over the horizon, yet he was allowed to live in relative peace. This made him feel inspired to find a way to somehow repay this Imperial favor which had allowed him to live in such tranquility.

At the end of 1938, the elderly farmer, Mr. Kim Chi-gu (김치구, 金致龜) inspired the military with his pledge to donate ten thousand koku of tenant-farmed rice for military use. This noble act of the Patriotic Korean Elder of Weolsan-ri (월산리, 月山里) in Sain-myeon (사인면, 舍人面), Bongsan-gun (봉산군, 鳳山郡), Hwanghae province, ignited a patriotic fervor among the twenty-four million inhabitants of the Korean peninsula. Five years later, halfway towards fulfilling his original pledge, he still continues to contribute his annual commitment of one thousand koku of rice with each plentiful autumn harvest, and with each contribution, he receives an appreciation certificate. Deeply moved, the Minister of the Imperial Army upgraded this appreciation certificate to a splendid commendation certificate, not only bestowing shining glory upon the Patriotic Elder, but also deeply stirring the hearts of everyone who learned about the full extent of the Patriotic Elder's resolve. [Photo= Patriotic Elder Mr. Kim Chi-gu (top photo), with his eldest son Kim Hyang-gwan (향관, 享寛) (right photo) and his second son Kim Hyang-cheol (향철, 享喆) (top left)]

The story traces back five years. As the Manchurian Incident escalated daily, the valiant efforts of the Imperial troops heralded the robust construction of the Greater East Asia New Order. The Patriotic Elder could no longer sit still in the face of the valiant battles fought by the frontline soldiers and the precious cornerstones of national defense. Starting out as a mere poor farmer, he devoted himself to frugality and hard work, treading on frost in the morning and under the stars at night, challenging the soil to increase and multiply his rice production. He worked himself to the bone and amassed a great fortune in one generation. The pure and honest heart that guided Mr. Kim Chi-gu, a straightforward and devoted farmer, throughout his life, would not allow him to remain passive.

He wrote his donation pledge as follows: "Though my body is already frail and worn, there is no postponing my expression of gratitude to the Imperial favor. As a sign of my devotion to the nation, although modest, I will select the finest rice from my harvest and pledge to donate one thousand koku each year for the next ten years, totaling ten thousand koku of rice for military use. To do so, I will eat potatoes, chew on their skins, and subsist on grass roots. If even a single grain of rice can support the soldiers who are currently fighting, and my feelings are understood, then my joy and my sign of gratitude will be fulfilled." Leaning on his cane, he visited the Japanese Korean Army on the snowy day of December 19, 1938, his donation pledge held close to his body.

"I, though frail and near the end of my life, commit to donating ten thousand koku as military rice. Please accept this humble offering," he continued in this donation pledge written with such moving words with such resolve. "Starting today, I will donate one thousand koku annually until I reach the age of eighty-eight, by which time the total donated amount should be ten thousand koku. Should I pass before then, my two sons, Hyang-gwan and Hyang-cheol, will surely continue this commitment." The Patriotic Elder's firm resolve was entrusted to his sons, sealing their joint commitment in the pledge.

Over five years, each December 19th, one thousand koku of military rice was donated, soon adding up to five thousand koku, amounting to a significant value of 206,527 yen and 8 sen.

The Patriotic Elder, still vibrant and hopeful, looks forward to donating the remaining five thousand koku of rice. His good deeds profoundly moved Minister Tōjō, and three days ago, the Patriotic Elder's sincere devotion was rewarded with a commendation certificate. Representing the Minister of the Imperial Army, Director Kuramo of the Korean Army Military Press Department, accompanied by Captain Hirai of the Patriotic Department, visited Haeju. In the presence of Director Uchida of the Interior Department at the governor's office, a formal award ceremony was conducted, bestowing shining honor upon the deeply moved Patriotic Elder.

Returning five days later following the award ceremony, Director Kuramo spoke highly of Mr. Kim Chi-gu's actions: "Starting from nothing, the elder rose to greatness. Driven by an unstoppable patriotic fervor and a desire to express his gratitude, he resolved to donate one thousand koku of military rice annually. Entrusting this sincere mission to his beloved children due to his old age, his commitment deeply moves and fills us with gratitude. The elder is also profoundly understanding in educational matters and shows deep warmth towards tenant farmers, revered like a benevolent father. Now, as we enter the autumn season of increased food production, let us emulate his noble efforts, live up to the true way of farming, and fervently contribute to the victorious prosecution of the Sacred War."

[Transcription]

京城日報 1943年4月6日

愛国翁へ陸軍大臣の表彰

我になお二児あり

熱誠続く軍用米献納

皇国に生を享けて征けぬ身の悲しさ、しかも既に齢老廃の域にあり、身を挺して感恩報国のたたずまいも叶わぬだが激しい戦争が地平線の果てで続けられているとき自分は安穏な暮らしを許されている。何とかしてこの皇恩に報いねばならぬ、と感奮。

昭和十三年の暮れ、小作米一万石を軍用米として献納を発願した半島の愛国翁黄海道鳳山郡舍人面月山里豪農金致龜氏の善行は当時軍部を感激させ、その麗しい至誠は半島二千四百万の愛国の熱情に火を点じた。あれから五年、出来秋とともに翁の発願した年一千石宛の献納は続けられ、その都度の感謝状は今度は陸軍大臣の胸をうち晴れの表彰状授与となり、念願の半ばとはいえ、輝く栄光を担うとともに翁の発願した決意の全貌が判り聴く人毎の感激を呼んでいる。【写真=愛国翁金致龜氏(上)、と長男享寛(右)、次男享喆(左)の二児】

話は五年前に遡る。支那事変は逐日拡大して皇軍の戦果はあがり大東亜新秩序の逞しき建設調は奏でられる。第一線将兵の勇戦と尊い護国の礎石に対して翁はもうじっとしてはいられなかった。身を一介の貧農に起しひたすら勤倹力行、朝は霜を踏み夕には星を頂いて土に挑んで増米殖産に身を粉にして働き、一代で巨万の富をなした実直一徹な農夫致龜翁の一生を貫いた清純な気持ちが許さなかったのである。

「既に身は老廃しているが、皇恩に報ずるは今日を描いてない、この殉国のしるしにまことに零細ではあるが、今年から向かう十ヶ年間自分の収穫米の中から優良米を選んで毎年一千石宛一万石を軍用米として献納しよう、芋を食べ皮を噛み草の根を食べて、いま戦っている皇軍将兵に一粒の米でもよい、私の気持ちが通ってくれたら自分の喜びは、報恩のしるしは達するであろう」と杖に身を託して献納趣意書を懐に朝鮮軍を訪ねたのは雪降る十三年十二月十九日だった。

「余生幾許もない老廃の身に報恩の記しとして零細ながら一万石を献米いたします。軍用米として受納して下さい」と決心を書きこめた趣意書は胸をつく文字で埋められてある。「発願した今日から年一千石宛を献米すれば、私の齢が八十八の米寿に達した頃にはきっと一万石になるでしょう。しかし万一私の寿命が続かないときは、私には長男、次男の二児があります。この二人長男享寛、次男享喆が必ず必ず代って献納いたします」。翁の決意は同じ征けぬ身二児に至誠の後事を託しての鉄の決意が秘められ、連署しての趣意書だった。

年遷って五年、毎年師走の十九日には一千石の軍用米が献納され、その量早くも五千石に達し、価格にして二十万六千五百二十七円八銭の巨額にのぼっている。

そして翁はなお燦燦たる元気で念願の残る五千石の献米を楽しみにしている。この善行は今回東条陸軍大臣をいたく感激させ、翁の赤誠また報いられて表彰状の下附となった去る三日、陸軍大臣代理として朝鮮軍倉茂報道部長は愛国部平井大尉を伴って海州を訪れ、府尹室において内田内務部長立会して晴れの授与式を行い、感激あふれる翁は、ここに輝く誉れを担ったのであった。

表彰状授与式に臨み五日帰任した倉茂報道部長は金致龜翁の善行を讃えて語る。「赤手空拳、一度に身を起した翁が今日の大をなすとともに愛国の熱意止みがたく報恩のしるしにと毎年一千石の軍用米献納を思い立ち、老いの身故に遺志を愛児に託してのこの至誠はわれわれ胸をうたえるとともに感謝の念に耐えない。翁はまた教育方面にも理解深く、小作人に対しても温情深く、慈父のように仰がれている。いまや食糧増産の秋、翁の尊き努力に倣って真の農道に活き報国の熱意を沸らせて聖戦必勝に挺身されたい」。

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-04-06/page/n1/mode/1up

Sunday, March 3, 2024

The Lim Family portrayed as happy, model pro-Japanese Koreans eagerly sending their eldest son Yeongjo to enlist in the ‘honorable’ Imperial Army as his little sister Imako-chan frolics with joy (Dec. 1943)


The Lim Family

This article introduces us to the Lims, portrayed as the ideal Korean family under Japanese rule. The Lims are portrayed as fervently patriotic towards Imperial Japan, eagerly preparing to send their eldest son to fight for the Emperor. The mother is described as worrying whether her son will pass the physical examination required for enlistment in the Imperial Army. This portrayal starkly contrasts with what might be a more common anxiety for Korean mothers today: Suneung college entrance exams.

This piece is just one of the many news articles that I have been uncovering and documenting as part of a broader project to better understand the Korean colonial experience from previously unexplored angles, especially this colonial newspaper that time has mostly forgotten and neglected. By examining these articles, I hope to uncover additional new perspectives into the colonial era of Korean history, which is generally seen as a dark period of national humiliation by the Korean people. I also hope to share additional insights into how the colonial regime sought to shape Korean society and how Korean individuals and families navigated the challenges of life under Imperial Japanese rule.

Almost exactly 2 years later on December 8, 1945, the Korean editors of the newly liberated Keijo Nippo newspaper published a scathing editorial decrying the crimes, injustices, and inhumanities perpetrated by Imperial Japan, including conscription like this one.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) December 10, 1943

Awaiting the Day When He Passes His Exam

The Joyful Family of Mr. Lim

Visiting the Home of a Student Soldier (Last Part of the Series)

Mr. Lim Yeongjo (림영조, 林栄造) and his family reside at No. 90, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, and the whole family is radiating a bright ambiance. The home of student soldier Yeongjo is also where his father, Mr. Lim Keol (림걸, 林傑), and his mother, Yeongji (영지, 令枝), both not yet over forty-five years old, are in good health. Aside from Yeongjo, the eldest son, he has a younger brother Yusu (유수, 有秀), who is a fifth-year student at Susong (수송, 壽松) National School, and an adorable younger sister, Imako-chan, who attends kindergarten. They are playfully making such a commotion that passersby in the neighborhood cannot help but murmur, "Something significant must have happened in this house."

"I will also go to war following my brother," Imako-chan innocently blurts out. At that point, Yusu interjects, "You can't because you're a girl. War is scary, you know." "It's not scary at all. My brother is a strong soldier, so if I hold his hand, nothing bad will happen," she retorts. "She is always this lively, leaving us no peace. Ha ha ha..." Mr. Lim Keol, a father devoted to the Military Nation, never takes his delighted eyes off his exuberant children. Ignoring the severe cold of winter, it seems that spring has arrived for only this family alone.

This cheerful scene has been repeated every morning and evening since Yeongjo volunteered with a fervent wish to join the honorable Imperial Army. "Even if the children are happy, their joy doesn't quite reach me yet, because I'm anxious about whether he will pass his upcoming examination," his mother Yeongji later said, filled with a mother's typical worries. "If he fails his examination, he can't become a soldier, right?" Up until now, Imako-chan, who had been frolicking, suddenly starts to cry.

"Exactly. More than anyone, our Yeongjo must pass his examination for the sake of his sister and brother. His glorious examination starts on the 11th, but I'm so worried. Ever since he volunteered to be a part of the glorious Imperial Army, I, as his mother, have never felt such a thrilling joy, nor have I ever experienced such anxiety waiting for the day of his examination, to the point where I cannot sleep well at night.

While mothers in mainland Japan are dedicating one, two, or even three to five children to the battlefield for the completion of the Holy War, we mothers on the Korean peninsula have continued to feel ashamed and embarrassed. But now, under the clear blue sky, we Korean mothers can finally walk proudly as mothers of the Military Nation. However, all of this means nothing if he does not pass the examination. I believe this feeling is shared not just by me but by all mothers of new heroes on the Korea peninsula," his mother Yeongji elaborates, watching her child, the student soldier, playfully bounce around with his siblings before going to school.

"Brother, let's go quickly," Yusu calls out, having left a step ahead. "Yeah, let's go," Yeongjo responds. Yeongjo will go to school to build up his martial arts skills, aiming for certain victory in passing the important examination that awaits him tomorrow. Imako-chan is still playfully clinging to the back of her student soldier brother. Standing to see them off, the father and mother murmur, "We look forward to the day when we can send him off to enlist with pride." "Are you and mom just going to send us off here? I'm going to carry the flag and go to the train station," Yusu adds, prompting a burst of laughter. [Photo = The Family Sending Off Yeongjo]

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-12-10/page/n5/mode/1up

[Transcription]

京城日報 1943年12月10日

待つ”合格の日”

喜び沸く林君の一家

学兵の家庭を訪ねて(終)

林栄造君、明専(京城府鐘路区寛勲町九〇)朗色に充ち溢れた学兵林栄造の家庭は又父傑氏母令枝さんが四十五を越さない若さで健在し、長男栄造君の下には壽松国民校五年の有秀君と幼稚園に通っている可愛い妹の今子ちゃんがきゃっきゃっと騒ぎ、まわり近所を通る人をして「この家はずいぶんと厳かなことがあったらしい」と呟かせずにはおかないのであった。

「アタイも兄ちゃんについて戦争に行くんだ」今子ちゃんは無邪気を連発する。そこへ有秀君が「お前なんか女の子だから駄目だよ。戦争って怖いんだぞ」と横槍を入れてみせる。「怖くなんかないよ。家の兄ちゃんは強い兵隊さんだから兄ちゃんに手をつないでいれば、なんでもないのよ」何時もこんな風でうるさくて仕様がないんですよ。ハハハ...とは打ちはしゃぐ我が子の上にさも愉快そうな瞳を外さない軍国の父傑氏である。峻烈な寒さの冬をよそにして、この一家だけには春がきたようだ。

この明朗な風景は栄造君が念願を叶って名誉ある帝国人軍に志願してからというもの毎日の朝晩繰り返されているという。「今度の検査に合格してみなければ子供達が嬉しがっていても、その喜びが不安で身について来ないんですよ」と母の令枝さんが後で母らしい心配に満ちて一寸曇らせていう。「検査って落ちたら、兄ちゃん兵隊さんになれないの」。今のそれまではしゃいでいた今子ちゃんがみるみる泣きべそ掻いて来る。

「この通りですよ。誰よりも家の栄造はこの妹や弟のためにも合格させなければなりません。栄光の検査は十一日からだそうですけれど心配でなりません。これが誉輝く皇軍の一員に志願してからというものは私は母としてこんなに胸弾む喜びを経験したこともまたないし、検査の日を待つ心配もはじめてのことで、夜もおちおち眠れないのです。

お国を挙げて聖戦完遂のために内地の母親が我が子を一人はおろか二人三人中には五人も揃って戦場に捧げているというのに、私たち半島の母たちは肩身の狭い思いをしつづけていましたが、私たちもいよいよ青天白日の下晴れて大手を振り軍国の母として歩けるのです。それもこれも今度の検査に合格させなくては何にもなりません。これは私ばかりではなく、半島の新しいつわものの母の共通な心持だろうと思います」と令枝さんは登校前を弟妹たちと一しきりはしゃぎ弾む学兵の我が子を見つめて諄々と語るのだった。

「兄ちゃん早く行こうよ」一足先に出立った有秀君の声がする。「ああ行こう」栄造君は明日に控える晴れの検査に合格必勝を目ざして錬武を積む登校をするのだ。今子ちゃんは未だ学兵の背に戯れかかる。見送りに立った父や母は、「晴れて出征をこうして見送る日が楽しみですよ」と呟く。「お父さんとお母さんはここで見送っておしまい?僕は旗を持って駅まで行くんだ」と有秀君の一矢、どっと爆笑が挙った。【写真=栄造君を送る一家】

Monday, February 19, 2024

Colonial regime forced Korean schools to drop English from the main curriculum to further wartime Imperial Japanese ‘character-building’ education (April 1943)

In April 1943, during the throes of the Pacific War, a notable article was published in Keijo Nippo, the leading national newspaper of Korea under Japanese rule. Keijo Nippo was not just any publication; it served as a propaganda tool for the Imperial Japanese colonial regime, which had a firm grip over Korea from 1905 to 1945. This historical piece offers a fascinating glimpse into how educational institutions were manipulated by the Imperial Japanese colonial regime, reflecting the broader political and ideological battles of World War II.

At the heart of this article is Baewha Girls' High School in Seoul. Founded by American missionaries, Baewha had been shaping the minds of young Korean girls for about half a century by 1943. However, the onset of the Pacific War, where Imperial Japan found itself in a desperate struggle against the United States and Britain, marked a significant shift in the school's approach to education.

The article highlights the actions of the Imperial Japanese principal, who took over after expelling the Americans from the school. One of his significant moves was to alter the curriculum by removing English as a main subject of study. This decision is emblematic of the broader efforts by the Imperial Japanese colonial regime to erase Western influences and assert ideological control.

Interestingly, the removal of English was not absolute. The language continued to be taught to junior students, justified on the grounds that English was necessary for understanding scientific symbols. This nuanced approach to the English language reveals the complexities and contradictions often inherent in such political and ideological shifts.

This historical account from Baewha Girls' High School serves as a poignant reminder of how totalitarian regimes can politicize language itself, using education as a tool to enforce ideological purity. It's a phenomenon that, unfortunately, resonates with similar instances in various parts of the world even today. This article not only sheds light on a specific event in history but also invites reflection on the ongoing impact of political ideologies on education and language.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) April 6, 1943

Replacing English with Horticulture

Baewha Girls' High School Transforms Under New Leadership

Focus on Moral and Character-Building Education During Wartime

For over 50 years, Baewha Girls' High School had been steeped in enemy American ideologies. However, since the outbreak of war against Britain and America, Baewha has responded to the glorious war achievements of the Imperial Army, and is now sweeping away this educational contamination to accelerate its own Imperialization. Under the leadership of Principal Makiyama and following the directives of the authorities, the school has decided to cut back on English, which had been a central subject in the Korean educational sector, and reallocate that time to activities more suitable for women's moral and character-building education during wartime, such as horticulture and physical exercises, adapting to the practical needs of the times. The school, managed consistently by Americans from its founding until Principal Makiyama took charge, had deeply ingrained adversities from enemy American thought. The transition from Anglo-American ideologies to Imperial education is now underway. Principal Makiyama states:

"Now that we have expelled the Anglo-American influence from Greater East Asia, we must simultaneously discard the harmful ideologies that have infiltrated our lives over many years. My goal is to thoroughly promote true Imperial education, which will be useful for our students whenever they graduate, and to nurture healthy Korean women. While we have eliminated English from our main curriculum, we intend to continue teaching English to junior students as before, for them to learn symbols used in subjects like physics and chemistry."


[Transcription]

京城日報 1943年4月6日

英語に代って園芸

敵米人創立の培花高女転身

戦時下情操教育へ

対米英開戦以来、皇軍の赫々たる大戦果に相呼応して五十余年間敵米思想に浸潤した教育の汚染を一掃して皇民化に拍車をかけている培花高女では、牧山校長の音頭で当局の指示に従い、半島教育界の中心科目でもあった英語の一部を切り捨てて、その時間を戦時下の婦人の情操教育に相応しい園芸や遊戯等の実戦即応的時間に充てることになり、同校は創立以来現在の牧山校長が就任するまで終始一貫米人の手に経営されたもので、敵米の思想から受けた弊害は余りにも根強いものがあった。米英思想から皇民教育へと新発足している。牧山校長は語る。

大東亜から敵米英の勢力を追放した今日多年間、我々の生活に浸潤した悪思想も同時に放擲せねばなりません。何時卒業してもお役に立つような真の皇民教育を徹底的に普及して健全な半島女性を育て上げようと思います。英語は正科から切り捨てましたが、今後は物理や化学等の符号を覚えさせるため、下級生にだけは従前通り英語を教えるつもりです。

See also: Baewha students mend military uniforms for Imperial Army (March 1943 article)

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-04-06/page/n3/mode/1up

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

A look into the foreign films showing in Korean movie theaters in June to Dec. 1943: Ohm Krüger (1941) was heavily promoted to foment anti-British sentiment

This post will be a continuation of my exploration into the kinds of foreign movies that Seoul residents might have watched in 1943, when Imperial Japan was in the middle of a desperate war. To mark exactly 80 years since June to December 1943, I scanned the Keijo Nippo newspapers for any movie ads for foreign films that were showing at movie theaters in Seoul for those months. I identified the movies based on the Japanese titles as well as clues left in the ads themselves, such as the plot lines and the names of the directors and actors. As you can see, in this period, there were 12 foreign films that were screened in Seoul: 6 German films, 4 Italian films, and 2 French films:

Some of these movies are available to watch online in clips or, in some cases, in their entirety on Youtube or Internet Archive, so I will share links below along with the movie ads. I linked to resources on Wikipedia wherever I could.

Ballerine (Italy, 1936) was a drama starring Silviana Jachino (pictured in this ad) and Antonio Centa, whose name is printed here. This film was made into a double feature, where you had to sit in for the domestic Imperial Japanese film (秀子の車掌さん) if you wanted to watch the foreign film. The film only showed from June 18th to the 20th. 

Ballerine (1936) - Keijo Nippo June 18, 1943

Kameraden auf See (Germany, 1938) was a war film starring Theodor Loos and Julius Brandt (pictured in this ad) and Carola Höhn, whose name is printed here. This film was made into a double feature, where you had to sit in for the domestic Imperial Japanese film (わが家の春) if you wanted to watch the foreign film. The film only showed from July 1st to the 4th. 

Kameraden auf See (1938) - Keijo Nippo July 1, 1943

Andalusische Nächte (Germany, 1938) was a musical film directed by Herbert Maisch and starring Imperio Argentina, who is pictured in the ad. The film only showed from July 1st to the 4th. 

Nights in Andalusia (1938) - Keijo Nippo July 1, 1943

L'Antenato (Italy, 1936) was a 1936 comedy starring Antonio Gandusio and Paola Barbara, who are depicted in this ad. This film was also showing in Seoul in April 1943. This film resumed screening on July 10th.

L'Antenato (1936) - Keijo Nippo July 10, 1943

Tango Notturno (Germany, 1937) was a drama film directed by Fritz Kirchhoff and starring Pola Negri who is pictured in this ad. This film only screened on September 6th and 7th. An excerpt of this film is available on Youtube here.

Tango Notturno (1937) - Keijo Nippo September 6, 1943

Varieté (Germany, 1935) was a French-German drama film directed by Nicolas Farkas and starring Annabella who is pictured in this ad. This film screened from September 27th to the 30th.

Varieté (1935) - Keijo Nippo September 26, 1943

Ohm Krüger (Germany, 1941) was a 1941 German biographical film directed by Hans Steinhoff and starring Emil JanningsLucie Höflich, and Werner Hinz. It was one of a series of major propaganda films produced in Nazi Germany attacking the United Kingdom. The film depicts the life of the South African politician Paul Kruger and his eventual defeat by the British during the Boer War. The ads are filled with very intense anti-British and anti-American propaganda messaging like, "This is the true face of Anglo-Saxon brutality!" "Now is the time to gaze upon the bestial British atrocities that will remain in world history!" "Gaze upon the unparalleled atrocities of the brutal U.S. and Britain!" This film was heavily promoted with a whopping six ads in one month, showing from October 14th to the 20th. The full movie is available on YouTube here.

Ohm Krüger (1941) - Keijo Nippo October 13, 15, 16, 17 (x2), 20th, 1943 (left-right, top-bottom)


Luciano Serra pilota (Italy, 1938) was a war drama film directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and starring Amedeo Nazzari and Roberto Villa, whose names are printed here. The ad incorrectly states that Vittorio Mussolini was the director. This film was made into a double feature, where you had to sit in for the domestic Imperial Japanese film if you wanted to watch the foreign film. The film only showed from July 1st to the 4th. The full movie is available on YouTube here.

Luciano Serra, Pilot (1938) - Keijo Nippo October 30, 1943

Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (Italy, 1926) was a historical silent drama film directed by Carmine Gallone and Amleto Palermi and starring Victor Varconi and María Corda, whose names are printed on this ad. This film was made into a double feature, where you had to sit in for the domestic Imperial Japanese film (快闘・富士の男伊達) if you wanted to watch the foreign film. The film screened from November 12th. A very brief excerpt of this film is available on YouTube here.

Last Days of Pompei (1926) - Keijo Nippo November 12, 1943

Maria Chapdelaine (France, 1934) was a drama film directed by Julien Duvivier and starring Madeleine Renaud and Jean Gabin, whose names are printed in the ad. This film was made into a double feature, where you had to sit in for the domestic Imperial Japanese film (島は夕やけ) if you wanted to watch the foreign film. The film screened from December 9th to the 11th. An excerpt of this film is available on Elephant Cinema Quebec here.

Maria Chapdelaine (1934) - Keijo Nippo December 8th, 1943

Conflit (France, 1938) was a drama film starring Corinne LuchaireAnnie DucauxMarguerite and Raymond Rouleau whose names are printed on the ads. It screened from December 18th to the 21th. A long excerpt of this film is available on YouTube here.

Conflit (1938) - Keijo Nippo December 15, 1943
Conflit (1938) - Keijo Nippo December 18, 1943
Conflit (1938) - Keijo Nippo December 18, 1943

Wunschkonzert (1940) was a German drama propaganda film starring Ilse Werner, who is prominently featured on the ads. This movie was heavily promoted in Keijo Nippo, and it also screened earlier in January and March of 1943. The German brochure for this movie is available on the Internet Archive here. The full movie (no subtitles) is available on the Internet Archive here. A clip of one of the songs is available on YouTube here. It screened from December 18th to the 21st.

Wunschkonzert (1943) - Keijo Nippo December 17, 1943
Wunschkonzert (1943) - Keijo Nippo December 18, 1943

Monday, August 7, 2023

Imperial Japanese colonial regime instilled intense fear and paranoia among Koreans by forcing them to listen to this 20-minute radio broadcast mobilizing the entire nation in counter-espionage to snitch on each other even for complaining about food shortages (July 1943)

It's been just over 80 years since a terrifying radio broadcast was delivered to the entirety of the Korean nation on July 13th, 1943. Considering this milestone, I felt it timely to share a translated transcript of that very broadcast, offering a window into the intense atmosphere of fear and paranoia that pervaded Korea during Imperial Japanese rule.

Police Chief Tange delivering the 20-minute radio broadcast at 7:30pm on July 13, 1943.

Its significance cannot be understated; it's highly likely that every Korean at the time was compelled to listen to this 20-minute address by Police Chief Tange. If you're Korean, think about it – your ancestors probably sat anxiously in front of the radio, absorbing every word of this speech that day.

In the article, I've highlighted specific passages, including those where the audience is directly encouraged to report on one another. There's a detailed elaboration on the activities that colonial officials were most concerned about – these descriptions provide keen insights into what the regime perceived as threats, thereby revealing what resistance movements were likely attempting at the time. It's truly awe-inspiring to consider that resistance activists managed to operate within Korea despite the overwhelming climate of dread and suspicion enforced by such broadcasts.

The contents of this radio broadcast are quite alarming. Koreans were integrated into Aegukban (Patriotic Groups), eerily similar to the Imperial Japanese Tonari-gumi or North Korean inminban institutions. These were essentially neighborhood cells comprising a few households. Each cell was overseen by a leader who made sure everyone complied with regime orders. On that evening of the broadcast, every Korean, as part of their respective Patriotic Group, was presumably gathered to listen in. While the broadcast was in Japanese, a language only approximately 15% of Koreans would have understood, assistants would have likely been translating the words into Korean on the spot for the broader populace.

The broadcast discussed matters of grave national importance, chiefly focusing on thwarting espionage activities. Alarmingly, even expressing discontent about food shortages was deemed a reportable offense. It's not hard to visualize the palpable tension, with everyone wary of their own words and their neighbor's actions.

For those interested, I'm also sharing a link to another radio broadcast that touches on similar themes of espionage and counter-resistance, though it's notably less intense in tone than this one. It provides another lens through which to understand the era's narratives and anxieties.

I understand that sharing propaganda from this period can be contentious. However, I believe it is important to shed light on the profound sense of fear and paranoia that pervaded Korea during that era. It's only fitting that we remember the psychological suffering the Korean nation endured at that time. By revisiting these primary sources – propaganda radio broadcasts from the time – we gain a deeper understanding of the atmosphere that Koreans of that time lived in.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) July 14, 1943

Total War and Civilian Counter-Espionage Defense (Broadcast by Director Tange of the Police Affairs Bureau)

The enemy's dagger is near at hand

Devote yourselves to the spirit of "Ever on the Battlefield"!

The Counter-Espionage Defense Week for the annihilation of the US and Britain has been set up under a 25 million-strong ironclad regime, launching a major offensive simultaneously across all of Korea on July 13th. Director Tange of the Police Affairs Bureau delivered a broadcast entitled "Total War and Civilian Counter-Espionage Defense" for twenty minutes from 7:30 pm on July 13th. He explained the importance of unarmed strategy in counter-espionage warfare and how it can sway modern warfare, encouraging the entire Korean peninsula to rise up against the enemy's network of schemes. The following is the essence of his broadcast. [Photo = Director Tange of the Police Affairs Bureau broadcasting]

Today, as we begin the Counter-Espionage Defense Week across all of Korea, I wish to express my thoughts and ask for the serious attention of all citizens. A year and a half has quickly passed since we received the Imperial Rescript declaring war. During this period, under the Great Authority of the Emperor, the splendid victories of our Imperial military are unparalleled in world history, and our country is now establishing an invincible regime across all of East Asia, on the verge of building a Co-Prosperity Sphere.

However, the last counterattack of the doomed US and Britain, fueled by their fully matured material civilization, is making a desperate struggle, revealing the true nature of their bestial brutality. The fight is becoming extremely harsh and intense. It reveals the unique aspects of modern total war that mobilizes all of human intelligence and manpower, not allowing any citizen, whether on the front lines or on the home front, to abstain from the battle.

The prominent characteristic of modern warfare is that it is not just a battle of military strength, but a fight that covers the entire nation, pitting the full strength of its people against each other. All methods that can be conceived using all human knowledge and ability are employed. The material and human elements of a nation are all mobilized for the war without exception. Everything is a weapon, and everyone is a soldier. Therefore, in this context, we who are the citizens under wartime must discern the essence of this modern total war, reflect on our daily lives, discipline ourselves, and raise our spirits. In terms of "counter-espionage defense," I believe that it is necessary to deepen our understanding and put more into practice at this time.

What is counter-espionage defense? As it is already known, it is "preventing enemy intelligence activities" and "suppressing enemy conspiratorial activities." "Intelligence activities" and "spy warfare" are not new issues; they have always been conducted alongside armed warfare and considered an important element of war. As stated in ancient military texts, "If you know your enemy and yourself, you will win every battle." Efforts to "know the enemy" have been made through methods such as stealth or deceptive strategies and have produced many stories in the long history of warfare which adorn the pages of important military texts.

Therefore, the efforts to prevent and suppress these, that is, "counter-espionage defense," is not a matter that was brought up only in modern times. However, the reason why it is being propagated so loudly today and is demanding strict practice from the citizens is indeed a natural consequence of the essence of modern total war, which mobilizes all citizens as fighting soldiers.

In past wars, as in the Battles of Shizugatake or Sekigahara, everything was decided by a confrontation between two armies in a confined battlefield, armed with swords and spears. The activities of spies to "know the numbers" were mainly to detect enemy forces, formations, and tactics, and they were sufficient. Therefore, efforts to prevent them, or the "counter-espionage defense," were able to achieve their goals with mere military discipline, such as preventing enemy spies from infiltrating the camp and strictly maintaining secrecy among the soldiers.

However, in modern warfare, everything and everyone are elements of war, and the war is not necessarily fought only on what is called the front line, but is fought both domestically and abroad. Therefore, enemy intelligence activities are not just directed at the movements of armies and vessels on the front line, but they infiltrate deeply into the homeland, casting a thorough investigative eye over all the physical capabilities of the state, or in other words, over every field spanning industry, economy, finance, transportation, communication, etc., ranging from the production of military needs and weapons by the state to the daily consumption of food by the average family. They also pay sharp attention to the war capabilities of the people, or in other words, the organization of conscription mobilization, the composition of productive labor, and even the degree of uplift in war consciousness, and the completeness of the home front wartime system, etc.

These enemy spies, having obtained various pieces of intelligence in this way, communicate them quickly and effectively to their allies by shortwave radio and other methods, providing information for their operational tactics. This is indeed the original mission of spies, which should be called intelligence activities. However, the essence of modern total war does not limit spy activities to such passive intelligence activities, but further requires the development of aggressive conspiratorial activities. In other words, in modern warfare, spy activities have moved beyond merely detecting military and national intelligence, which are indirect and passive activities, to direct, proactive activities aimed at reducing and destroying the military power of the opposing country, in other words, all its physical and human capabilities.

In other words, they are trying to destroy physical capabilities by setting fire to and destroying important factories and mines, instigating strikes and sabotage, disrupting railway traffic, and so on, which result in reducing productivity, causing material losses, and hindering transportation and logistics. They do not care about their targets or their choice of methods, and even adopt extremely calculated malicious methods, such as causing chaos in the financial world. They further aim to disturb the financial sector, plunge the economic function into chaos, counterfeit and disseminate paper money, hoard and withhold goods, exaggerate and spread false information about high prices and shortages, all these are extremely calculated and malicious tactics.

On the other hand, they aim to lower human resources, overstate the enemy's power to induce fear in our citizens, spread rumors that cause doubt about our war achievements, and disrupt the government's leadership of the people, spreading defeatist sentiments by various means. They may even resort to spreading toxic substances or disease-causing bacteria in cities and other important places, threatening the lives and health of non-combatant citizens without any regard for the cruelty of their methods.

With the rise or fall of the state at stake, and as we now carry out this all-out war, it is natural to imagine that the devilish hands of enemy spies have infiltrated into the home front of wartime Japan, aiming to target each and every one of our daily lives with their relentless cruelty. They also focus their efforts on the Korean Peninsula, a crucial forward base for advancing into the Asian continent and an essential foundation for establishing the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Their natural objective is to investigate, disrupt, and destroy the economic and military value of the Korean peninsula.

Considering that it has been just over thirty years since the annexation of the Korean peninsula, and the process of Imperial assimilation is still in its early stages, this creates a fragility in ideological unity. Enemies see this as the greatest vulnerability of Japan and, as such, they pour all their efforts into espionage activities here. They persistently attempt intelligence gathering and propaganda behind the scenes in the Korean Peninsula, striving desperately to weaken its military power. This is, of course, to be expected. In fact, this has been proven true. The numerous spy incidents that we have detected and suppressed by our own hands, both in terms of quantity and the cunning and nefarious nature of their plots, truly defy common imagination.

These spies disguise themselves as good citizens, seemingly leading exemplary lives in the home front as loyal subjects of Imperial Japan, doing everything to avoid arousing the suspicion of the public and authorities. Revealing their true identities using ordinary methods is extremely difficult, nearly impossible. People cannot guarantee that they have never before been neighbors with spies, ridden in the same vehicles as spies, or even sat in front of spies. There may be some who have unknowingly revealed important state secrets to these spies, believing them to be close friends. Phrases in our battle instructions like "Spies are always near" and slogans like "There's a spy next to you" are not mere scare tactics.

Given this, how should we, each and every one of us in our daily lives, fend off and fight against these these spies who are disguised daggers? The first and foremost fundamental understanding is that each and every citizen is part of the state engaged in total war, and in modern total war, each and every citizen is a counter-espionage soldier. Even when we are on the home front, each of us, in our respective fields, is engaged in a brutal, absolute war of survival against espionage. We must bear in mind that we are all on the battlefields of Attu Island and the Solomon Islands, and only by embracing this understanding and standing together can we truly wage modern war.

Secondly, to physically manifest this understanding and stand together, we must perform our duties wholeheartedly. We must regard our workplace as the battlefield, fully devote ourselves to maintaining the secrecy of our tasks and protecting vital resources. If we push forward to increase the military strength of the state, we will leave no room for spies to operate. Thirdly, we must have absolute trust in the state's measures, not only refraining from discontent and grumbling but also proactively cooperating with the state.

In war, one should always be prepared for death, and suffering and difficulties naturally accompany it. Shortages of supplies and the tightening of daily life are expected consequences of war. To be disheartened by these challenges, to complain about them, and worse, to fall prey to the lies and provocations of spies is utterly unacceptable for the citizens of a nation at war. Every citizen should consider it their duty to endure these hardships without complaint. If people refuse to feel the impact of shortages or express dissatisfaction, then no enemy propaganda, rumors, or tactics such as strategic hoarding or withholding of goods will have any significant effect. Just as soldiers on the front line follow their commanders' orders and bravely charge into deadly situations, every citizen on the home front must faithfully follow the government's policies. With such a resolution, even if spies employ their most cunning tactics, there can be no chance for negative thoughts to take root, like war-weariness or anticipation of defeat.

Fourthly, we must strive to root out the enemy spies among our one hundred million national people. With a fighting spirit of "seek the enemy and destroy," we must consider ourselves as members of a nation constantly at war, even on the streets of daily life. No matter how cunning the spy may be, if we stay vigilant by being on the look out for the spies who have infiltrated among us on the home front, their true identities will be revealed in front of the discerning eyes of a hundred million national people.

We, the people, must relentlessly pay attention to weed out the enemy spies hiding among us. Whether they are beside us, or from within our own Patriotic Groups, if we detect any suspicious or doubtful individuals, we should act like scouts on the battlefield discovering enemy shadows and immediately report them to the police authorities, actively cooperating and assisting in their arrest and investigation. Each of us must consider ourselves as one of the fighting soldiers. Under this awareness, we should pay attention to our health and hygiene, strive to prevent and eradicate infectious diseases, and enhance our physical strength to completely block the enemy's germ warfare tactics. It is an urgent task to fight on the front lines of this counter-espionage war.

Every individual is a member of a nation at war, united both on the front lines and on the home front, committing to the total effort of the state. Each person must deeply understand and be resolved to face their duties and battles as if they were in the trenches, defending to the death. In doing so, there will be no room for enemy spies or their tactics, leaving them without strategy and rendering their efforts inconsequential. Modern total warfare blurs the lines between the front line and the home front, turning everything into a grave battleground. The secretive tactics of spies targeting the home front have become so intricately complex that they defy common imagination, constantly probing into the daily lives of citizens. Especially now, as the US and Britain intensify their counteroffensive strategies in a bid to turn the tides of war, their espionage and strategic warfare become even fiercer day by day. Any momentary lapse in our vigilance can influence the overall strength of our nation. The fate of our Empire equally rests on the shoulders of those at home. Remember that every one of us carries this responsibility. Embrace Admiral Yamamoto's teachings of "Ever on the Battlefield" deep in your hearts, and in honor of the brave souls of Attu Island, be resolved to engage in the war against espionage with an unwavering dedication to victory.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1943年7月14日

総力戦と銃後の防諜 (丹下警務局長放送)

敵の匕首身辺にあり

『常在戦場』の精神に徹せよ!

米英撃滅の防諜週間が二千五百万鉄火の体制に構えられて十三日全鮮一斉に一大進軍を展開したが、丹下警務局長は十三日午後七時半から二十分に亘って”国家総力戦と銃後の防諜”と題し放送。防諜戦が如何に近代戦戦局を左右させるか、その武器なき戦略の重大さを説き半島あげて敵の謀略網撃滅に起ちあがるべきを促した。以下その放送要旨。【写真=放送する丹下警務局長】

本日より全鮮に亘り防諜週間が実施せらるるに当り、聊か所懐を申し述べ国民各位の深甚なる御留意を煩わしたいと思う。畏くも宣戦の大詔を拝してより早くも一年有半、其の間大御稜威の下、皇軍の赫々たる戦果は世界史上未だ曾て見ざるところであり、我が国は今や大東亜の全域に亘り必勝不敗の体制を確立し共栄圏の建設将に成らんとしつつある。

然し乍ら亡び行く敵米英の最後の反攻はその爛熟せる物質文明の全機能を傾注して死物狂いのあがきを試み、彼等本来の鬼畜の如き残忍性と相俟って闘いは正に苛烈凄愴を極めつつあり、人智人力の一切を挙げて、戦線銃後を問わず国民の如何なる一人をも戦わざるを許さざる近代国家総力戦の特異なる様相を現実に露呈している。

近代戦の著しき特徴は戦が所謂武力戦のみに限定されず、国家の全域を掩うて闘われ、国民の総力を傾倒して相撃つと言うところにあり、其の手段は人類の全知全能を尽くして考え得る総ての方法が使用されると言う處にある。国家の有する物的、人的の要素は其の一物をも余さず、その一人をも残さず悉く戦争に動員せられ、一切の物が兵器であり、総ての人が兵士である。茲に於いてか我我戦時下国民たる者は此の近代総力戦の本質を見極めて、毎日毎日の自己の生活を反省し、規律し、昂揚して行かなければならないのであって、『防諜』と言うことに就いても此際更に認識を深くし、且つ実践して行く必要があると考えるのであります。

防諜とは如何なることであるか。今更申す迄もなく、『敵の諜報活動を防止する』ことであり、『敵の謀略活動を制圧する』ことである。『諜報活動』、『スパイ戦』ということは今に始まった問題ではなく、昔からの戦のある處必ずこれに伴って行われ、武力戦に併行して戦争の重要な要素を成していたと考えられるのである。『敵を知り己を知る者は百戦百勝す』と古の兵書にも説いてある如く、『敵を知る』ための努力は或いは忍びの術となり、或いは反間苦肉の策となって古今幾多の戦史に纏綿する物語を産み、戦書の重要なる頁を飾る處である。

従って此等を防ぎ制圧せんとする努力、即ち『防諜』ということも亦必ずしも現代に至って初めて採り揚げられた事柄ではない。然るにこれが今日の如く喧しく宣伝せられ、国民に向かって厳重なる実践を要求せらるるに至った所以は、実に近代総力戦の本質が国民の総てを戦う兵士として動員するということから当然帰結せられた要請である。

即ち昔の戦争は、仮令賤ヶ岳とか、関ケ原とか言う様な一定の限定された戦域、戦野に於いて両軍が刀槍の間に対峙し相撃つことに依って総ての勝敗が決定せられた故に『数を知る』スパイの活動も専ら敵の兵力、布陣乃至は戦術と言うようなことの探知を以て事足り、従って之を防ぐ『防諜』の努力も陣営に於ける、敵諜者の潜入防止とか、兵士の秘密厳守等単なる戦陣軍律を以て其の目的を達し得た。

然るに近代戦に於いては一切の物、一切の人が戦争の要素であり、之を場所的に見ても戦争は必ずしも所謂第一線のみで闘われるとは限らず、国内外を通じて闘われるのである。故に敵の諜報活動も単に戦線に於ける軍隊、艦艇の行動に指向するのみではなく、深く銃後の国内に迄潜行して其の国家の一切の物的能力、言い換えれば産業、経済、金融、交通、通信其の他万般の分野に亘って一国軍需、兵器の生産から、国民一家の日常食糧の消費に至る迄周到なる探査の眼を注ぎ、国家の人的要素たる国民の戦争能力、言い換えれば徴兵動員関係、生産労務の構成、更に進んでは其の戦争意識の昂揚程度、銃後戦時体制の完成如何等に亘り、鋭敏なる聴耳を立てているのである。

而してこれ等敵スパイは斯くして得たる諸般の諜報を短波無電その他の方法を以て迅速効果的に味方に連絡し、これに依ってその作戦戦術の資料たらしむるのであり、これが即ちスパイ本来の使命というべき諜報活動である。然し乍ら近代総力戦の本質は、スパイの活動を単に此の種消極的諜報活動にのみ限定することなく、更に進んで積極的謀略活動の展開を要求するにいたった。即ち近代戦に於けるスパイの活動は単に軍情、国情の探知と言う、云わば間接的受動的なる活動から更に進んで相手国の戦力、言い換えれば其の一切の物的人的能力を減殺壊滅せしめんとする直接的能動的機能を発揚せんとするのである。

即ち物的戦力を破砕せんとして、重要工場、鉱山等の放火、破壊、ストライキ、サボタージュの扇動、鉄道軌道の交通妨害等、苛くも生産力の減殺を結果し、物資の損耗を招来し、交通運輸を阻害することであるならば其の対象を問わず、其の手段を選ばないのであり、更に進んでは金融界を攪乱し、経済機能を混乱に陥し入るる為、或いは紙幣を偽造撒布し、或いは物資の買い溜め、売り惜しみを為し、或いは物価高、物資難を大袈裟に捏造誇張して宣伝流布せしむる等極めて計画的な悪質手段をも採用するのである。

又一方人的戦力の低下を企図し、敵国の戦力を誇大に宣伝して国民の対敵恐怖心を誘発し、自国の戦果発表に対し疑惑を生ぜしむる流言を作為流布して政府の国民指導を混乱に陥入るる等陰陽様々の方法を以て国民の間に厭戦、敗戦思想を醸成蔓延せしめ、甚だしきは都市、其の他の重要個所に毒物、伝染病細菌等を撒布して非戦闘員たる国民の生命、健康に多大の脅威を加うる等、之亦残忍苛酷、方法を選ぶに何らの顧慮するところはない。

国家の興廃を賭し乾坤一擲の大戦争を遂行しつつある今日斯の如き戦慄すべき敵スパイの魔手が戦う日本の銃後に潜入し我々国民の一人一人の日常生活を目標として其の残虐飽く無き跳梁を試みんとし虎視眈々たるものがあることは当然想像せらるるところである。更に翻って我朝鮮半島に対する敵スパイの蠢動如何の問題を検討するに所謂大陸前進兵站基地として、将又大東亜共栄圏確立の基盤として極めて重要なる地位を占むる朝鮮の経済的軍事的価値の探知究明乃至之が攪乱、破壊等は敵側の当然企図すべき重点である。

況んや半島が併合後未だ三十余年、皇化日猶浅しと為し其の思想的団結に脆弱性ありと看做す敵にありては、乗ずべき日本の最大の間隙なりとして、そのスパイ活動の全力を此処にに傾注し、此の朝鮮半島の銃後に執拗なる諜報、宣伝を試み、半島の戦力減殺に必死の努力を為すべきは当然である。現にこの事は事実として顕われ、既往我々の手に依って検挙弾圧せる諸種のスパイ事件は其の件数に於いて其の巧妙悪辣さに於いて実に世人の想像に絶するものがる。

而して此等スパイは一見善良なる市民を偽装し表面的には飽く迄忠良なる皇国臣民として模範なる銃後生活を営み、以て世人、官庁の疑惑を招かざらんことを汲々として之努め、之が正体の暴露は通常の方法を以てしては極めて困難、不可能に近く、一部の人は過去に於いて彼等と軒を連ね、或いは同車、対座した事がないとも保証し得ないのであり、中には全くそのスパイたる事を知らず、之と親密に交友し同時の間にか心を許して之に国家の重要なる機密を洩らしたことがないとも限らない。即ち戦陣訓に言う『諜者は常に身辺にあり』と云う言葉や『君の隣にスパイがいる』等と云う標語の如きは単に徒なるら嚇し文句ではないのである。

斯くの如く我が国民の一人一人が其の日常生活の中に、身近に擬せられた此の敵の匕首―スパイ―之を我々は如何にして防ぎ、如何にして敲き落すべきであろうか。其の第一は、国民の一人一人が総力戦を戦う国家の国民であり、且つ近代国家総力戦に於いては国民の一人一人が防諜戦士であるという認識に徹底することが、先ず肝要な基本観念である。先に述べました如く、我々国民は仮令銃後に在っても各々の職域に於いて特に防諜戦士として喰うか喰われるかの苛烈、絶対の戦争を分担して居るのであり、各自皆アツツ島並びにソロモン群島に連りたる戦場に在ることを明記しなければならないのであって、国民の総てが先ずこの観念に徹しこの気持ちでがっちり手を組むことに依って初めて近代戦争とも成ることが出来るのである。

即ちその具体的現れとして第二に挙ぐべきは職域における挺身奉公の実践である。職域を戦場と心掛け、常在戦場の観念に徹し、全力を傾注して或いは機秘密の保持に或いは重要資源の保護に夫々の持場を死守し、スパイをして窺うべき一分の隙だになからしめ、国家の戦力増進に邁進するならば、如何なるスパイの活動と雖も施すに方法なき筈である。第三は国家の施策に絶対信頼し不平不満をいわぬばかりでなく、進んで之に協力することである。

戦は常に死を期すべきである以上苦痛、困難の伴うは当然にして、況んや物資の不足や日常生活の窮屈化は戦争には当然予想せらるることであって、之に辟易して不平を洩らし、延てはスパイの造言、煽動に乗ぜらるることが如きは戦う国の国民として全くあり得べからざることである。苛くも国民の一人一人がこれを忍び耐えることを以て当然の義務と観念し、不足を感ぜず、不満を口外せざるに於いては如何なる敵の宣伝も、流言も計画的買い溜め、売り惜しみの戦術も些したる効果をも収め得ない筈である。其の他恰も戦線悉くの兵士が司令官の命令に絶対服従し死地に挺身突撃するが如き覚悟を以て銃後総ての国民が政府の施策に信従するに於いては如何にスパイが秘策を施すとも厭戦、敗戦等の悪思想の胚胎するが如きことは絶対にあり得ないのである。

第四には進んで我々一億国民の敵スパイを剔抉することである。求敵必滅の敢闘精神を以て、日常街頭においても不断に戦う国家の一員であることを考え、銃後に潜入せるスパイの発見に心掛くるならば如何に巧妙なるスパイと雖も一億国民の炯眼の前には必ずや終にその正体を暴露するに至る。

国民は我々の中に潜む我々の敵スパイを、自分の隣から、自分の愛国班から摘発し剔抉する為に不断の注意を払い苛も不審、容疑の者あらば恰も戦場に於いて敵影を発見せる斥候の如く、直ちに進んで警察当局に申告し之が逮捕究明に積極的に協力援助すべきである。其他国民各自は戦う兵士の一人であるという覚悟の下に各自その保健、衛生に留意し伝染病の予防撲滅に努め体力の増進を図り敵の細菌戦術を完封する等防諜戦の大一線に敢闘することが刻下喫緊の急務である。

凡ては戦う国家の一員であり、戦線銃後一体の国家総力戦の戦士である事を心底より覚悟認識して職域、戦場に臨み職場を塹壕として死守敢闘するに於いては如何なる敵スパイも如何なる諜報謀略も働くに余地なく施すに策なく何等恐るるに足らない。之を要するに近代国家総力戦は戦線銃後の別なくあげてこれを凄愴なる戦場たらしめ銃後を狙うスパイの秘密戦術は世人の想像を絶する程度に愈々巧妙複雑を加え間断なく国民の日常生活を窺いつつあり、殊に頽勢を一挙に挽回せんとする米英の一大反攻作戦と相呼応してその諜報謀略戦は日一日と苛烈の度を加えつつあるから我々一人一時の油断は、全国家の戦力に影響し、皇国興廃の岐路は等しく銃後国民の双肩に負荷せらるる責任なることを銘記し『常在戦場』山本元帥の遺訓を各自の心とし、アツツ島の英霊に応え参らす覚悟を以て防諜の戦に絶対不敗の努力をなさなければならない。

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-07-14

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Wartime news coverage of Prince Yi Un (이은, 李垠) and Princess Yi Bangja (이방자, 李方子) fulfilling their royal ceremonial duties on behalf of Imperial Japan as they meet the public, accompanied by an entourage of the top elites of colonial Korean society (July 1943)

In this post, I will focus on some newspaper clippings from July 1943 featuring the Korean royal family, specifically Prince Yi Un (이은, 李垠) and Princess Yi Bangja (이방자, 李方子). Each article featuring the royals is typically written in very formal and respectful Japanese prose, reflecting the extreme deference that they were afforded in colonial Korea. What's intriguing about these articles is how they present the royals at work, carrying out their ceremonial duties on behalf of the colonial regime. It is quite timely, as it has almost been exactly 80 years since these articles were published.

The Imperial Japanese colonial administration wanted to place a Korean face at the forefront, essentially using the Korean royals to humanize their regime and consequently legitimize their rule to the Korean people. It's a fascinating albeit complex aspect of colonial Korea's history that warrants attention.

Among the over one hundred articles that I've posted so far, none of them really highlighted the role of the Korean royal family, which is why I decided to translate these clippings. At first glance, these articles may seem quite mundane, showing the royals arriving at the airport and then visiting an army hospital, performing ceremonial functions that might be very familiar to any working member of the modern British or Japanese royal families today. However, their true value lies in the context that they provide.

Whenever the royals visited the public, they were typically accompanied by retinues of powerful and influential figures in colonial Korean society, since proximity to the royals presumably bestowed fame and prestige. Thus, the narrative woven by these articles includes a veritable list of 'Who's Who' of colonial Korea, providing some insight into the power dynamics and the key figures of the era. For external observers trying to understand the workings of the colonial regime, any changes in the names mentioned in these articles could signify shifts in power or changes in the regime's hierarchy. In other words, reading the names mentioned in these articles is like capturing a snapshot of the key figures in colonial Korea at one moment in time, almost exactly 80 years ago.

I'm posting these translations not only because they're interesting historical records, but also because they serve as a great starting point for discussions and explorations about colonial Korea, due to the sheer concentration of names of key historical figures in colonial Korean history. To make this post a good reference tool, I have generously added links to key names and institutions that are mentioned in the first article of this post, which are in English, Japanese, or Korean. Each member of the Korean Royal Family has his/her own interesting personal history filled with turmoil and drama, and the same can be said of the key Imperial Japanese figures of the Governor-General's Office and the Imperial Army, which ruled colonial Korea with an iron fist. Feel free to explore their stories, using these news clippings as the beginning of your journey down the rabbit hole.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) June 29, 1943

Prince Yi Un and his wife, Princess Yi Bangja

Return to Korea to Visit the Royal Tombs

Safely Landed Yesterday by Air

Original Photo Caption: Prince Yi Un and Princess Yi Bangja on their safe landing (photo taken respectfully at the airport)

Statement by the Office of the Yi Dynasty

June 28 - Prince Yi Un (이은, 李垠) and his wife, Princess Yi Bangja (이방자, 李方子) returned to Korea for a visit to the royal tombs. At 2:15 PM today, they landed at Seoul Airport, where they were welcomed by Governor-General Koiso, Commander Itagaki, Chief of Civil Administration Tanaka, among other senior officials, their wives, heads of various bureaus at the Governor-General's Office, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Mayor of Seoul, along with many of their close relatives and others. They left the airport at 2:25 PM, and entered Changdeok Palace at 3:00 PM in a good mood.

For the successful completion of the Greater East Asia War, Prince Yi Un took a break from his many military duties, accompanied by Princess Yi Bangja, Secretary Yamashita Heiichi, Military Attaché Lieutenant Colonal Ina Shigenari, Court Physician Okamoto Hinana, and Personal Assistant Miura Kiyoko. To visit the royal tombs, they returned to Korea by air and landed at the Seoul Airport at 2:15 PM on the 28th.

Upon their arrival at the airport, a great number of military and civilian representatives lined up to welcome them: Empress Sunjeonghyo (순정효황후, 純貞孝皇后), Prince Yi Geon (이건, 李鍵), Prince Yi U (이우, 李鍝), Governor-General Koiso and his wife, Commander Itagaki of the Korean Armed Forces, Chief of Civil Administration Tanaka and his wife, Principal Shinoda Jisaku of Seoul Imperial University, Secretariat Director Eguchi and other Department Directors of the Governor-General's Office, Vice President of the Central Council of the Yi Family, Central Council Advisors Park Jung-yang (박중양, 朴重陽), Han Sang-nyong (한상룡, 韓相龍), Yun Chi-ho (Itō Chikō, 윤치호, 尹致昊), Commander Takehara of Seoul Division, Chief of Staff Ihara of the Korean Army, Commander Kobayashi, Commander Nakai of the Kempeitai (Military Police), Chief of the Office of the Yi Dynasty Lee Hang-gu (이항구, 李恒九), General Hada of the Korean Federation of National Power, Governor of Gyeonggi Province Taka Yasuhiko, Mayor of Seoul Furuichi, and many other representatives of the military, government, and civilian sectors. Their plane made a loop in the air and then landed safely, kicking up a cloud of summer grass.

Prince Yi Un, in his military uniform, and Princess Yi Bangja, in her Western-style dress, stepped off the plane in good spirits, then entered the audience chamber guided by the Chief of the Aviation Division. After being greeted by Empress Sunjeonghyo (순정효황후, 純貞孝皇后), Prince Yi Geon (이건, 李鍵), Prince Yi U (이우, 李鍝), Governor-General Koiso, Commander Itagaki, Chief of Civil Administration Tanaka among other senior officials, at 2:25 PM, they left the airport. Prince Yi Un and Princess Yi Bangja looked out over the resilient Korean populace at war on the home front, who tightly lined the streets to greet them while they were on their way to Changdeok Palace, where they arrived safely at 3 PM.

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) July 3, 1943

Prince Yi Un and his wife, Princess Yi Bangja Visit the Army Hospital

Wounded Soldiers Moved to Tears by Their Kindness

Original Photo Caption: Prince Yi Un and Princess Yi Bangja during their visit to the Army Hospital in Seoul

During their stay in Korea, Prince Yi Un and his wife, Princess Yi Bangja, took a day out of their busy schedule to visit the wounded soldiers at the Army Hospital in Seoul. On July 2, at 9 AM, they left Changdeok Palace with Military Attaché Ina Shigenari, Personal Assistant Miura, Court Physician Okamoto, Chief of the Office of the Yi Dynasty Lee Hang-gu (이항구, 李恒九), and Vice-Chief Kojima, among others. At the hospital, where the national flag was flying, Commander Takehara, Chief of Staff Ihara of the Korean Army, Surgeon General Dr. Shindō of the Korean Army, Chief of Staff Aratomi of the Seoul Division, Surgeon General Dr. Niwa of the Seoul Division, and Hospital Director Ishimatsu, among others, lined up inside the main gate to welcome them. Prince Yi Un and Princess Yi Bangja arrived at the hospital by car at 9:15 AM. They were escorted by Hospital Director Ishimatsu to a resting place in the Hospital Director's office. After a short rest, they received Commander Takehara, Surgeon General Dr. Shindō, Chief of Staff Ihara, Chief of Staff Aratomi of the Seoul Division, Surgeon General Dr. Niwa of the Seoul Division, and Hospital Director Ishimatsu, one by one.

Then, Prince Yi Un and Princess Yi Bangja were led by Hospital Director Ishimatsu into the conference room that was designated as the standing audience room, where they were received by the officers attached to the hospital, and then they returned to the Hospital Director's office. There, in the presence of Commander Takehara, Chiefs of Staff Ihara and Aratomi, and Surgeons General Dr. Shindō and Dr. Niwa, who were standing at attention, Hospital Director Ishimatsu explained the history and current situation of the Army Hospital. Starting from 9:40 AM, they were led by Hospital Director Ishimatsu and Chief Physician Haida as they visited the second surgical ward and other wards, receiving warm welcomes as Hospital Director Ishimatsu gave explanations. The lightly injured soldiers lined up in the hall of the Patriotic Building. The wounded soldiers who received gifts of sweets and flowers were deeply moved by the kindness of Their Imperial Highnesses, and the wounded soldiers became more and more determined to resume their duties. After resting in the Hospital Director's office, Their Imperial Highnesses were seen off by Commander Takehara and others at the main gate, and they left the hospital at 10:15 AM, returning to Changdeok Palace.

Commander Takehara of the Seoul Division made a respectful statement: "Today, Prince Yi Un and Princess Yi Bangja personally visited our Seoul Hospital and warmly met with the wounded soldiers. They were deeply touched to hear about the medical condition of each soldier. Upon receiving sweets and flowers as gifts, the soldiers were deeply moved by their kindness and swore to recover and resume their duties."

(Transcription)

京城日報 1943年6月29日

李王、同妃両殿下

御墓参の為御帰鮮

きのう空路恙なく御着

御安着遊ばされた李王、同妃両殿下(飛行場にて謹写)

李王職発表

【六月二十八日】李王、同妃両殿下には御墓参の為、本日午後二時十五分、京城飛行場御着、同飛行場に於いて小磯総督、板垣軍司令官、田中政務総監初め親任官、同待遇者並びに同夫人、総督府各局長、京畿道知事、京城府尹、主なる御親戚其の他の奉迎を受けさせられ、午後二時二十五分飛行場御発、午後三時御機嫌麗しく昌徳宮に入らせられたり。

大東亜戦争完遂に御多端なる軍務の寸暇をさいて李王垠殿下には同妃方子女王殿下御同伴、事務官山下平一氏、御附武官伊奈重誠中佐、典医岡本陽七氏、御用取扱三浦清子女史を帯同、御墓参のため二十八日午後二時十五分、京城飛行場御着、空路御帰鮮遊ばされた。

飛行場には大妃殿下、李鍵公家、李鍝公家の三御使、小磯総督、同夫人、板垣朝鮮軍司令官、田中政務総監、同夫人、篠田城大総長をはじめ、江口総務局長外総督府各局長、李家中枢院副議長、朴忠重陽、韓相龍、伊東致昊の各中枢院顧問、竹原京城師団長、井原朝鮮軍参謀長、小林部隊長、中井憲兵隊司令官、李恒九李王職長官、波田総連総長、高京畿道知事、古市京城府尹等、軍官民代表者多数整列して奉迎御待ち申しあぐれば、両殿下御搭乗の飛行機は上空を一旋回、夏草を蹴って御安着。

凛とした軍装の李王垠殿下、御洋装の同妃殿下には御機嫌麗しく降り立たせられ、下城航空課長の先導にて賜謁室に入らせられ、大妃殿下、李鍵公家、李鍝公家の御使をはじめ小磯総督、板垣軍司令官、田中政務総監外親任官、同待遇者に謁を賜わり、同二時二十五分飛行場御発、沿道堵列して奉迎申し上ぐれば両殿下には決戦下銃後の逞しき半島民衆の上に御目をとどめさせられながら御恙なく同三時、昌徳宮に入らせられた。

京城日報 1943年7月3日

李王、同妃両殿下、陸軍病院へ御成り

御仁慈に傷病兵感泣

京城陸軍病院へ御成りの李王、同妃両殿下

李王、同妃両殿下には傷病兵御慰問の思召をもって御帰鮮中の御多端なる御日程の一日をさかれ、二日午前九時、伊奈御附武官、三浦御用取扱、岡本典医、李恒九李王職長官、児嶋同次官等を帯同、昌徳宮を御出発。京城陸軍病院に御成り遊ばされたこの日、病院では国旗を掲げ、竹原京城師団長、井原朝鮮軍参謀長、進藤同軍医部長、有富京城師団参謀長、丹羽同軍医部長、石松病院長以下将校等正門内に整列。奉迎申上ぐれば、自動車に召された両殿下には午前九時十五分御着。石松病院長の御先導にて病院長室の御休所に入らせられ御少憩の御のち竹原師団長、進藤朝鮮軍軍医部長、井原同参謀長、有富京城師団参謀長、丹羽同軍医部長、石松病院長に単独に謁を賜う。

次で両殿下には石松病院長の御先導にて列立拝謁室に当てられた会議室に入らせられ、病院附将校に列立拝謁を賜うた御のち、病院長室に御引返しになり、竹原師団長、井原朝鮮軍、有富師団両参謀長、進藤朝鮮軍、丹羽師団両軍医部長侍立のもとに石松病院長は陸軍病院の沿革、現状等の概況を言上した御のち、同九時四十分から石松病院長御先導、灰田診療主任扈従し、第二外科病室から順次御慰問、有難き御下問を拝し石松病院長から御説明申上げる。軽傷者は愛国館広間に整列奉拝し、御見舞いの御菓子料、御花を戴いた傷病兵は両殿下の御仁慈を恐懼感激し、益々再起奉公の決意を固めた。両殿下には病院長室に御休憩の御のち、正門内にて竹原師団長以下の奉送を受けさせられ、同十時十五分病院を御発、昌徳宮に御帰宮あらせられた。

竹原京城師団長謹話:李王殿下、同妃殿下には本日、当京城病院にお成りあらせられ親しく傷病兵を御見舞いあらせられ、その一人一人につき病状等を御聞き召され感激に堪えません。また御菓子料、御花を戴きまして傷病兵一同はこの厚き御心に対しまして心に深く再起奉公を誓ったことと存じます。

Source 1: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-06-29

Source 2: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-07-03

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Imperial Japan had postwar plans to quadruple Japanese settlers in Korea to dominate the most technologically intensive industries, and suppress Korean access to higher education to quell 'dissatisfaction' (June 1943)

I recently came across two intriguing news articles from the Japanese colonial period of Korean history that shed light on the intricacies of the colonial government's decision-making process. The goal was clear: they aimed to increase the number of ethnic Japanese people in Korea from 700,000 to a whopping 4 million to solidify Imperial Japan's colonial control over Korea. However, their approach to achieving this was not without its contradictions.

While the officials wished to increase the number of college-educated Koreans to boost industrial production, they were wary of producing too many. An oversaturated job market could lead to a surge of unemployed college graduates, sparking potential discontent.

Simultaneously, the resettlement of educated Japanese into Korea was to provide staffing for the newly developed industries. Yet, they had to strike a balance as overpopulation of these industries could have led to staffing shortages back in Japan.

Furthermore, they faced a dichotomy in their approach to supporting businesses. On one side, there was a desire to extend aid to existing small and medium-sized businesses to ensure their survival (maintenance and nurturing), and on the other side, resources were to be expended to usher in new businesses (expansion).

The postwar immigration policy of the colonial regime, as discussed in these articles, would have seen the settlement of over 3 million additional Japanese people into Korea. Most would have been employed in the most technologically intensive industries, and a significant number of Japanese farmers would have settled in the Korean countryside. Consequently, educational opportunities and job prospects would have been far more limited for Koreans than for the Japanese settlers, exacerbating existing ethnic inequality and discrimination.

What is both revealing and disturbing is that the phrase 'treated as Koreans' from the text was indicative of mistreatment. This phrase underlines the generalized notion that Koreans were not treated well, and surprisingly, colonial officials openly admitted to this discrimination happening in Japan.

Interestingly, there are also depictions of Korean cultural practices, such as upper-class Koreans not smoking unless elders permit them to, not using the term 'goodbye,' and subordinates speaking to superiors while standing over them. As someone not intimately familiar with these traditions, I would love to hear from our Korean members about the accuracy of these descriptions.

I'm sharing these articles to provide some context to the complex dynamics of the colonial period and invite thoughtful conversation. As always, let's keep exploring these issues.

Panelists from the colonial government in the roundtable discussion

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) June 19, 1943

A real look into the Korean Peninsula at war

Roundtable discussion with executives at the Interior Ministry of the Governor-General's Office (Part 5)

Take care to understand the differences in the customs of the upper-class households

Kōtaki Motoi, Director of the Production Bureau: In Korea, too, there are polite individuals in irritating households that have been brought up in Confucianism for generations. In such households, family members refrain from smoke in front of their elders. Unless explicitly given permission by their parents, children wouldn't even dare smoke if offered cigarettes as guests. It seems such strict manners are prevalent in the upper-class households of Korea. But such customs do not permeate the entire society. Furthermore, these customs can be strikingly different from those practiced in mainland Japan. For instance, in my household, I employ a maidservant who, according to Korean etiquette, stands and speaks even when the master is sitting. In other words, the maidservant stands up to speak while looming over her master. After speaking, she kneels down, places her hands on the floor, and then leaves without uttering a goodbye, because it is deemed inappropriate to sit together with the master. It is strange, but a simple phrase like "goodbye" do not exist. When the conversation ends, Koreans just bow silently and leave.

Nakai Kazuo, a member of the Interior Ministry and the Parliament: Evidently, the cultural differences are immense.

Shiota Seikō, Director of Department of Rural Villages: As Nakai-san previously pointed out, there is a prevalent belief that uneducated Koreans tend to migrate to mainland Japan, creating negative sentiments among the Japanese. However, this is not entirely true. Many educated Koreans also move to mainland Japan. However, when Koreans go to mainland Japan, they are generally treated as Koreans. Then, when those Koreans return to Korea, they tell others that mainland Japanese are extremely outrageous and have a sense of superiority. That is why we need to distinguish between the good ones and the bad ones.

Mr. Nakai: Speaking candidly about the student problem, I think it may be necessary to dissuade Korean youth from attending specialized schools or higher, such as law schools. Especially now, competition is fierce since many people want to enter specialized schools or higher in mainland Japan. One must be very competent to be able to enter such schools, but the problem is what happens after graduation. For example, it's quite difficult to be hired as a public servant regardless of whether you are Korean or Japanese. Dissatisfaction arises. Receiving a higher education may cause mental distress, and I think it may lead to very negative outcomes.

Director Shiota: Even if those with aspirations in technical fields go to schools in mainland Japan and acquire skills, when they return to Korea, there is a delicate issue in that the factories and mines in Korea are unable to accommodate them all.

Mr. Nakai: In fact, even in mainland Japan, we are now saying, "Close down the specialized schools or higher that are not directly useful for this war". The trend is moving in that direction. Ideologically, I think it would be good to strongly recommend a vocational education to our Korean compatriots as much as possible. Before, I thought that it would be good to have the Koreans work in the fields of science and engineering and have Korea be developed mainly by the hands of Koreans. But hearing your story, Director Shiota, it appears that the situation isn't that simple.

Yamana Mikio, Chief of the Documentation Division: We are focusing on giving the Koreans a practical education in junior high schools and below.

Morita Masayoshi, member of the Interior Ministry: There are 700,000 mainland Japanese and 24 million Korean people. Therefore, the 700,000 will have to lead the 24 million, but I think this number is small. Some people say that there must be at least 4 million mainland Japanese people on the Korean peninsula. Then, what are the strategies for increasing this number, and how should we proceed?

Mr. Nakai: I would like to approach this issue from the following perspective. The main theme of this provisional conference is enterprise reinforcement and production increase, with a particular focus on resolving the food shortage problem. I would like to further explore the relationship between enterprise reinforcement, the Governor-General's Office, and its impact on the Korean peninsula, before proceeding to tackle the current problem...

Director Kōtaki: In Korea, there are no enterprises similar to those in mainland Japan, either currently or under planning. That is what I meant when I said earlier that Korea is still a child. Therefore, we are not considering tackling the issues that mainland Japan is thinking about in a big way. Labor issues are being seriously considered, but the primary labor sources in Korea have traditionally been the rural areas. Small and medium-sized businesses in Korea are not primary labor sources, and they are something that we need to advance from now on. But even if we try to reinforce the small and medium-sized businesses in Korea now, I don't think that it will have much effect. Instead, we must expand the businesses, depending on what they are. Accordingly, the maintenance and nurturing of small and medium-sized businesses in Korea is what we have been doing so far.

Mainland Japan has alternated between the maintenance and nurturing phase and the reorganization phase, and as it enters the decisive stage of this great war, it is about to actively enter a reinforcement phase. In contrast, Korea has consistently been in the maintenance and nurturing phase from beginning to end, as the Governor-General's Office says, but actual problems cannot be solved this way. A growing sentiment of discontent is emerging. (to be continued...)

Welcoming the Desired Excellence in Technology, Immigration of Mainland Japanese Farmers also Welcome (June 20)

Director Kōtaki: One of the compelling reasons for maintaining and nurturing small and medium-sized businesses in Korea is that the relatively large population of mainland Japanese people who come to Korea is engaged in such industries. We can't easily rationalize and consolidate these, so we have been focusing on maintaining and nurturing them as before. However, this cannot continue indefinitely. For example, if the textile industry in mainland Japan is developed, then the flow of people from mainland Japan to Korea will drastically decrease. There is also a large proportion of mainland Japanese people involved in wholesaling. As the products handled by the wholesalers gradually decrease, there are concerns about wholesaling businesses imploding in various areas.

The production of daily necessities sold in Korea is still very scarce in Korea. We are heavily reliant on production in Osaka and other places in mainland Japan. If production in mainland Japan can't keep up, then products will become even scarcer in Korea. At this stage, we are backed into a corner, so we need to do something and take some measures to support small and medium-sized businesses. That's why we are preparing this budget. I can't say that it's the same for the whole industry, but as you know, the production of daily necessities is not enough today. We have aimed to make Korea an Asian continental military base. We consider this our mission, and in some respects, we are proud of it. In that sense, even small businesses in Korea will be run by mainland Japanese people. In the future, the lives of Koreans will become more Japanized, and the consumer goods consumed by mainland Japanese people and Korean people will become the same. Naturally, since there are transportation difficulties in sending daily necessities to the Asian continent, such as Northern China, Manchuria, or small places like Kwantung Leased Territory, we want each place to be self-sufficient. That's why we want Korea to supply itself with everything on a comprehensive basis. From that point of view, the time for reorganization has not yet come, and a considerable number of industries have already relocated here from mainland Japan due to the urgent need in Korea. I think there are more than 200 firms that have already relocated here, but I think we still have to grow more. However, even if we manage to find the funds and labor necessary for growth, the raw materials cannot be readily procured from mainland Japan. That's why we have to produce such raw materials in Korea.

Creating new factories will inevitably lead to idle facilities. However, it is also necessary use this opportunity to bring excellent technology from mainland Japan to Korea to make it a supply base for the Asian continent. Integration with excellent technology will be good for the businesses themselves. So it's not that we don't have to reorganize the industry at all. It's just that I think that we still need to keep encouraging small and medium-sized businesses.

Mr. Morita: So, in conclusion, it's going to be difficult to increase the number mainland Japanese people in Korea, who currently number 700,000?

Director Kōtaki: It's difficult, but if possible, I want to bring excellent technology to Korea. Electrochemical industries and light metal industries are going to expand rapidly. By having everyone from middle-level technicians, public servants, high-level technicians to lower-level leaders come in from mainland Japan, I think the overall technology level of Korea will improve, so I think we need to continue to bring in more people.

Also in rural areas, it would be very good if we could settle more mainland Japanese people, but since the situation now is such that Korean youths are helping out with farming in mainland Japan, I think it may be difficult.

Director Shiota: Having farmers from mainland Japan come here for the expansion and improvement of agricultural productivity would be very good. Such models exist here and there. For instance, it has been over ten years since about one hundred graduates from Katō Kanji's higher elementary school settled in the area along the route from Seoul to Wonsan. Furthermore, about one hundred and fifty children are currently attending the higher elementary school. These people truly embody the spirit of hard work. They built their own fancy homes, apparently made of brick, by employing Chinese laborers while they themselves also worked and earned wages. Even the Chinese laborers were astounded and claimed that they were more skilled than themselves. [laughter] They are farmers who have a very developed hard working spirit.

There's another instance of two brothers who received the same education and settled in a deserted mountain near Mount Kongō. Initially, when they started planting deciduous pine trees and corn on the mountain, the Korean people mocked them, questioning what could be achieved in such a place. However, nowadays, everyone is following their example and planting corn. Models like these exist in various places. The worst are the so-called 'haori peasants' who act like landlords and employ laborers for farming. They even buy their vegetables from the Chinese, so some of them are gradually becoming unsuccessful.

In Korea, there are quite a few immigrants who came through the Oriental Development Company, some of whom have been successful, while others have not. To name some recent outstanding cases, people from mainland Japan are coming to Korea and growing sweet potatoes. We thought the best yield in Korea would be about 200 kan [750 kg] per tan [~0.25 acre, ~0.1 hectare], but there are places in Gongju where the yield is 960 kan [3,600 kg]. Surrounding areas have all turned to sweet potato farming, and Chungcheongnam-do's sweet potato seedlings are in high demand. I believe that it's better to bring in one mainland Japanese farmer to Korea than to bring in ten mainland Japanese technicians. That's why I'm trying to bring in about 50 families of mainland Japanese farmers who have received an education like Katō Kanji's, but with the current situation, many farmers find it increasingly difficult to live in Korea and are leaving. There are various reasons, but young men are increasingly being drafted and dying in the war. If they stay in mainland Japan, relatives can somehow lend a hand, but here in Korea, there's nothing they can do, so some of them return to mainland Japan. Regardless of whether bringing in young, vigorous individuals from mainland Japan would work or not, there is a considerable demand for mainland Japanese farmers to settle in Korean rural areas.

I recently visited a place where there were eight households of mainland Japanese farmers, nine of whom had soldiers who were conscripted for war. In one household, a 16-year-old child was all alone, making a seedbed. In one irrigation association district, it seems everyone is trying to help in various ways, but it still seems daunting. Even though good farmers have come, there's no way to retain them. There is nothing better than to bring in mainland Japanese farmers, because it's certain that things will improve this way. (to be continued...)

(Transcription)

京城日報 1943年6月19日

決戦半島の真姿

内務省委員総督府幹部対談会(5)

上流家庭では厳格理解せよ、習慣の違い

上瀧基、殖産局長:朝鮮でも先祖代々儒教で育ったやかましい家には行儀正しいものもある。そういう家では例えば目上の人の前で煙草は喫まない。親子で来た客などに煙草をすすめても親が喫めといわない限りは喫まない。朝鮮でも上流家庭ではそういう厳格な作法があるようだ。ところが一般社会にそういうことはない。もう一つは若しそういう厳格なものがあったとしても、それが内地の場合と全然正反対なことがある。例えば私の家に女中を使っているが、朝鮮の流儀から言うと主人が坐っている時でも女中は立ったまま物を言うことが礼儀で、目上の人には立ちはだかって物を言う。手をついて『さようなら』を言わずにすっと立ち上がって言う。主人と同座ではいけないということなのだ。それから妙なことであるが、『さようなら』というような簡単な言葉がない。話がきれると、だまってお辞儀して帰ってしまう。

中井一夫・内務省委員・衆議院議員:非常に違ったところがあるのですね。

塩田正洪、農村局長:先程中井さんの仰有ったことの中に、内地にどうも教養の低い者が来るので内地人としてもいい感情が湧かんというお話であったが、実際は相当に教養のある者もいるわけである。ところが内地に行ってみると、一概に朝鮮人として扱われる。そこで今度は朝鮮に帰って来た連中は、どうも内地人は優越感を持っていて不埒千万だというようなことにもなる。いい分子と悪い分子との見さかいをつけて頂くことが必要だ。

中井氏:学生問題に就いて率直に言うと、私は朝鮮の青年を余り専門学校以上の法科というような学校にはやらないように仕向けることも必要ではないかと思う。殊に今は内地でも専門学校以上の学校には入学志願者が殺到していて非常な競争である。それに来て入学出来るというのは余程出来る人に違いないけれども、卒業後のことが一つの悩みである。例えば官公吏の採用問題でも、内鮮人を問わず余程困難だ。そこに不平が起る。高い養育を受けたために却って精神的な煩悶を来すということになって、非常に悪い結果を齎すようなことにもなると思う。

塩田局長:技術者方面でも志を立てて内地の学校に行って技術を修得していざ朝鮮に帰って来ても、工場鉱山では全部収容の余地がないとそこにデリケートな問題があるわけである。

中井氏:実は、私共は今内地でも『この戦争に直接役立たない学校なんか専門学校以上のものは閉鎖して了え』と言っている。機運は大分そういう風に動いている。思想的ないろんな関係から見ても、半島同胞には出来るだけ職業教育を大いに推奨することがいいのではないかと思う。そうして理工科方面をやらせて朝鮮の開発は大いに半島同胞の手でやらすということがいいのではないかと思っておったのであるが、塩田さんのお話を聞くとそれも簡単には行かないわけですね。

山名酒喜男、文書課長:中等学校以下は実業教育一点張りでやっている。

森田正義、内務省委員:内地人七十万、半島人二千四百万、そうすると七十万が二千四百万を指導して行かなければならぬことになるが、これでは数が少ないと思う。或る人は少なくとも半島に四百万の内地人はいなければならんといっている。そうすると、これを殖やす方法及び持ってゆき方について何か対策は...

中井氏:その問題に就いては私はこういう所から承りたいと思う。それは今度の臨時議会の主題は企業整備及び生産力増強、殊に食糧問題の解決ということが重点であるから、企業整備と朝鮮総督府との関係、どういう影響が半島に及ぶかという問題をお聴きして、それから今の問題にはいって頂いたらどうかと思うが...

上瀧局長:朝鮮としては、内地が現にやるし、これからやらんとするような企業がまだない。それがつまり先刻申しました朝鮮がまだ子供だということである。であるから内地が考えておるような問題は大きく取り上げるということは考えていない。労力の問題が真剣に取り上げられて来ているが、従来朝鮮の労力の源泉は農村にある。朝鮮に於ける中小商工業は労力の源泉とはならず、寧ろこれから進めて行かなければならない。そういうものを今整備してみたところで、大して効果はないと思う。ものに依ってはもっと拡充しなければならん。したがって朝鮮に於ける中小商工業は維持育成であるということで今日まで来ておるわけである。

内地は或る時には維持育成、或る時には整理統合ということで来て、結局この大戦争の決戦段階に入って積極的に整備ということが取り上げられて来ているが、朝鮮は終始一貫維持育成で来ているところで実情はどうかと言うと、総督府は維持育成というが現実の問題はそれで済まない。我々をどうして呉れるのだという気持ちが出て来ている。(つづく)

欲しい優秀な技術、内地農家の移住も歓迎(6月20日)

上瀧局長:朝鮮で中小商工業の維持育成という一つの有力な理由としては、朝鮮に来ている内地人の比較的多い階層は中小商工業であるが、これをうかつなことで整理統合ということは出来ないので、従来之等に維持育成という方面に努力して来たのであるが、現状はいつまでもそれでは行けない。例えば内地で繊維産業が整備されて行くとすれば、今まで内地から朝鮮にはいっていたものがどんどん減る。卸に就いては相当内地人方面が多い。だんだん取り扱う商品が減って来るにしたがって自滅するのではないかと心配を各方面でしている。

朝鮮で販売されておる日常生活必需品の生産はまだまだ朝鮮では非常に少ない。大阪その他に多く依存している。それが内地でも足らなくなると朝鮮では益々少なくなって行く。こういう状態にある中小商工業に対して何等かの対策をとらなければならぬという追いつめられた段階に立って、なんとかしなければならないというので、そういう予算も出すことになっている。工業に就いても同じだとは言えぬが、生活必要品の製造業は御承知のように今日とても足らない。朝鮮はかねてから大陸兵站基地ということを目標にして、我々もそれを自任し、或る面に於いては自負して来ておる。そういった意味から朝鮮の小さいものでもそれが内地人の事業であり、また今後益々朝鮮人の生活は内地化され、内鮮人間の消費物資が共通して来るようになると自然、大陸方面に対してどうしても出したい生活必需品は北支、満州、或いは小さくいって関東州というような所でも、輸送の困難というようなことから、それぞれ自給自足をはかりたいということであるが、朝鮮としては、一歩出て全般的に何とかして供給したいという考えを持っている。そういう点からまだまだ整理の機会に至らず、そういった朝鮮の差し迫った必要からして既に内地から移駐して来た工業は相当の数になっている。二百以上もあるだろうと思う。しかしまだまだ殖やして行かなければならんと思う。しかし殖やすについてはそれ等に必要な資金とか労力は何とかするとしても、原材料は中中内地からは来ない。だから朝鮮でそういう原材料を生産して行かなければならない。

新しい工場をどんどん造ると遊休設備が出来ることになる。しかしこういう機会にこそ内地の優秀技術を朝鮮に入れて大陸の供給基地たらしめるということも必要である。技術のなってないものは優秀な技術に統合して行けば事業自体にもいい。だから工業の面でも全然整理しなくていいというのではないが、大体中小工業というようなものは、やはり奨励して行かなければならんじゃないかと考えている。

森田氏:そうすると結論として七十万の内地人を殖やすということは、中々難しいということになりますか。

上瀧局長:難しいのですが、出来れば優秀な技術を朝鮮に持って来たい。電気化学工業とか軽金属工業というようなものは、これからどんどん拡充されて行くわけで、そういう所の中堅技術者、公務員、ずっと上の高級技術者から下の方の幹部職工といったようなところまで、内地からどんどんはいって来ることに依って朝鮮全般の技術の程度も向上すると思うから、そういう方面にまだまだ入れなければならんと思う。

それから農村に於いても農村に内地人を植え付けるということは出来れば非常にいいことであるが、朝鮮の青年が内地に手伝いに行っている位であるから、これは言うべくして中々難しいと思う。

塩田局長:農業生産力の拡充増強に内地の農家が居ることは非常にいい。そういうモデルが方々にある。例えば京城から元山に行く途中に加藤完治さんの高等国民学校を出たのが百戸ばかり来ているが、もう十年以上になる。それからもう百五十人位子供が国民学校に通っている。これなんぞ本当に勤労精神の体得者で、自分達だけで家を造った、煉瓦造りみたようなしゃれた家ですが、それを支那人に請け負わして労力は自分達が雇われて行って人夫賃を貰った。さすがの支那人も舌を巻いて、我等よりうわ手だと言った(笑い声)それ位に勤労精神の発達した農民である。

もう一つはやはりそれと同じ教育を受けた者で、金剛山の近くで荒れた山に入った兄弟がある。最初は山に落葉松を植えたり玉蜀黍を植えたりしていると、それを見て朝鮮人が、「あんなところに何が出来るか」と言って嘲笑っていた。ところが近頃はみんなそれに倣って玉蜀黍を植えたりしている。そういうモデルは方々にある。一番いけないのは羽織百姓というやつで、地主気取りで労働者を使って農業をする。野菜も支那人から買うというようなので、だんだんいけなくなったのもある。

朝鮮では東拓の手を介して来た移民が相当にあるが、成功したのもあり、成功しないものもある。また極めく最近の例では内地人で朝鮮に来て薩摩藷作りをやっているのである。我々も朝鮮ではせいぜい反当り二百貫位がいいところだと思っていたが、公州で九百六十貫を挙げている所がある。その周囲は皆藷作りになって、忠南の藷の苗を一手に出しているが、そこで私は考える。技術者が十人居るよりも一人の農家を朝鮮に入れた方がいい。それで今加藤完治さんあたりの教育を受けた内地農家を五十戸位入れたいと思ってやっているが、こういう時勢になってだんだん住み難くくなって朝鮮を退散する農家が多くなった。いろんな事情もあるが、だんだん若い者は壮丁に取られて、戦死をしたというようなことになると、内地に居れば親族縁達が何とか手伝ってもくれるが、ここではどうにもならんというので帰るのもある。若盛りの者を内地から連れて来てうまく行くかどうか、朝鮮の農村でも内地農家を入れて貰いたいという声は相当にある。

この間に行った所では、内地農家が八戸あって、そこから九人も出征しておる。その中の一軒では誰もいないので十六になる子供が一人で苗床を作ってやっていた。水利組合地区でみんなで色々面倒を見ているらしいが、しかしそういうことでは心細いらしい。折角いい農家が来ても、それを足止めする方法がない。内地農家を入れるに越したことはない。必ずよくなるに決まっているのだから(つづく)

Source 1: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-06-19

Source 2: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-06-20

Elderly Korean farmer Kim Chi-gu (김치구, 金致龜) featured in 1943 article fervently donating 150,000 kg of rice to the Imperial Japanese Army every year and receiving honors from Prime Minister Tojo at a formal awards ceremony in Haeju

I wanted to share an intriguing article that I recently came across in an old issue of the Keijo Nippo newspaper, a known propaganda tool fo...