Imperial Japan hunted shortwave listeners in colonial Korea: 246 people investigated and 50 radios seized by Inspector Saiga Shichirō, a notorious torturer accused of fabricating cases and sending detainees to their deaths (1942–44)

During World War II, Imperial Japan banned the use of shortwave radios, which tech savvy Koreans were apparently using to secretly listen to the Korean-language service of the Voice of America, which began broadcasting in August 1942. Doing so was extremely risky, since anyone who was caught by Imperial military police faced detention by Inspector Saiga Shichirō, who was notorious for fabricating cases and brutally torturing and killing detainees.

By 1944, a few hundred Koreans were arrested for shortwave radio offenses. Thus, the number of shortwave listeners was probably extremely small, numbering maybe only a few hundred in a population of over 25 million. Nevertheless, it is a testament to the insecurities of the totalitarian regime that it went to such great lengths to crack down on such a tiny circle of listeners, presumably because uncensored news about the war threatened its monopoly over information and challenged its control over the minds of the Korean people. The ominous final paragraphs of the article, hinting at further rounds of arrests, appear calculated to frighten anyone who might still have been listening.

Also reproduced here is a news advertisement from the July 20, 1938, issue of Keijo Nippo newspaper illustrating an example of an AM radio set, which might have been modified by Korean hackers to receive shortwave signals. This particular model is a Sharp M-3 radio set manufactured by Hayakawa Electric, a precursor of the modern Sharp Corporation.

By the late 1930s, technology had progressed enough that the size of the radio sets had shrunk to that of a toaster, and only four vacuum tubes were required to operate it. But the four vacuum tubes had to be specific types: UZ 57, UX 26B, UX 12A, and KX 12F. It is a testament to the resilience and technical expertise of this underground Korean radio hacker community that they were still able to scrounge up enough parts amid wartime shortages and work clandestinely under the noses of the vigilant Imperial police and its informants to even be able to listen to the shortwave broadcasts from the U.S. and breach the regime's information blockade.

I am also documenting four other articles demonstrating just how closely radio ownership and listening were controlled in colonial Korea. Receiver installations required official permission, and the authorities periodically threatened to prosecute people who listened without authorization. I also included articles from 1942 and 1943 reminding the Korean people of the ongoing ban on shortwave radio. 

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), November 25, 1944

Criminals Who Leave No Trail
Meeting Technical Skill with Technical Skill
Inspector Saiga’s Keen Instinct for Uncovering Clandestine Shortwave Listening

In a remarkably short period of only six months, Inspector Saiga Shichirō of the Special Higher Police Section of the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Department apprehended [redacted] persons involved in clandestinely listening to shortwave broadcasts and seized fifty radio sets. These traitorous individuals had allowed themselves to be captivated by enemy schemes and, posing as well-informed persons, had spread false broadcasts throughout the community as though they were true. For his outstanding achievement in forestalling such subversive activity, Saiga received Korea’s first Police Distinguished Service Award. We asked him to describe the full scope of clandestine shortwave listening.

“While investigating a particular rumor case, we traced it to information that ordinarily could not have been obtained in Korea. Suspecting that shortwave radio was undoubtedly involved, we extended our investigation in every direction, examining connections with dealers as well as with technicians. I shall never forget that we began the investigation on the Day of the Imperial Rescript on February 8, 1943.”

“Even the largest case sounds perfectly simple once it has been solved, but making the arrests was anything but easy. If someone is transmitting radio waves, the source can be located with detection equipment. Reception, however, is different. We had to consider the equipment, its outward appearance, and other circumstances together, identify suspicious persons, and then proceed to arrest them. In practice, this was an extremely difficult problem.”

“As our surveillance expanded, their methods became more ingenious. A set might outwardly be a model certified by the Broadcasting Corporation, while its interior had been skillfully modified, allowing the owner to feign complete innocence. We started seizing actual radio sets only in February. As the investigation became more severe in April and May, suspects began burying receivers in the ground or dividing their component parts into three or four separate hiding places. Even when our preliminary investigation had already secured conclusive evidence, we sometimes had to search a house three times before finally discovering a single component. Technically speaking, their methods were quite sophisticated.”

Inspector Saiga’s skill in dealing with shortwave equipment, relentlessly examining even the smallest and most ordinary-looking component, was cultivated during his military service thirty years ago. As a signals soldier, Private First Class Saiga underwent extensive technical training and devoted himself to operational communications during the Siberian Intervention. By a curious turn of fate, the confidence he gained in those skills has now proved of great value in the Greater East Asia War.

“Even an ordinary radio is difficult to hear when improperly adjusted. With shortwave, clandestine listening is impossible without at least some technical knowledge. Anyone who succeeded in listening had probably ruined one or two radios while learning. From a technical standpoint, therefore, the offenders came from the so-called intelligentsia: people with wireless expertise, people who had studied it at school, or radio dealers.”

“From the police standpoint, the investigation proceeded by following rumors back toward their sources. But the trail often broke off midway and could not easily be followed. People often speak of arrests proceeding 'like pulling up a sweet-potato vine,' with one suspect leading to another, but matters were not so simple in this case.”

“There was, however, technical cooperation among the listeners. One member might say to another, 'I haven't been able to listen very well with mine in recent days. What could be wrong with it? Take a quick look at it for me.'”

“Of the 246 persons who became involved in the investigation, [redacted] persons were convicted. Among them were some pitiable cases, including persons who listened because close relatives were living in the continental United States and they were anxious about their safety. Nevertheless, unlawful equipment remains unlawful equipment, and they had to face the judgment of the law.”

“There was also one admirable person who, despite being exposed to outrageous falsehoods, maintained an iron resolve and personally rejected the subversive rumors.”

“Although women are ordinarily associated with criminal cases, none appeared to have been involved in clandestine shortwave listening. This may have been because of the technical knowledge that the activity required.”

Inspector Saiga believes that the practice has probably been eradicated in terms of its overall scale, but that truly malicious individuals may still be listening secretly. Perhaps he is already devising confidential plans for a second and third round of arrests.

“Work that anyone can undertake can be left to others. I do what no one else will attempt,” says Inspector Saiga. What will be the next achievement credited to him?

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), June 29, 1943

Controls on the Sale of Radio Receivers

As stronger restrictions on the supply and demand of important materials have made radio receivers and their components increasingly difficult to obtain, the Communications Bureau has decided to regulate their distribution and sale. Therefore, Mr. Fukagawa, chief of the bureau’s Supervisory Section, issued the following statement:

“The allocation of materials for radio receivers and components has recently become considerably tighter. Consequently, we can no longer supply people who wish to use a high-grade receiver merely as an ornament in a room or who unnecessarily install two or more sets.”

“From now on, distribution will be controlled according to a one-receiver-per-household principle, with the objective of making simple and inexpensive receivers widely available. Specifically:”

“1. Requests will not be accepted from persons who already possess a receiver and wish to purchase an additional one, or who wish to purchase a more advanced receiver.”

“2. In places where broadcasts can be received easily, such as cities in which broadcasting stations are located and nearby areas, only simple, inexpensive receivers will be sold, and the sale of high-grade receivers will be prohibited.”

“We particularly ask everyone not to leave the nation’s precious resources sitting idle, but to put them to effective use for listening. If a receiver is no longer needed, please transfer it to someone who requires one. Those possessing two or more receivers should transfer any unnecessary sets to others so that they may be put to use. We also ask listeners to carefully handle the receivers that they are presently using.”

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), June 26, 1943

The Growing Number of Radio Listeners
Unlicensed Listeners Should Complete the Required Procedures Immediately

Under the conditions of the Greater East Asia War, in which every day is a decisive battle, radio has cast off its former entertainment-centered role. It has become an indispensable part of national life and an important weapon for defending the home front.

The number of listeners continues to rise rapidly. During the five-day period, 6,372 new applications were submitted. On the other hand, 4,976 listening registrations were terminated because receivers had been sold, had broken down, or because their owners had moved elsewhere within or outside Korea. This produced a net increase of 1,396, bringing the total number of registered listeners to 270,854.

A considerable number of people, however, are still listening without having obtained permission, or have reported that they have discontinued listening while continuing to do so. The Communications Bureau, acting in coordination with the Broadcasting Corporation, will shortly conduct simultaneous arrests for these unlawful installations.

Because unlawful radio installations are subject to severe punishment under the Electronic Telecommunications Act, the Communications Bureau urges anyone who has not yet obtained permission to complete the required procedures immediately.

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), March 12, 1943

Shortwave Receivers Are Forbidden
Anyone Possessing One Must Report It Immediately

Across the skies of the world, a battle of radio waves is unfolding that nothing can obstruct. Radio waves, as “invisible bullets,” transcend time and distance to strike at the heart of the enemy.

The enemy, groaning under defeat, is attempting to compensate for its military disadvantage through schemes and propaganda conducted by radio broadcast. It is expected to intensify its false propaganda in the future in an effort to disrupt our home front.

For this reason, the Communications Bureau prohibited last summer the use of equipment capable of intercepting enemy false broadcasts, namely, shortwave receivers. Perhaps because radio listeners in Korea have not fully understood the purpose of the prohibition, some have failed to report their sets and have continued listening secretly without obtaining permission. More than ten such persons have already been uncovered.

The Communications Bureau urges anyone who has a shortwave receiver in his possession to come forward voluntarily before being discovered and punished.

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), September 9, 1942

Shortwave Reception Absolutely Prohibited
Severe Punishment for Unreported Listening

Do you possess a shortwave receiver or an all-wave receiver?

For counterespionage reasons under the present wartime conditions, such receivers are absolutely prohibited. Any private individual possessing one must report it immediately to the Communications Bureau, a police station, or the military police, or face punishment.

Those who are using a receiver after partially disabling its shortwave or longwave section are also requested to consult the Communications Bureau or the Broadcasting Corporation regarding the extent of the modification and to take the prescribed measures.

Domestic radio receivers, foreign-made receivers other than models certified by the Broadcasting Corporation, and specially constructed receivers, such as homemade sets, are prohibited if their reception range extends below 550 kHz or above 1,500 kHz.

Anyone possessing such a set must report it, submit it for inspection, and obtain instructions concerning the appropriate measures to be taken. If the set is subsequently discovered, its owner will be severely punished regardless of whether the owner possesses a broadcast-listening permit. The Communications Bureau urges everyone to comply so that no mistakes happen.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年11月25日

蔓を持たぬ犯人
技術には技術で
短波密聴に鋭い斎賀警部の勘

敵の謀略にうつつを脱かし物識顔でデマ放送をまことしやかに巷間に流布する短波密聴の売国奴どもを僅か六ヶ月の短期間に関係者〇〇名と五十台の機械を取り押さえ、謀略を未然に防いだ抜群の功で朝鮮最初の警察功績賞を受けた京畿道警察部高等警察課警部斎賀七郎氏に短波密聴の全貌を聴いた。

『ある流言事件の査察をしているうち鮮内で普通には知り得られない流言に辿りつき、これは確かに短波が使用されているという睨みから業者の関係、技術者の関係と各方面から査察の手をのばした。取調を開始したのは忘れもしない昭和十八年二月八日の大詔奉戴日であった』

『どんな大きな事件でも片付いたあとからの話は至極簡単だが検挙は並大抵のものではない。電波を放射する発信なら探知機で突止めることも出来るが、受信となると施設或は外見といった点から綜合して怪しいと狙ったのを検挙してゆくのだから実際にはなかなか困難な問題であった。警戒の手が伸びると巧妙になって外見は放送協会の認定品でありながら実際は内部を巧みに改造して素知らぬ顔をしているといった不逞さであった。現物の押収は二月だけで四月、五月と取調べが峻厳になるにつれ受信機を土の中に隠したり部分品を三つにも四つにも分け、内査では確証を握っておりながら家宅捜査を三回繰返して漸く部分品の一つをさがし出すといった調子で技術的には相当なものだった』

何の変哲もない小さな部分品にまで査察の眼を離さず執拗に喰下る斎賀警部の短波に対する腕の冴えは三十年前の兵営生活に育まれているのだ。通信兵として技術の修練を積んだ斎賀上等兵はシベリア出兵で作戦通信に挺身した腕に覚えの自信がいま大東亜戦争に大きく役立ったのも不思議な因縁だ。

普通のラジオでさえ調節が悪ければ聴きづらいのに、まして短波になると曲りなりにも技術を知らなければ密聴は出来ない。密聴するまでにはラジオの一つや二つは壊したことであろうから機械的には無線の技術をもったものとか学校で習ったもの或はラジオ商といった範囲の所謂インテリ層なのだ。また一方警察的には流言を辿るのだが途中で根が切れてなかなか辿れない場合が多い。よく芋蔓式というが、この場合はそう簡単にはゆかない。然し技術的協力ということはある。つまり自分のは最近聞えないが、どうした調子だろう。一寸検べてくれといった仲間同志の技術の協力だ。迷惑のかかった二百四十六名のうちから〇〇名が有罪となったのだが、なかには肉親が米本土にいるのでその安否を気づかって聴いていたという気の毒な人もあったが、不法施設はあくまで不法施設であって法の裁きは受けねばならないのだ。また或人はとんでもないデマを吹込まれながら鉄壁の決意をもって不逞のデマを自ら打ち砕いていた奇特な人もあった。

犯罪には女がつきものであるにかかわらず、短波の密聴に女が関連していないのも技術といった点から姿が見えなかったのかも知れない。

量的には壊滅したであろうが本質的に悪い奴は今なお密聴しているだろうという斎賀警部の胸中には第二、第三の検挙の秘策が練られているのかもしれない。誰もが手につけるような仕事は他人まかせだ、俺は人が手をつけないことをするという斎賀警部の手に挙がる次の戦果は果して何であろう。

京城日報 1943年6月29日

受信機の販売統制

重要物資の需給制限強化によりラジオの受信機や部分品の入手も相当困難となって来たので逓信局では配給販売を統制することになったが、右に関し逓信局深川監理課長は次の通り談話を発表した。

ラジオの受信機や部分品用材の割当は最近相当窮屈になって来たので今迄のように高級受信機を部屋の飾物にしたり不必要に二個以上据付けるというような向きには配給出来なくなった。今後はこれを統制して次の如く一戸一機主義により簡易低廉な受信機を広く普及する方針にした。即ち、

一、受信機所持者が増設する為に購入せんとするもの又は更に高級受信機を購入せんとするものには応じない。

二、放送局所在地や近距離の所など容易に聴取出来る地では簡易低廉な受信機を販売し高級受信機の販売を禁止する。なお此際特に御願いしたいことは貴重な国家の資源を遊ばすことなく有効に聴いて戴きたい。若し不用ならば必要な向きに譲って貰い二個以上あって不用なものは他に譲って活用して戴きたい。又現在聴取している受信機は大切に取扱って戴きたい。

京城日報 1943年6月26日

増えるラジオ聴取者
無許可者は早速手続を

その日その日が決戦である大東亜戦下のラジオは従来の娯楽本位から脱皮し国民生活と切離すことの出来ない銃後を守る大切な武器となり、聴取者はぐんぐん増加の一途を辿り、五日中の新規申込者は六千三百七十二名であったが、一方受信機の売却、故障、内外地転出で廃止が四千九百七十六名もあり、結局千三百九十六名の純増で総数二十七万八百五十四名となった。

この中には未だに許可を受けずに聴いているもの又は聴取廃止をし、そのまま聴いている者が相当あるので逓信局では放送協会と連絡して之等不法施設の一斉検挙を近く行うが、ラジオの不法施設は電信法により厳重処罰されることになっているから未だ許可を受けていないものはこの際至急手続きをとるよう逓信局では要望している。

京城日報 1943年3月12日

短波受信機はご法度
所持する者は今直ぐ届出よ

世界の空には何物にもさえぎることの出来ない電波の攻防戦が展開されている。電波は『見えない弾丸』として時間と距離を超越し敵国の心臓を衝く。敗戦に喘ぐ敵側は武力の不利をラジオ放送による謀略と宣伝戦で補わんと我が銃後攪乱のため今後ますます熾烈なデマ宣伝を企図するものと考えられるので、逓信局では昨夏敵国のデマ放送を傍取し得る機械即ち短波受信機の使用を禁止したが、鮮内のラジオ聴取者には趣旨の不徹底のためか届出を怠り、使用許可を得ずしてひそかに聴取しているもので摘発されたものも十数名にのぼっているが、逓信局では手元に短波受信機を持っているものは摘発をうけ処罰されないうちに自発的に申出るよう要望している。

京城日報 1942年9月9日

短波は絶対禁止
無届聴取は厳重処罰

短波受信機または全波受信機をお持ちの方はありませんか。時局下防諜上の見地から絶対禁止せられているから若し一般の方で、これ等の受信機を持っている方は至急逓信局なり警察署、憲兵隊に申出ないと処罰されます。短波または長波部分を一部切断して聴取している方も改装の程度を逓信局か放送協会に問合わせの上処置せられるよう逓信局では要望している。

国産のラジオ受信機或は放送協会認定品以外の外国製の受信機または自分で組立てたような特殊の受信機で五百五十キロサークルから千五百キロサークルを超えるものは禁止品となっているから届出をなし検査を受け適当な処置を仰いでいないと後日発見されたとき放送聴取許可証の有無に拘わらず厳重処罰されるから間違いの起こらないよう逓信局では要望している。

Sources:

• Digital Newspaper Archive, National Library of Korea
• Internet Archive (Keijo Nippo; June 29, 1943; page 3) (link)

See also:

• Saiga Shichirō (斎賀七郎), an Imperial Japanese Ideological Police officer responsible for the torture, false imprisonment, and deaths of countless Korean patriots, was assassinated in Seoul on Nov. 2, 1945 (reported by newly liberated Keijo Nippo) (link)
• Voice of America Korean Broadcast - first sent by shortwave from Washington, D.C. on June 13, 1942, with more regular Korean programming beginning from San Francisco on August 29, 1942 (Encyclopedia of Korean Culture link)
• Secret Shortwave Listening Incident - an incident in 1942 which Korean broadcasting-station employees secretly listened to shortwave broadcasts from Voice of America and the Korean Provisional Government in Chongqing, then passed along war news - around 300 broadcasting personnel and civilians were arrested and 75 were convicted (Encyclopedia of Korean Culture - link)

Wartime rations often vanished amid corrupt neighborhood leadership, leading to so much public anger that Imperial officials pleaded, ‘let us avoid becoming emotional with one another’ (Feb. 1945)

In this post, we will look at the institution of the town council (町会) in the cities of wartime Korea under Imperial Japanese rule, and examine why it became a lightning rod for public anger in the 1940s. The document below is a roundtable discussion printed in the colonial government’s propaganda newspaper on February 1, 1945. It stages a conversation among women from a wide range of backgrounds—neighborhood cell (patriotic group) leaders, wives of company and government employees, a midwife, a shopkeeper—who all comment on the urban ration-distribution system.

What emerges is a picture of a rigid, top-down administrative hierarchy that shaped everyday life in wartime cities. Each neighborhood was broken down into patriotic groups of a few households; these groups were overseen by kumi (association) leaders responsible for hundreds of residents. Above them stood the town council of each dong, which held the power to appoint or dismiss local leaders. The concentration of authority at the top, the lack of electoral accountability, and the informal discretion exercised at the lower levels all created space for favoritism, intimidation, and the quiet disappearance or diversion of rationed goods.

The roundtable appears to give voice to public frustration, but its function becomes transparent at the end: the colonial authorities step in with the “official” conclusion, promising greater transparency, urging leaders to show ration ledgers upon request, and calling on residents to “avoid becoming emotional with one another.” The article closes with a separate announcement about turning private homes into small factories—a glimpse into how thoroughly civilian life had been militarized by early 1945, when the boundary between domestic space and wartime production had nearly vanished.

The illustration accompanying the article shows two women carrying a circular notice (廻覧板) that lists the rationing tickets for iriko (dried anchovies). The notice is titled “Iriko Rationing Tickets (イリコ配給券)” and specifies the allocations for each patriotic group: the first patriotic group receives 30 tickets, the second receives 25, and the third receives 28. At the bottom, the notice is signed by the OO Town Council (町会). A small child stands nearby, and above the child is a caption that reads: “Even when the rations are meager, we want them to be meager in an open, transparent way! (乏しくても明るい乏しさであって欲しい！)”

TLDR: A rigid, opaque ration system left Korean city residents at the mercy of corrupt and unaccountable neighborhood leaders and town councils, breeding widespread anger in 1940s wartime Korea.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippō), February 1, 1945

Circulating Boards Showing Town Council Ration Amounts
Fed Up with the Arrogance and Unhelpfulness of the Officials
Neighborhood Gossip Around the Water Well (5)

Matsuyama Chito (company employee’s wife):
As patriotic group members, our daily lives are inseparable from the town council, which supports us in many ways. But why are the council officials and staff so high-handed? It would be one thing if they were merely high-handed, but they are unhelpful on top of it.

Nakamura Fusae (government official’s wife):
It would be better if town council officials were elected by the residents.

Irie Koku (company employee’s wife):
The association leader who oversees the patriotic group that I know is a morally low and unpleasant person, and ration distribution is always muddled because of him. The town council never replaces him, and we are left dealing with the consequences.

Takenaka Sachiko (wife of a ration shop owner):
An association leader is responsible for guiding hundreds of people, so that person ought to be someone of respectable character. And the association leader’s wife also needs to be someone who commands respect. In reality, the husband is out working, so it is the wife who ends up running things at home.

Asō Misaki (patriotic group leader):
The circular notices sent down from the town council are often difficult to understand and do not get through clearly to the patriotic group members, so sometimes we rewrite them in simpler form before circulating them.

Hirose Take (midwife):
And sometimes the circular notices arrive late, which causes trouble. The other day, during the water-supply stoppage, the notice came only after the stoppage period had ended.

Shirakawa Tomoko (factory worker’s wife):
Regarding rationing and the town council: there are times when items that the Seoul government has set at fixed quantities arrive in smaller amounts. Is there no better way to give us clear information? For example, even though the soap ration is clearly determined by grade and household size, in practice the distributed amount is less. One gets the feeling that quantities disappear somewhere between the town council, the association leaders, and the patriotic group leaders. If the town council would announce to all patriotic group members how much was allocated to each association and each patriotic group, we would not be left with unnecessary suspicions.

Umemura Masuyo (widow):
Even if the rations are meager, I would like them to be meager in an open, transparent way. As Ms. Shirakawa said, I would like the town council to attach a circular notice clearly indicating the ration amounts each time there is rationing. When the system is vague as to how much was rationed, items easily get diverted sideways. Clear disclosure would prevent that, and I very much want it implemented.

All:
Yes, we truly want that.

Asō Misaki (patriotic group leader):
The town council must become our town council. For that, the town council needs to get rid of its bureaucratic attitude so residents and officials can be on friendly terms. When the town council office is busy, patriotic group members can go help. I often hear people criticize patriotic group leaders, but our duties are actually quite demanding. We do not interact directly with the town council very often, but we constantly mediate between the association leader and the patriotic group members, which can be discouraging. With rationed goods, for example, the distribution coupons for one-time-only items coming from the Seoul government or the department store are given to us by the association leader. But we do not know how much the association leader received or how the coupons are divided among the patriotic groups. So when the ration seems small and the patriotic group members blame us, we do not know what to say.

Kataoka Yoshiko (company employee’s wife):
In some town councils, they circulate a distribution ledger showing exactly how much the town council received and how it was allotted to each association and each patriotic group. There is no trouble over rations in those town councils and patriotic groups, and their mood is bright. I envy them.

Hirose Take (midwife):
I truly envy that. In our town council, if you dare go ask about ration amounts, you get yelled at. To avoid further trouble, we just swallow our complaints.

Irie Koku (company employee’s wife):
We will all end up complaining endlessly at this rate. Enough talk about town councils. We housewives want to contribute more to the war effort. Is there any work we can do from home?

Matsumura Fumiko (company employee’s wife):
At our place, we sew buttons on military uniforms…

Irie Koku:
Where should we apply for that kind of work?

Asō Misaki (patriotic group leader):
The Patriotic Women’s Association should be able to arrange it. If housewives could do even an hour a day of work at home, it would add up to a substantial amount of national labor power.

Nakajima Nobuko (wife of a general-merchandise shop owner):
It would be good if the Patriotic Women’s Association took a more proactive role.

Umemura Masuyo (widow):
Indeed. We housewives understand very well that we must fully live out the wartime life. These days our own children remind us of it. Rather than moral exhortations, we need clear, practical guidance on concrete ways to contribute. =End=

Response from the Authorities:
Let us avoid becoming emotional with one another

◇ There seems to be a concern about the disclosure of ration quantities by the town councils. To establish an open rationing system, we have instructed town councils to make the allocated quantities to the town councils, associations, and patriotic groups known to all residents. Any town council or association leader not doing so should implement this immediately.

If a patriotic group member is not satisfied with the ration quantities from his patriotic group leader and association leader and requests to inspect the distribution ledger kept by the town council, both sides must avoid becoming emotional. The town council, the association leader, and patriotic group leader should willingly present the distribution ledger and make every effort to inform residents about rationing details.

It is said that town council officials act in an overly bureaucratic manner. That may be true in some cases, and when things are busy, their choice of spoken words may indeed become rough. Even so, we ask that everyone interact with one another with the awareness that we are all residents of the same town. (Town Council Section, Seoul City Government)

Household-Factory Program to Begin Soon

◇ The enthusiasm among housewives for labor service is truly welcome. Until now, home-based work was voluntary, but from now on, the plan is to mobilize all households across Seoul for labor, turning homes into small factories. Implementation is scheduled soon, and when the time comes, we hope everyone will participate energetically. (Patriotic Women’s Association, Seoul City Branch)

[Transcription]

京城日報 1945年2月1日

町会配給量の回覧板を
役員の横柄と不親切には閉口
紙上井戸端会議（５）

松山チト（会社員夫人）：愛国班員の生活が町会を離れては考えられない位何かと町会にお世話になりますが、どうして町会役員や職員の方達はあんなに横柄なんでしょう。横柄だけならよいんですが、おまけに不親切で。

中村房江（官吏夫人）：町会の役員はその町民の選挙制にでもしていただけたらよいんですがね。

入江コク（会社員夫人）：私の知っている班ではその所属する組長が私的にも道徳的にも下劣な人物で配給ものにもいつもゴタゴタしていますが町会では人を代えてくれないので困ります。

竹中幸子（配給店主婦）：組長といえば何百人という人の指導に当る方ですから人格的にも尊敬出来る人であって欲しいと思います。そして組長の夫人も尊敬出来る立派な人でないと困ります。実際問題としては主人は外で働くのでその夫人が切盛りするのですから。

麻生ミサキ（愛国班長）：町会から廻ってくる回覧板は難解で班員に徹底しないことが往々あり、私どもでは安易に書き替えて回覧するときもあります。

広瀬タケ（産婆）：それに回覧板がおくれることがあって困ります。この間も水道の断水の時、断水期間が終ってから通知して来ました。

白川友子（工員夫人）：配給と町会ですが、府庁で数量が一定された品物を尠く配給してくることがあります。こんなのもう少しどうにか私達にもはっきりするような方法はないものでしょうか。たとえば石鹸の配給にしても等級と人員数ではっきりしている数量を実際はそれ以下の数量で配給するのです。どうも町会から班員にくるまでの間に消えるような気がして、これなども町会から組長に、組長から班長に廻した数量など町会から一般班員に告知して頂ければ、いたずらな猜疑心を生せずにすみますね。

楳村増代（未亡人）：乏しくてもそれが明るい乏しさであって欲しいと思います。その意味です。白川さんのいわれたように町会配給品は配給のある毎に町会から配給数量を明示した回覧板を添えて頂きたいと思います。どれ位配給したかが曖昧な制度では横に流れ易くなりますし、それを防止する意味からも是非実行して頂きたいのです。

一同：本当にそうして頂きたいのです。

麻生ミサキ（愛国班長）：町会が私達の町会であるということにならなければいけませんね。その点町会役員と町民が親しみ合うためには町会のお役所風を一掃して頂き、また町会事務の忙しいときは班員がお手伝いに行くという風にしてゆきたいと思います。よく班長が悪い、と聞きますが、班長の仕事もこれで仲仲急がしいものです。直接町会とは余り接触はありませんが、組長と班員の間に入って随分情けないときもあります。配給ものでも府庁百貨店などから来る単発の物資購入券など組長さんから割当を戴くので、どの位組に来て、どういう風に各班に割当てるのか解らず、配給が少ないといって班員からせめられるときは、どうしていいかわからなくなります。

片岡よし子（会社員夫人）：町会によっては配給品が町会にどれ程来て各組、各班にどういう割当をしたか一目瞭然に判る配給表みたいなものを廻している所がありますが、そこの班や町内は配給にからんだいざこざは一つもなくても明るくて羨ましいです。

広瀬タケ（産婆）：それは本当に羨ましいですね。うちの町会では配給品に関して町会へ問い合わせに行こうものなら怒鳴り散らされますし、あとが面倒なので泣き寝入りです。

入江コク（会社員夫人）：どうも不平になりそうですわね。町会のことはこれ位にして、私達主婦ももっと戦争のお役に立ちたいと思いますが、家庭で出来るお仕事はないでしょうか。

松村史子（会社員夫人）：私どもの所では軍服のボタンつけをしていますが．．．

入江コク（会社員夫人）：どこへ申し込んだらよいのでしょうか。

麻生ミサキ（愛国班長）：婦人会で斡旋してくれるのではないでしょうか。主婦が一日一時間でも何か家庭内でお手伝いの出来る仕事が出来たら全体では随分大きな戦力になるのではないでしょうか。

中島信子（雑貨店主婦）：婦人会の方がもっと積極的に働きかけて下さるといいのですね。

楳村増代（未亡人）：本当ですわね。私達主婦も戦時生活に徹し切らねばならぬことはよく知っています。最近は子供たちに教育されている位ですから、精神的指導より、もっと直接のためになる具体的な指導が望ましいと思います。＝終り＝

当局の答：お互いが感情的になるまい

◇町会配給の数量明示が問題になっているようですが、明るい配給生活を確立するため、町会、組、班に割り当てられた数量は一般町民にも知らせるよう指導している。若しそういう方法をとってない町会や組長は即時実施して頂きたい。

配給数量に納得がゆかず組班長なり、町会の配給台帳の閲覧を班員が乞う場合は、お互いが感情的にならぬようにして、町会も組、班長も心よく提示するよう、配給内容に努めて町民に知らせるようにしている。

町会役職員がお役所風を吹かすといわれているが、一部にはあるかも知れぬし、また忙しいような時はつい言葉遣いが乱暴になり勝ちになるかも知れぬが、お互いに同じ町民だという気持で接して頂きたい（京城府庁町会係）

近く家庭工場化実施

◇何か勤労をという主婦の傾向は洵に喜ばしいことで、従来家庭内の勤労は希望者のみがやって来たが、今後は全府内の家庭人総勤労を実施し、家庭の工場化を図り、近く実施するとなっていますから、そのときは皆さんにも張り切って頑張って頂きます（大日本婦人会京城府支部）

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive 

March 1945: Taxis in Seoul nearly vanish, rickshaws exploit passengers, yet Japanese and Korean collaborator elite still get chauffeured drunk to bars and brothels

In the last months of World War II before Imperial Japan’s surrender, the public transportation infrastructure in Seoul was in a state of near total collapse, as described in this March 1945 article of Keijo Nippo, the main newspaper of colonial Korea. Vehicles of all types, including trains and streetcars, were breaking down. Due to fuel shortages and repair difficulties, taxis had become so scarce that only a handful were running, mostly reserved for weddings, funerals, or by those with enough money and influence to supply their own fuel. Human-powered rickshaws came to replace the taxis, but they largely ignored the needs of the ordinary citizenry, tending to concentrate around the entertainment districts to serve rich and powerful customers (Japanese and Korean collaborator elite) who didn't mind paying exorbitant black-market fares. This article describes how, while there were plenty of rickshaws willing to carry drunken men to the red-light districts, none were willing to help elderly women who were stranded at the train station with heavy luggage. Even bicycle-powered rickshaws were rare luxuries, since parts and repairs were nearly impossible to obtain in the war economy.

Original caption: Rickshaws scrambling for passengers at the front of the train station

The article also highlights how rickshaw pullers received no special food rations, despite their physically grueling work. In wartime Seoul, wages in yen mattered far less than access to special food rations. The fact that barbers received food rations while rickshaw men did not was cited as fueling black-market pricing and disorder in the transportation sector.

Through this article, we catch a glimpse of how colonial Seoul’s public life was breaking down under the combined strain of shortages, corruption, and inequality. The transportation system became a mirror of the larger wartime crisis: a city where even getting across town required pleading, connections, or bribes, and where basic mobility revealed the stark divide between the privileged Japanese and Korean collaborator elite and the ordinary people.

TLDR: By spring 1945, taxis in Seoul had nearly vanished due to wartime shortages, becoming luxury vehicles for special occasions, largely replaced by rickshaws which gouged customers and mostly catered to Japanese and Korean collaborator elite in entertainment districts. Even bicycles were scarce luxuries, and rickshaw pullers, denied adequate food rations, turned to black-market practices, showing how food rationing mattered more than cash in those days.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) March 26, 1945

Let's Display Fare Tables Inside Rickshaws!
Disorder from Rickshaws “Pooling Together”
Sunday Paper Inspection: Vehicles

Lately, streetcars can no longer be relied upon, so in the end, people with urgent errands and elderly passengers, women, and children have to rely upon automobiles, hand-pulled rickshaws, and bicycle-powered "welfare" rickshaws for transportation. But can passengers actually ride these rickshaws comfortably? Let us cast an inspector’s eye on the situation.

Hand-Pulled Rickshaws

In the days when taxis were flourishing, the shabby hand-pulled rickshaw had been forgotten, regarded as a relic of the past, and had all but disappeared. But now, when taxis are nearly impossible to access, the reality is that one must bow and plead to be allowed to ride in a rickshaw. Even after persuading a puller and setting off, when the time comes to pay, the puller will suddenly demand “Please be more generous,” and insist on double or triple the regulated fare.

According to the fare revision of February this year, even if one were to ride across Seoul from end to end, the maximum fare should not exceed five yen. For example, from Dongdaemun to Yongsan Station is four yen, while from Seoul Station to Chōsen Industrial Bank is fifty sen. Even these revised fares represent roughly a doubling of the earlier prices.

Looking at the Honmachi police district, where there are the most depots, there are ten depots and 261 rickshaws registered. Excluding broken rickshaws and shortages of pullers, about 220 are actually in operation. Some depots have “pooling” arrangements, where pullers who own their own rickshaws gather together to form joint depots. These so-called “pooled” depots easily disrupt order and ought to be dissolved and transferred to regular depots.

The fare problem remains. If every puller had the chivalrous temperament of the legendary outlaw “Muhōmatsu,” illegal fares would not run rampant. To be sure, the difficulty of repairs and food shortages are matters for sympathy, but still, dishonest pullers should not be tolerated. The February fare revision abolished the earlier meter system, and since most passengers do not know the regulated rates, they are easily exploited. Authorities currently require the fare table to be posted only at depots, but why not make small versions and require them to be posted inside each rickshaw? A receipt-slip system, recording distance and amount, exchanged with the fare, would also be good. In fact, Seoul Station depot is about the only one implementing this properly. Other depots should quickly adopt a mandatory receipt system.

Pullers complain that, despite the labor involved, they receive no special food rations. This is one cause of the black-market fares. If even barbers receive special food rations, surely men who run around pulling passengers all day should be considered as well. If food rations are too difficult, then all pullers should be enrolled in the Labor Service Association and allowed to use the association dining halls.

As a rule, rickshaws are forbidden to pick up passengers outside designated stands, but this rule is scarcely observed. It is outrageous that there are rickshaws to carry drunken men to the red-light districts, yet none to carry elderly women stranded late at night with heavy luggage at the station. Ghostly pullers loitering in suspicious quarters outside stands must be strictly suppressed by the authorities. Likewise, the dishonorable “gentlemen” who, relying on their wealth, recklessly throw down bills far beyond the proper fare and thereby disrupt order, should engage in serious self-reflection.

Passengers too must not simply pay the dishonest fares that are demanded by the puller, but should always insist on receiving a receipt listing the operator, the puller's name, distance, and payment amount as proof for later. The murky state of rickshaw operations should not be blamed only on the pullers. As in other spheres, the unscrupulous attitude of the nouveau riche- “as long as you have money, anything goes” - has naturally helped create this climate.

Welfare Rickshaws and Automobiles

In place of hand-pulled rickshaws, the “welfare rickshaw” (bicycle-powered) has emerged in step with the times. However, since bicycles themselves cannot be shipped in reliably and repairs are difficult, the number of welfare rickshaws operating in Seoul is only about fifty, which are too few to matter. In terms of fares and treatment, they may be regarded the same as hand-pulled rickshaws, since the standard fare is identical. Their transport companies should also adopt a receipt-slip system.

As for taxis, they no longer resemble their former selves. Of about sixty taxis in Seoul, only twenty are barely running, hampered by fuel shortages and repair difficulties. Fares remain by charter or by meter, as before, but in practice they are used only for exceptional cases such as weddings or funerals. Some operators even demand that passengers bring their own fuel, extracting hefty profits, but such operators ought to reflect on their conduct. With fuel and materials growing ever scarcer, taxis may soon be forced to disappear altogether. [Photo: Rickshaws scrambling for passengers at the front of the train station]

[Transcription]

京城日報 1945年3月26日

乗り物：俥内に賃金表を

秩序を紊す『持寄り』

日曜紙上査察

このごろの電車も仲々あてにならないし、結局急ぎの用とか、老幼婦女子の足を確保してくれるのは自動車、人力車、厚生車などであるが、果してこれらの俥に気持ちよく乗れるかどうか査察の眼を向けて見よう。

人力車：かつてタクシー華かなりしころ、うす汚い人力車は昔の遺物のごとく忘れられ、すっかり影をひそめていたが、タクシーなど思いもよらぬ今となっては平身低頭してやっと乗せて貰えるというのが現状。さて拝み倒すようにして挽子を納得させた上、俥を走らせ料金を払わんとすると、挽子は『もっと考えてやって下さい』と居直り規定料金の二倍、三倍を要求する始末である。

今年の二月改正になった規定料金でゆけば京城府内の端から端まで乗り廻って見ても五円以上の料金をとられることはない。例をとると東大門から龍山駅前までが四円、京城駅から鮮銀前までが五十銭となっている。これでもこの改正料金は従前の約二倍の値上げを行っている。

最も帳場の多い本町署管内を中心にしてこれらの現状を追求して見る。本町管内で帳場が十ヶ所、台数が二百六十一台その中で故障俥や挽子不足による動かない俥を除けば現在二百二十台が走っている。さてこの帳場の組織であるが、中には俥を持った挽子がお互いに寄り集って一つの共同帳場を形成しているものが相当ある。所謂『持ち寄り』というのだが、これなどはとかく秩序を紊しやすいから解体し、他の帳場に移るべきであろう。

賃金の問題であるが挽子の全部があの無法松のごとき気質の持ち主であれば闇賃金なぞ横行しないであろう。そうはいかない修理難、食糧不足など同情すべき点もあるが、そうかといって不正挽子の横行は許さるべきではない。二月の改正料金によって以前のメーター制は撤廃されているが、客が規定料金の基準を殆ど知っていないということが、挽子に乗ぜられやすい一つの弱点である。当局は規定料金表の明示を帳場のみに指定しているが、その料金表を小型にして各俥内に掲示しておくようにしてはどうか。距離と金額を記載した領収証となる伝票を料金と引き換えに受け取る伝票制もよいが、現にこれを大体確実に実施している帳場は京城駅内の帳場位であろう。他の帳場も絶対伝票制を速やかにとるべきである。

挽子の悩みであるのは労働の割に食糧の特配がないことだ。これが闇賃金を醸成する一つの原因である。理髪業の職人が特配食糧を受けているくらいならば一日中走り廻っている挽子なども当然考慮さるべきであろう。食糧の特配が面倒なら挽子を全部労務奉公会に加入させ、所属食堂の利用を許しては如何。

原則として指定の駐車場以外で客を拾うことは出来ないが之がさっぱり遵守されていない。千鳥足の酔漢を遊郭に運ぶ俥はあっても深夜の駅前で荷物をかかえ途方にくれる老人婦女を乗せる俥がないとは言語道断である。駐車場以外の怪しげなる界隈をうろつく幽霊車夫は当局が断乎粛正すべきであろう。また金のあるにまかせて料金以上に札ビラを切っての世界を紊す不徳紳士も猛省すべきである。

客も又挽子の要求する不正料金をいうが儘に払わず営業者、従業者氏名、距離金額を明載した伝票を必ず後日の証拠として受け取ることだ。人力車の不明朗な現状をただ挽子の責とすべきではない。他の場合もそうであるが、得てして金さえあればという道義心のない成金的な義が自然とこういう世界を作りあげているのである。

厚生車・自動車：人力車に代る厚生車が時代の波に乗って登場して来たものの、肝腎な自転車の入荷が当にならないのと、修理難でいま府内で動いているのはせいぜい五十台ぐらいを数えるのみで全く問題にならないが、料金をはじめ待遇など人力車と同じに見做してよい。基準料金も人力車と同一であるから交通会社も伝票制にすべきだ。

同じくタクシーも昔日の面影はなく京城府内約六十台のタクシーが燃料の欠乏、修理難のため、その中二十台辛うじて動いている状態である。料金は貸し切り、メーター制で以前のままであるが、これを利用するのも結婚、葬式など余程やむを得ない場合が多い。一部の業者は燃料を持ってくれば動かすという条件で相当ボロイ儲けをしているが、業者の反省を促したい。これから益々燃料、資材の逼迫によってタクシーもやがて姿を消さざるを得なくなるであろう。【写真＝駅前で奪い合の人力車】

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive 

See also:

• Imperial Japanese and Korean collaborator elite partied in brothels and luxury restaurants while ordinary Koreans starved in wartime Seoul, early 1945 (link)

• April 1945 Seoul dining: the public endured price-gouging and scraps, while privileged Japanese and Korean collaborator elites drank and feasted behind closed doors (link)

• Imperial Japan’s railway system in Korea was falling apart by early August 1945 with severe overcrowding, parts and labor shortages, exhausted staff causing more accidents, train conductors gone rogue … (link)

[Rough comparison of 1945 rickshaw fares to 2025 taxi fares in Seoul]

Out of curiosity, I compared Seoul rickshaw fares in March 1945 to equivalent taxi fares today in modern day Seoul. To do my estimates, I assumed that 1 yen in wartime 1945 Korea would be roughly equivalent to 25,000 Korean Won today. I came up with this rough conversion by noting that each morning edition of the Keijo Nippo of 1942 was priced at 6 sen, and each morning edition of Asahi Shimbun is priced at 160 Japanese yen today. This conversion isn't perfect, so this will be just one imperfect metric to help understand the amounts of money mentioned in this article.

A rickshaw trip from Dongdaemun to Yongsan Station was quoted as 4 yen, roughly equivalent to 100,000 Korean won today. According to KakaoMap, a similar taxi trip would cost 14,700 Korean won today, about 7 times less expensive than over 80 years ago. 

A rickshaw trip from Seoul Station to Chōsen Industrial Bank (now Lotte Department Store Avenuel Main Branch) was quoted as 50 sen, roughly equivalent to 13,000 Korean won today. According to KakaoMap, a similar taxi trip today would cost 9,400 Korean won, a difference of only around 4,000 Korean won.

Imperial Japan banned passengers wearing chima skirts from boarding trains, escalating its campaign against traditional Korean garments in May 1945

In May 1945, as the war situation worsened, the Japanese colonial authorities in Korea tightened their grip on everyday life in increasingly petty and invasive ways. One striking example was the enforcement of strict wartime attire regulations. As shown in this May 14, 1945 article, colonial authorities began banning travelers from boarding trains if they were not wearing “proper” air-raid clothing, which explicitly targeted traditional Korean garments—especially the flowing chima skirts worn by Korean women.

On May 9, 1945, Keijō Nippō published a photo of the feet of Korean women wearing chima, shaming them by calling such clothing “a suicidal act.” The article warned that the skirts could easily catch fire from incendiary bombs or become soaked with water and render the wearer unable to function in a wartime emergency. The piece concluded by declaring that such a sight was inappropriate for May 8, which was Imperial Rescript Day (Taishō Hōtai-bi).

Imperial Rescript Day was a commemorative day established in 1942 during the Pacific War to boost morale across the Japanese Empire. It replaced the earlier “Asia Promotion Service Day” and designated the 8th of every month as a day for rallying national resolve to complete the war effort. On this day, subjects across the empire were expected to participate in rituals such as reading the imperial war proclamation, offering victory prayers at shrines and temples, and displaying Japanese flags at home.

Apparently, many Koreans mistakenly believed that these harsh clothing inspections applied only on Imperial Rescript Day. This would explain why the number of attire violations dropped sharply on the 8th, only to spike again afterwards. 

The requirement to undergo humiliating attire checks at train stations—particularly the targeting of traditional Korean dress—would have understandably outraged many. In a time of total war, when morale should have been preserved, this kind of petty colonial micromanagement only deepened alienation and anger among the colonized.

Documenting examples like this is important. They show how colonial oppression extended into the minutiae of daily life, even into how people dressed. Far from merely logistical wartime policies, these measures were ideological tools meant to erase Korean identity, impose Japanese norms, and discipline the population into obedience. Remembering and analyzing these acts of everyday repression is not just about historical interest—it is about confronting the full spectrum of colonial violence, including the psychological and cultural forms that often go unacknowledged.

[Translations]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 14, 1945

"Prohibited Attire for Boarding Trains"
Many in the Intellectual Class are Caught — One Hundred People Per Day
Sunday Special Inspection Report

Since the fourth of this month, enemy aircraft have launched continuous attacks over the seas of southern Korea. On the twelfth, six enemy flying boats penetrated the region, launching attacks on ships. The Korean peninsula is now effectively a battlefield. It is not out of the question that these enemy planes may escalate from attacks on ships to indiscriminate bombing of cities.

So, how prepared is the Korean peninsula to face this threat? Regrettably, it cannot yet be said that we are in a full wartime posture.

To take a simple example — the air-raid attire of travelers. Despite repeated warnings to the point of exhaustion, a significant number still do not wear maki-kyahan (leg wrappings), or drag long Korean-style garments that sweep the ground. Not a few have even been denied boarding by station staff. It is especially disgraceful when even members of the educated class, who should be setting an example, nonchalantly fail to wear the proper leg wrappings.

To establish a travel posture suitable for decisive battle, the Seoul Regional Bureau has, since the first of this month, prohibited boarding to travelers not in air-raid attire. From the first to the tenth at Seoul Station, 230 travelers were denied boarding.

Here is the breakdown of the numbers of passengers who were denied boarding:

• • Day 1: 12

• • Day 2: 8

• • Day 3: 32

• • Day 4: 26

• • Day 5: 36

• • Day 6: 48

• • Day 7: 39

• • Day 8: 2

• • Day 9: 6

• • Day 10: 21

The eighth was Imperial Rescript Day, so air-raid attire was strictly observed, with only two violations.

The highest number of refusals was on the sixth, with 48 people barred from boarding. If the general mindset is that "air-raid attire is only necessary on Rescript Days," that is a grave mistake. Enemy aircraft can appear at any time. If one can wear air-raid attire on a Rescript Day, one can certainly do so on other days.

Although unfamiliarity might be an excuse in the beginning, under normal circumstances the number of boarding denials should gradually decrease. However, judging from these numbers, there has been no reduction at all — rather, starting from the third, the number has increased, revealing a general indifference toward air-raid readiness.

Of course, the station staff are not eager to refuse boarding. If travelers are properly attired, that is enough. Station personnel issue warnings before the ticket gate to travelers who are not dressed properly. Only those who ignore these warnings are refused boarding as a last resort.

Each day, more than 100 travelers are warned, and at peak times, the number exceeds 200.

• • Day 1: 219

• • Day 2: 216

• • Day 3: 187

• • Day 4: 137

• • Day 5: 126

• • Day 6: 121

• • Day 7: 117

• • Day 8: 49

• • Day 9: 70

• • Day 10: 57

Without the station staff’s compassionate warnings, all these individuals would have been denied boarding outright.

It is utterly shameful that over 100 travelers each day, despite utilizing railways — regarded as weapons of war, must be reprimanded for improper air-raid attire under repeated air raids. Air-raid attire is not for anyone else — it is for the travelers’ own safety.

Travelers must take the current situation more seriously, and rather than wait to be told by station staff, they must proactively ensure proper air-raid attire.

What about the clothing of travelers arriving at Seoul Station? Unfortunately, their attire is just as inappropriate. They are not dressed for wartime travel. Although the emergency policy of “no boarding without air-raid attire” is not limited to Seoul Station but enforced throughout the entire jurisdiction of the regional transportation bureau, arriving passengers should have had their attire inspected at their departure stations.

The fact that their attire is in disarray upon arrival suggests that they shed their air-raid attire after boarding, as if thinking it is only necessary to get past boarding inspections.

This mindset must be corrected immediately. The station has announced that it will further tighten enforcement from now on.

Given the increasing severity of enemy bombing, this policy is entirely appropriate. Travelers themselves must take initiative in wearing proper air-raid clothing. Anyone wearing "unfit-for-battle attire" must be firmly excluded from our valuable wartime trains. Let us establish a decisive travel posture as soon as possible, prepared to face enemy planes at any time.

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 9, 1945

Can You Really Be Active Like This?

Do you really think your clothing is appropriate? Do you think you can withstand the enemy’s blind bombings dressed like that? Or is it that you do not own monpe workpants? How many times must we say that wearing chima is an act of suicide before you understand?

When incendiary bombs set your chima on fire, or when your chima becomes soaked with water, you will no longer be able to move, and you will be completely defeated.

Enemy planes may come soon—perhaps even tonight. Just because the weather has become pleasant, do not be foolish enough to think, “I will just try wearing this for a bit.” Get serious.

Even so, we still see girls strutting through the streets indulging in a sense of style, not wearing monpe, but rather sailor-style trousers—pants so fancy that even men do not wear them, once worn by revue girls. This too must stop.

If you must wear pants, tighten the hems. Also, we have seen men who are not wearing leg wrappings. That too must be corrected immediately.

The above are the unfit-for-battle appearances we observed on the Imperial Rescript Day on the 8th in a city that is under attack from frequent enemy air raids. [Photo caption: Could this be you?]

[Transcriptions]

京城日報 1945年5月14日

『乗車禁止の非服装』

多い指導層、一日に百名

日曜紙上査察

去る四日以来敵機は連日わが南鮮海面に来襲しつつある。十二日も敵飛行艇六機が南鮮海面に侵入。船舶に攻撃を加え来った半島もいまや戦場と化し敵機はいつ現在の船舶攻撃から都市の無差別爆撃に出ないとも限らないが、ところがこれに備ゆる半島の態勢はどうか。遺憾ながら、いまだ戦う態勢になりきっているとはない。

早い話が旅行者の防空服装一つをとりあげてみても、あれだけ口がすっぱくなるほど注意されながらいまだに巻脚絆をつけない者、すその長い鮮服をひきずっている者が相当数に上り、駅員から乗車を拒絶された旅行者も少なくない。殊に率先垂範すべき知識階級までが平然と脚絆をつけないでいるのはもっての外だ。

旅行の決戦態勢化を期する京城地方局では去る一日から防空服装以外の旅行者は乗車を禁止しているが、京城駅で一日から十日までに乗車禁止にあった旅行者は二百三十名に上っている。

内訳は初日の一日が十二名、二日が八名、三日が三十二名、四日が二十六名、五日が三十六名、六日が四十八名、七日が三十九名、八日が二名、九日が六名、十日が二十一名となっており、流石に八日は大詔奉戴日だけに防空服装が徹底していて禁止は僅か二名に過ぎない。

一番多いのは六日で実に四十八名が乗車を禁止されているが、一般が『防空服装は大詔奉戴日だけ』といった考えでいるとしたら大変な間違いだ。敵機はいつやって来ないとも限らないし、大詔奉戴日に防空服装が出来て他の日に出来ない筈もない。しかも最初は周知不十分ということも考えられ、本来なら漸次乗車禁止が減少する筈であるが、この数字からみると一向減少しておらず、反対に初日は少なく三日から増加している状態で、防空服装に対する一般の冷淡さをはっきりと窺うことが出来るのである。

無論、駅では乗車拒絶が本意ではない。旅行者の防空服装が整えばそれでよく、だからとくに改札前防空服装を整えていない旅行者には注意を与えており、乗車拒絶はそれでも聞かない不埒者に最後の切札として断行しているのである。

この注意を与える旅行者数をみると、これは毎日百名を下らず、多い時には実に二百名を越している。まず初日の一日が二百十九名、二日が二百十六名、三日が百八十七名、四日が百三十七名、五日が百二十六名、六日が百二十一名、七日が百十七名、八日が四十九名、九日が七十名、十日が五十七名であり、駅側のこの思いやりの注意がなければ毎日これだけの旅行者が乗車禁止になっているわけだ。

敵機連襲下に、しかも兵器といわれる鉄道を利用する旅行者が毎日百名以上も防空服装のことで駅員から注意されるのは恥辱も甚だしい。防空服装は誰のためでもない。旅行者自身のためであり、もっと真剣に時局を見つめ、寧ろ駅側からいわれる前に旅行者自ら進んで防空服装の徹底を期せねばならない。

一方京城駅に降りて来る旅行者の服装はどうか。これも乗車する旅行者と変わらず、まだまだ戦う服装になりきっていない。防空服装以外は乗車禁止の非常措置はひとり京城駅ばかりでなく、地方交通局管内全部にわたって断行されているのだし、降車客は発駅で乗車の際、一応服装を点検された筈であるが、それでいて降車の際の服装が乱れているのは旅行者が乗車してしまえば防空服装の必要なく、防空服装は乗車するためのものといった考えでいるからだ。

この考えは絶対切り換えねばならない。駅側では今後ますますこの取締を厳重にするといっている。

敵機の爆撃がいよいよ本格化しつつあるとき当然と措置であり、旅行者としても進んで防空服装を整えるよう心掛け、そして貴重な戦う列車からは断然『戦わざる服装』を締出し敵機いつでも来いの決戦旅行態勢を一日も速やかに確立することが望ましい。

京城日報 1945年5月9日

これで活動ができますか

貴女方の服装はそれでよいと思うのですか。それで敵の盲爆に戦い抜けるとでもお思いですか。それともモンペを持っていないのですか。チマのままでは自殺行為だと何度いえばわかるのです。焼夷弾でチマに火がついたとき、またはチマが水に濡れたときは活動が出来ず、あなた方は完全に負けるのです。

敵機は今に、いや今夜でも来るかも判らない季節が陽気になったから、ちょっと着て見ようなどという馬鹿気た心は起さないで真剣になりましょう。それなのにまたモンペでなくレビューガールが履いていた男も履けないセーラズボンにシャレ気分を満喫し街を闊歩する娘を見かけるが、これも止めましょう。ズボンなら裾をしぼりましょう。なお男も脚絆を着用しないのを見受けたが即刻改めましょう。以上敵機しきりに来襲する八日の奉戴日に戦う街で見受けた戦はない姿です。

【写真＝あなたの姿はここにないか】

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive

See Also:

Link 1 (1943 clothing regulations regarding chima dresses): https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2022/11/onerous-regulations-prescribing-long.html

Link 2 (1944 police detaining a woman in Hanbok dress): https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2024/12/korean-woman-in-hanbok-detained-by.html

Link 3 (1945 propaganda speech forbidding rings and chima dresses at work): https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2025/04/dont-wear-rings-or-chima-dresses-dont.html

Link 4 (April 1945 poster shaming Korean women for wearing chima skirts): https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2025/05/imperial-japan-called-korean-women-in.html

Imperial Japan called Korean women in chima dresses ‘the most filthy and ugly sight’ and shamed them with posters captioned ‘there are still women like these’ (April 1945)

In April 1945, with Imperial Japan losing the war, Imperial authorities turned their rage inward.

Captioned poster: "There are still women like these" (まだいる、こんな女性が)

Imperial authorities targeted Korean women for wearing traditional chima skirts instead of wartime monpe trousers. The Battle of Iwo Jima had just ended, and Battle of Okinawa was already well underway, so war tensions were very high. These two articles, published in the Keijo Nippo propaganda newspaper in Seoul under Imperial Japanese rule, scolded Korean women as selfish, vain, and unpatriotic, claiming that women in traditional chima dresses were “the most filthy and ugly sight” in the eyes of the public. 

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) April 21, 1945

You Cannot Protect This Nation Wearing a Chima Dress

What is this? Have you forgotten the enemy air raids, just strolling around idly?
There are still women like this.

◇ …Dragging their long chima hems, letting their skirts flutter in the spring breeze—how the number of high heels strutting through this city at war has grown! The long winter has passed, cherry buds are swelling on the trees, and now, with the arrival of spring, the slackening of wartime tension has begun to creep into people's hearts. Here and there, women can be seen on the streets who have forgotten their monpe workpants.

◇ …Do these women really think that, dressed like that, they can protect themselves from enemy bombings, protect their homes, and protect their cities? These women dragging their long chima hems have children who go off to school wearing gallant monpe and kyahan leg wraps. These women wearing skirts, whose footsteps echo in the streets in high heels, have brothers who are throwing their lives into battle in factories and on the front lines. Surely these women have not forgotten about that?

◇ …And yet, are these women the only ones allowed to dress like this? Even they cannot say that they do not have enough thread to alter a skirt or chima dress into monpe workpants. If they are clinging to outdated lifestyle habits, then those are the habits of a defeated people. If there are any people who believe that chima dresses and skirts symbolize feminine beauty, then they are gravely mistaken. The people walking the streets see their appearance as the most shameful and unsightly thing, and they look upon them with eyes of reproach.

◇ …It may be April, when spring flowers bloom, but right now, as the decisive battle that will determine the fate of the Japanese people begins, we are living in an autumn of resolve, with all 100 million ready to fall like cherry blossoms in a special attack. Skirts and chima dresses not altered into monpe workpants should be stored away with your evacuation clothing. Let us prepare for the enemy planes that may come even tomorrow, and demonstrate the spirit of the Yamato Nadeshiko in monpe workpants that will not hinder our movement. [Photo: Observations from within Seoul on the 20th during defense drills]

Original caption: Observations from within Seoul on the 20th during defense drills

If You Let Your Guard Down, It Will Cost You!

Secretary-General Kurashige of the Patriotic Women’s Association Issues a Warning About Chima Dresses

During the defense drills held on the 20th, the unsightly sight of women in chima drew widespread scorn. Secretary-General Kurashige of the Patriotic Women’s Association’s Korean Headquarters, issued the following call to awaken women regarding proper air defense attire:

“Because the air raids in Osaka temporarily eased, people became completely careless and stopped wearing monpe. The damage caused by the air raids that struck during this lapse was severe. This is a classic example of what happens when there is no mental discipline.

We Korean women must not repeat this mistake. We must begin with the simple act of wearing monpe pants and throw ourselves into a wartime way of life.

I cannot stop urging the women supporting the home front to awaken!”

[Transcription]

京城日報 1945年4月21日

チマでは護れぬ
何事ぞ、敵襲忘れてノタリノタリ
まだいる、こんな女性が

◇．．．裾長にチマを引き、春風にスカートをなぶらせて戦う街をゆくハイヒールの何と殖えたことであろうか。永かった冬も去り桜の枝頭もふくらむ春とともに戦う人の心の間隙に喰いこむ緊張のゆるみからモンペを忘れた女性が街々に散見される。

◇．．．いったい貴女はそれで敵の爆撃から身を護り、家を都市を護り抜けると思っているのでしょうか。チマの裾を引いた貴女の子供は巻脚絆にモンペの凛々しい姿で学校へ通っている。スカートにハイヒールの音も高く街を闊歩する貴女の兄さんや弟たちは工場で戦場で生命を投げ出して戦っていることをよもや忘れてる訳ではないでしょう。

◇．．．それなのに貴女だけがその姿でよいのでしょうか。スカートやチマをモンペに直す位の糸がないとはいくら貴女でもいえますまい。もしも生活の習慣に固執されるのだったら、それは敗戦国民の習慣です。万一チマやスカートが女性美を象徴するものだと思ってる人があったら大間違い。街ゆく人々は貴女達の姿を最も穢れた醜いものとして非難の眼で見ているのですぞ。

◇．．．花開く春四月だが、いまや日本民族の興亡を決する大決戦は咲く花とともに桜花と散らん一億特攻の決意に生きる秋なのです。モンペに直さぬチマやスカート類は疎開衣料のなかに入れて、さあ明日にも来る敵機に備え、活動に支障のないモンペ姿に大和撫子の心意気を示そうではありませんか。

【写真＝防衛演習の二十日府内所見】

油断するな
倉茂日婦総長
チマに警告

防衛演習の二十日、見苦しいチマ姿が一般の顰蹙をかった。日婦朝鮮本部倉茂事務総長はこの日婦人の防空服装に次の如く覚醒を促した。

大阪で一時空襲がゆるやかになったため、すっかり油断してモンペを着なくなった。この時に乗じて受けた空襲の被害は大きかったという。これは心のひきしまりがない時の好例だが、われわれ半島女性はこの轍を踏まないように簡単なモンペ着用から始めて戦う生活に奮闘せねばならない。銃後女性の覚醒を促してやまない。

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive

See Also:

Link 1 (1943 clothing regulations regarding chima dresses): https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2022/11/onerous-regulations-prescribing-long.html

Link 2 (1944 police detaining a woman in Hanbok dress): https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2024/12/korean-woman-in-hanbok-detained-by.html

Link 3 (1945 propaganda speech forbidding rings and chima dresses at work): https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2025/04/dont-wear-rings-or-chima-dresses-dont.html