Showing posts with label Internment Camp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Internment Camp. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Converted Korean 'ideological criminals' (a.k.a. independence activists) at 'Yamato Cram School' tearfully apologize for fighting against Imperial Japan and are spellbound as Governor Koiso explains in propaganda speech that the greatest significance of life is hidden in Japanese mythology (1943)

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

This article covers Governor Koiso's inspection visit to Yamato Cram School (대화숙/大和塾), or a brainwashing center to 'convert' Korean 'ideological criminals' (a.k.a. anti-colonial nationalists or independence activists) into Imperial collaborators. The topic of Korean thought crimes and converts (tenkōsha) is relatively well-researched in academia. Thought Crime: Ideology and State Power in Interwar Japan by Max M. Ward is a good book on this topic, and chapter 5 is available online as a free PDF. 

There is also an excellent paper written by Hong Jongwook of Seoul National University entitled "The Thought Control Policy and the Yamato-juku in Colonial Korea", but unfortunately this paper is only available in Japanese.

Japan-colonized Korea could be described as a dictatorship of the Governor-General, who was appointed by the central government in Tokyo, under one party rule by the late 1930's. Within very broad constraints, they had almost unlimited power in Korea to do whatever they wanted. Governor Koiso tended to be more narcissistic than most of his predecessors, and he loved to splash the newspapers with his propaganda speeches and writings, and also articles, including this one, covering his inspection visits and work activities. He is notable for putting young Korean girls into internment camps to turn into 'true Japanese' mothers, with the idea that this would have a multiplier effect as these Korean girls become mothers who raise Japanese children. But immediate wartime needs apparently turned this project into a more practical wartime work force program. 

The sign on the left says "内鮮一體" or 'Japanese-Korean Unification', and the sign on the right says "京城大和塾" or "Gyeongseong Yamato Cram School", with Gyeongseong being the old name for Seoul.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 17, 1943

Live by the Mythology

The Governor-General Visits Yamato Cram School and Delivers a Prolonged Address

At 2:30 p.m. on the afternoon of the 16th, Governor-General Koiso, accompanied by his secretary, Mr. Kobayashi, suddenly appeared at Yamato Cram School in Takezoe-chō (present-day Chungjeong-ro), Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and walked into the reception room to the amazement of everyone. Upon hearing the news of Governor-General Koiso's visit, Probation Office Director Mr. Nagasaki hastily returned to the school and was asked by the Governor about the general situation at Yamato Cram School. He was particularly interested in the current state of thought of the converts, and when the director described the indignation felt by the converts toward the unconditional surrender of the Italian government under Badoglio and the converts' pledge of loyalty to Imperial Japan, the Governor General's tense expression showed a nod of agreement. Then, Director Nagasaki led them to a classroom where the converts had gathered non-Japanese speakers in the neighborhood from the unemployment job center to teach them Japanese, and then they went to the auditorium. After seeing the art club and returning to the reception room, the Governor- General responded to the students' requests and began to explain the profundity of Japanese studies, which are connected to mythology, by stating that 'learning is what it is because of the state'.

He began his speech by saying, 

"Man must contemplate things from various angles in order to spend his life in a meaningful way, or he will turn to science, philosophy, and religion to answer the cries of his soul. However, even though we live in a world where science is universal, we still feel that we are lacking something profound if we are confined to science alone. Even modern philosophy and religion, which delve deep into the spirit, are not enough as long as they remain within those limits. The place to go is history and tradition. But even here, the cry of the soul cannot be fully satisfied. The last place to go is mythology. It is easy for people to think that the significance of mythology is nothing, but they are mistaken.

It is in this mythology that the greatest and ultimate significance of life is hidden. When I was a division commander in Hiroshima, I once visited the Yamaguchi Boys' Prison. There, I saw a military drill review and was very impressed by the performance that was so magnificent that the specialist soldiers blushed, and I gathered the prisoners together and gave them a lesson. The words in each sentence that I spoke contained a tone of excitement, but there was someone who listened to everything I said with tears in his eyes, and I read his book. However, in order for a person to live, there must be a center. If we analogize this to the shape of a cone, when we look at it from the bottom with the apex at the top, the visible bottom is reality, and the invisible apex is mythology. The vertical line descending from the apex is the so-called center. No matter how many times you cut the sloping surface from the side, you will always reach the center. This center is noble and leads to the path of living the mythology. You are this center. When you live by the mythology, you can live with firm conviction, unmoved by anything". 

As the Governor-General spoke for about 20 minutes, the room was filled with deep emotion.

Mr. Moto Koyama, reflecting the deep emotion of the audience, spoke with tears in his eyes: 'In the past, we were sinners who drew our bows against Imperial Japan. Today, we have awakened to this fact, and we are firmly determined to compensate Imperial Japan using the arms and heads that we used to lay down our bows'. The Governor-General replied with a quiet, warm facial expression, 'Make sure you do it right', and tried to leave. The group apologetically asked, 'May we take a picture with you?' The Governor-General readily agreed, and the group took a picture in a friendly yet solemn atmosphere, and the Governor-General returned to his residence after 4:00 p.m. as the group looked on. (Photo: Governor Koiso leaving the school after being seen off by everyone.)

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-09-17

(End of Translation)


(Transcription)

1943年9月17年 京城日報

須らく神話に生きよ

総督・大和塾を訪れ諄々説く

十六日午後二時半小磯総督は小林秘書官を帯同京城西大門区竹添町大和塾にひょっこり姿を現し一同面喰う中を応接間に歩を運ぶ。小磯総督来塾の報に外出先から急遽帰塾した長崎保護観察所長から大和塾の全般的状況を具さに聴取。転向者の今日の思想状況には特に関心を持ち、所長が此度の伊バトリオ政権の無条件降状に対する転向者の憤振りと皇国に燃やす尽忠の誓いを述ぶれば総督の引き緊まった表情にもうなずきの色が見え、次いで長崎所長の案内により授産場から国語普及に転向者達が附近の国語未解者を集めて教育している教室に入り、講堂に巡って応用。美術部を見て応接室に帰った総督は塾生の切望に応じ、”学問は国家あっての学問である”と冒頭して神話に結ぶ日本学の深遠性を諄々と説き来り説き去るのだった。

『人間は自分の一生を有意義に過ごすために種々なる角度から熟考しなければならない。或いはその魂の叫びに科学、哲学、宗教に深索の歩みを入れるであろう。然し科学万能の世であるとは謂え、科学のみに立て籠もっては何かと深奥に物足りないものを覚えるのである。最も精神を掘り下げる現代哲学、宗教にあってもこの限界に止まる限り矢張り物足らない。そこから進み入るところは歴史であり、伝統である。然し此処でも十分に魂の叫びを満たしては呉れない。最後に行きつくところのものは神話なのである。神話の持つ意義をなんでもないように一般に思われ易いが、それは大間違いである。

この神話にこそ人生の最大なる究極の意義が秘められている。自分が広島の師団長をしていた時、山口少年刑務所に行ったことがある。そこで軍事教練閲兵等を見たが、専門の兵隊が赤面する程堂々たるもので自分は心から感激し、囚人を集めて訓辞したことがある。自分の言葉の一句一句にも自然感激の語調が含まれていたが、全部泣いて聴いていた或る人の書物を読んだ。ところが人が生きる上には何か中心がなければならない。これを円錐形に譬えれば頂点を上にして下から眺めた時、底面の見える處が現実で、見えない頂点が神話である。頂点から降した垂線が所謂この中心である。横の斜面をどんなに切って行っても中心に達する。この中心が尊いし神話に生きる道に通ずるものである。皆さんはこの中心である。神話に生きる時、何ものにも動じない固い信念に生き得るのである。』と約二十分間に亘って説けば室内は深い感激が森厳にこもる。

この一同感激を代表して小山元君が”過去に於いて私達は皇国に弓をひいた罪人であります。今日それに目醒めた私達は弓おいたこの腕と頭をもって皇国に報いることを堅く決意いたします”と声涙をもって真情を述ぶれば、総督も静かな温顔で”しっかりやってくれ”といい残して去らんとする。一同は名残り惜しげに”写真を一緒に撮らせて戴きませんか”と願い出れば総督も気易く引き受けて並び和やかな中にも厳粛な空気の中に写真に納まって同四時過ぎ一同の見送る中を官邸に引き上げた。【写真=一同の見送りをうけて塾を出る小磯総督】

Monday, May 23, 2022

Imperial Japanese penal officials brag about brainwashing Korean 'ideological criminals' (a.k.a. independence activists) in 'Yamato cram schools' and converting them into enthusiastic collaborators willing to die shouting 'Banzai to the Emperor!' (Seoul 1943)


These are very interesting articles describing Korean 'ideological criminals', many of whom had upper class Yangban backgrounds, and how they were dealt with in the Imperial Japanese penal system in Korea during the colonial period. By 'ideological criminals', I suppose they mean Korean independence activists, who had to operate clandestinely and furtively inside Korea while trying to avoid getting caught by the ubiquitous Kenpeitai secret police. Many lived double lives, perhaps teaching Imperialist ideology as teachers during the day, but secretly supporting the resistance movement when no one was looking (see my previous post, which was entitled 'Japanese teacher in Japan-colonized Korea punished her Korean students for speaking Korean and imposed Imperial Way ideology on them during WWII...'). So, many Koreans were actually able to say the right words and do the right things to satisfy the Imperial Japanese colonial officials who monitored them to convince them that they were 'true Imperial Japanese people', when in fact it was all just an act and they were actually actively resisting the regime.

These articles mention the Korean Federation of National Power (国民総力朝鮮連盟, 국민총력조선연맹), which functioned as the one and only political party that you could belong to in totalitarian Japan-colonized Korea, spreading the regime's Imperial Way ideology across Korea and reinforcing Imperial rule over Korea.

The second article describes the Seongam Academy, which was an abusive orphanage that was actually kept open through the Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan periods until 1982. 

 (Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 10, 1943

Talking about Judicial Protection

Roundtable discussion organized by the head office of Keijo Nippo newspaper - Part 1

Training begins with the family

Lots of ideological criminals in the Yangban class

Speakers (in no particular order)

  • Mr. Fukuzō Hayata, Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Governor-General's Office
  • Mr. Michiyoshi Masuda, President of Seoul Law School
  • Major Nishida, Director of Seoul Naval War Office
  • Mr. Norimitsu Ohno, Director of the Seoul Court of Inquiry
  • Mr. Yūzō Nagasaki, Director of Seoul Probation Office
  • Mr. Utarō Sakafuji, Administrative Officer of the Legal Affairs Bureau's Criminal Affairs Division
  • Mr. Yasunori Miyazaki, Secretary of the Criminal Affairs Division, Bureau of Justice
  • Mr. Shizuo Kojima, Director, Ideology Division, Korean Federation of National Power
  • Mr. Shōichi Fujii, Seongam Academy
  • Mr. Masataka Ōkubo, Director of Yasaka Youth Dōjō
  • Keijo Nippo: Mr. Akio, Director of Editorial Department, Mine, Director of Social Affairs Department

To carry out the great will of Emperor Meiji who has long said, "If I have sin, reprove me, for the divine people of Amatsu are my own flesh and blood", and with determination not to let a single person fail in our 100 million strong force, a 'judicial protection campaign' has been launched in all of Korea on the 2nd of this month, and a "Judicial Protection Day" will be celebrated on the 13th. In anticipation of this day, the head office of this newspaper held a "Judicial Protection Roundtable Discussion" at the former Dutch consulate in Takezoe-chō (present-day Chungjeong-ro), Seoul on the second day of the month.

If society frowns on someone who has committed a crime in the past but makes a vow to be rehabilitated and re-enter society, what will happen to that person's resolve? That is not good. Let us give them a warm hand and encourage them mentally and materially, guiding and assisting them so that they will not commit crimes again, and they will be able to further progress to become useful members of the nation. We will also secure human resources and stabilize the lives of the people while waging decisive battles. The following is the voice of the leadership, who are deeply involved in the judicial protection project. Photo: Roundtable discussion

Mr. Akio, Director of Editorial Department: On September 13th and 14th, a 'judicial protection campaign' will be held in all of Korea under the auspices of the Korean Federation of National Power and the Korean Association for Judicial Protection. Today, we would like to hear your opinions on this campaign for the protection of justice. We would like to contribute to the advancement of the judicial protection services, which play an important role in strengthening human resources in wartime and ensuring public safety on the home front.

As the war becomes more serious and severe, the public tends to forget about the humble work of judicial protection services. There is an urgent need to increase production, which has human resources as its basic element. The importance of the judicial protection services, which contribute to the enhancement of human resources, is not yet well understood by the general public.

I have heard that the number of released prisoners on the Korean peninsula is increasing year by year. If these people are not accepted by society because they have served sentences, or if they commit crimes again because society gives them a cold treatment, their productivity will be hampered. If these people are warmly embraced, properly guided, rehabilitated, and allowed to fully demonstrate their abilities, we will not only see an upsurge in righteousness, but we will also be able to help strengthen our productive capacity.

Keijo Nippo Reporter: Mr. Akio the Editorial Director just mentioned this, but I would like to ask your opinion on this campaign in terms of so-called human resource development for the judicial protection service, securing public safety, and various other aspects.

Mr. Yūzō Nagasaki, Director of Seoul Probation Office: Human resources are the most fundamental factor in increasing our military strength. It is said that a person must be 18 years old before he can be useful, but most of the people who are eligible for judicial protection are young men who just need to have their crookedness corrected, so I believe that judicial protection is necessary especially in times of war because of its usefulness in terms of human resources.

Secondly, if police officers were to follow each and every ideological criminal during this war to secure public safety, 30,000 police officers would be needed, since there are 30,000 ideologically involved people in all of Korea. I think it would be a great job to judicially protect them and prevent even one of them from being pulled in by the police.

Thirdly, we should use these people for production. Since these ideological criminals (especially Korean ideological criminals) are all talk and no action, we at the probation office, through the Yamato Cram Schools, have been focusing our efforts in the area of supervised work programs, telling them that they should do whatever the state requires, without asking any reasons as to why.

Speaking of the results of putting the ideologically involved people in judicial protection and what the circumstances were like, it was in December 1936 that the probation office was set up. Up to that time, however, 10 to 20 percent of the ideologically involved people were re-offending after being released. But after the probation office was established, not even one out of every 50 people who were taken into custody had re-offended. Whereas previously the released offenders were taking passive stances in agreeing not to engage in ideological movements, now they have taken more active stances in not only agreeing not to engage in ideological movements, but also actively serving the state as Japanese people. I believe this is a victory for judicial protection.

Furthermore, in Korea, they have been promoting the Japanese language through the Yamato Cram Schools as the spearhead of Japanese-Korean unification. I confidently believe that they will surely go on to die shouting "Banzai to the Emperor!"

Keijo Nippo Reporter: So that means the people who are ideologically active are in the young age ranges.

Mr. Nagasaki: Well, from around the third year of junior high school. More than 60% of them are in the 20-years-old to 30-years-old age group.

Keijo Nippo Reporter: The question is how to guide these young people in the right direction, or in other words, how to make them into Imperial people...

Mr. Nagasaki: I think the key is first of all in the training of Korean families. For example, I have researched those who were involved in nationalist movements during their student days in Korea, and found that many of them were children of the old Joseon dynasty's Yangban class coming from substantial family backgrounds. They complain to their families that they could have had happier lives if had lived under the old Joseon dynasty. They hear these complaints and start to engage in these kinds of movements without even realizing it. The reason why the young people are involved in these kinds of movements is that they do not know the past and present of Korea and how they were oppressed by the rulers of the old Joseon dynasty. The other thing is to give hope to these Koreans by showing them what the situation of the world was like back then. Then, in my opinion, those who do well are to be really adored and pulled along. On the other hand, I think that those who do not do well will have to be thoroughly suppressed.

Mr. Satō, Director of Judicial Protection Division: According to the statistics from two to three days ago, the worst offenders in the preventive detention centers in Korea are between 30 and 40 years old, and two-thirds of them are in that age group. I guess that means they are the worst in terms of ideology.

Mr. Hayata, Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau: I recently heard that an offspring of an upper class family in Korea is now in prison for an ideological crime, but that man is actually not so bad. But, according to what he says, he says that he had to become like them because all the people who came in and out of his family home were all ideologically strange. Once you start getting interested in such things, you naturally get led into such a situation. That is why family is so important.

Keijo Nippo Reporter: What kinds of people gather at Yasaka Youth Dōjō?

Mr. Masataka Ōkubo: Recently, we have received about 10 juvenile offenders from the Juvenile Court, and before that, we had about 10 poor children in the Dōjō, but I have decided to give them a thorough patriotic nationalist education. From May, we have especially been encouraging morning visits to the Shinto shrine, and in the evenings, we have them worshiping their ancestors and reading the Heart Sutra, which they are also listening to in translation, and they seem to be getting better. Unfortunately, Korean children are very materialistic compared to Japanese children. There are currently two Japanese children mixed in with the Korean children. The Japanese children simply do their best to do as they are told. On the other hand, the Korean children seem to calculate how much money they can earn if they work outside for how long.

Keijo Nippo Reporter: Are there ideological criminals among them as well?

Mr. Ōkubo: At present, there are none, although they all have such tendencies.

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-09-10


Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 11, 1943

Talking about Judicial Protection

Roundtable discussion organized by the head office of Keijo Nippo newspaper - Part 2

Give "light" to the way forward!

The age range when ideologies easily develop

Keijo Nippo Reporter: The children Seongam Island are not so much in the ideological phase, but rather in a pre-ideological phase.

Mr. Shōichi Fujii: Those children do not have such a will. They just want to eat as much as they can.

Keijo Nippo Reporter: I think that the operations on Seongam Island demonstrate that even those in the early stages of ideological development would be in trouble if they were left to their own devices.

Mr. Fujii: That's right. There are currently 250 children on Seongam Island. Of these, only about 60 were enrolled in elementary school, and the rest do not attend school. Therefore, since we have recently been working toward the regular use of the Japanese language, around 100 out of the 250 children can now understand the Japanese language, so now anyone who comes and speaks to them can at least be understood. Since they are all vagrant children, the entire staff was anxious and also curious about the nature of the children, but they were surprised to find that the quality of the children was very good. So out of the 250 children, up to 200 were normal children, and they were definitely not abnormal children. We could see that with proper guidance, they would be able to make a certain amount of progress. Most of them are normal children. Since these normal children have become this way because of their environment, we believe that these children will improve considerably if they are educated.

However, as I mentioned earlier, it is necessary to give them a guiding light. The children are anxious about how long they will be kept on the island and where they will be taken when they are taken away, and this may cause them to run away from the island.

Recently, one company has approached me to negotiate for a continuous supply of students. Recently, I have been thinking of continuously sending children to that company. When I told the children about this, they were very happy and said, "Teacher, we won't run away anymore".

Keijo Nippo Reporter: How much of the Greater East Asia War do these children have in their minds?

Mr. Fujii: We put up maps in each dormitory and explain the war using the newspaper almost every morning and evening.

Keijo Nippo Reporter: Mr. Masuda, could you tell us about the issue of teaching young students during their most important period of ideological development?

Mr. Masuda: According to a survey conducted by Mr. Itō, a prosecutor at the Prosecutor's Office, 40% of those with criminal records re-offend in a year. In other words, they are doing it again before six months have passed. Therefore, rather than just putting criminals in judicial protection, it is better to take a closer look at those who have just gotten out of prison. It would be more effective to take a closer look at those who have received probation. Still more effective would be to take a closer look at those who have received suspended indictments. This is what is said in general about those who receive judicial protection, and I think it is true. Speaking of prosecutions and trial sentences, in Korea, I think they should take this one step further and give greater recognition to the importance of judicial protection or public safety.

In the history of our rule over Korea, the Governor-General has always said that public safety comes first, even at meetings of the police chiefs. Recently, it seems to me that the government has gone so far as to put industry first. I think that while public safety and industry are important, I would like to see a little more serious consideration given to education, and they should cooperate with us more in this regard. Society's intellectuals criticize education and disparage educators. However, I would like them to think about the importance of education and be kind to educators.

Recently, all of us principals of specialized schools from Korea attended a meeting of principals of specialized schools in mainland Japan, and it was reported that only about 2% of the students in mainland Japan are Korean. However, the percentage of the total number of ideological criminal incidents in mainland Japan in which Korean students are involved is said to be over 50 percent, even though the number of Korean students in mainland Japan is very small. And when we look at who uses the Korean language, we find that those who have gone to school in mainland Japan tend to use the Korean language more. What we need to consider is that young people are innocent, perceptive, and have a strong sense of justice, and that we might be able to help them with our guidance. Up until now, we have been policing with a public safety first policy, but I think that society in general needs to ensure that education is truly thorough. I also think about the following:

When we were young, the concept of the rise and fall of a nation did not resonate in our minds as strongly as it does today. In this respect, today's youth are blessed. Therefore, I think that it is not good for educators to think in the old-fashioned way, but rather, they must work together with their students, taking one step or even a thousand steps forward, with the intention of leading their students. Training is fine, but I think the most important part of training is education. The more the young people put in the effort when they are young, the more they will become great.

Those who commit ideological crimes among the youth due to ideological problems are rounded up, tried, put in jail, and placed on probation when they get out. The bad ones who are not agreeable are placed in preventive detention centers. This is fine, but why don't we put more effort into educating young people?

Keijo Nippo Reporter: We have just talked about the spirit of determination in battle or enthusiasm of the students and the youth. Mr. Kojima, what are your thoughts about ideological problems in general?

Mr. Kojima, Director, Ideology Division, Korean Federation of National Power: First of all, we believe that the purpose of judicial protection is to prevent the creation of ideological criminals in the first place. Therefore, the national movement focuses on the purification of society or the establishment of a direct and positive national faith. In dealing with ideologies, we have not been able to extend our reach into the realm of morality. Therefore, we must establish a faith that penetrates more deeply into our daily lives, and of course, we must establish a national faith centering on Shinto shrines that is thoroughly grounded in the true meaning of the national identity. The most important way for the national movement to respond to the demands of the times is to direct the so-called joyous power that gushes out from the soul of the individual to the most efficient means of increasing the war potential and, in particular, production.

In this regard, while there is a need to improve the labor system, the fundamental emphasis is on the establishment of a view of Imperial labor. In other words, the current situation is that we are trying to establish our ideology from two aspects: the establishment of national consciousness and the establishment of this view of Imperial labor. We hope to create a better social environment from these two aspects, just as the pure flow of water has the power to purify.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-09-11

(End of Translation)

Korean-language article about the abuses at Seongam Academy, which apparently continued operating until 1982:

https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/area/capital/973160.html

Japanese-language article about the abuses at Seongam Academy:

https://japan.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/38522.html

This center memorializes the victims of Seongam Academy:

http://www.santiagomorilla.com/index.php?/mural-works/watermarks/

(Transcription)

京城日報 1943年9月10日

司法保護を語る
本社主催座談会1
先ず家庭から錬成
両班層に多い思想犯

語る人 (順序不同)
  • 総督府法務局長 早田福蔵氏
  • 京城法学専門校長 増田道義氏
  • 京城海軍武官府 西田少佐
  • 京城覆審法院部長 大野憲光氏
  • 京城保護観察所長 長崎祐三氏
  • 法務局行刑課事務官 坂藤宇太郎氏
  • 同刑事課事務官 宮崎保典氏
  • 朝鮮聯盟思想課長 小島倭夫氏
  • 仙甘学園 藤井祥一氏
  • 弥栄青少年道場長 大久保真敬氏
  • 本社側: 秋尾編輯局長 嶺社会部長
長くも『罪あらば我をとがめよ。天津神民はわが身の生みし子なれば』と仰せられた明治天皇の大御心を奉体して、一億総力に一人の落伍者を出すまいと、去る二日から全鮮的に司法保護運動が開かれ、来る十三日”司法保護記念日”を迎えるが、本社ではこの日を控えて二日京城竹添町旧オランダ領事官に”司法保護座談会”を開いた。

過って罪を犯した者が更生を誓って再び社会に出ようとするとき、世がこれを白眼視したら、せっかくの決意はどうなるだろう。それではいけない。温かい手をさしのべ精神的に物質的に激励して、再び罪を犯すことなく更に進んで国家有用の材として活動し得るように輔導し援助しよう。そして決戦下、人的資源の確保と国民生活の安定をはかろう。以下は司法保護事業に縁故ふかき指導層が叫ぶその声である。【写真=座談会】

秋尾編輯局長:九月十三日及び十四日の両日、国民総力朝鮮聯盟及び朝鮮司法保護協会の主催で、全鮮に亘り司法保護運動が展開されることとなって居ります。本日はこの運動に魁けまして各位の司法保護に関する御意見を拝聴!戦時下人的資源の増強と銃後治安確保の重宝を担う司法保護事業の躍進に資したいと思うのであります。

戦争が深刻苛烈になって参りますと、司法保護事業のような地味な仕事は兎に角世間から忘れられがちであります。又生産の増強が刻下の急務でありますが、その基本的要素となる人的資源の増強に寄与する司法保護事業の重要さも未だ一般に理解されていないのであります。

半島における釈放者の数は年々多数に上っていると聞いております。これ等の人達が刑余の身なるが故に世間に容れられず無為に過ごしたり世間の冷遇によって再び罪を犯すことになれば、それだけ生産力は阻害されることとなるのであります。これらの者を温かく抱擁し正しく導いて更生させ、その能力を十分に発揮せしむるならば、啻に道義の昂揚を見るに止まらず、それだけ生産力の増強に役立つことになると信じます。

本社側:今秋尾編輯局長よりの話もありましたが、司法保護事業の所謂人的資源の開発という面、治安の確保という面及びそれ以外の色々な角度からこの運動について御意見を伺いたく思います。

長崎京城保護観察所長:その人的資源が一番戦力増強の根本であります。これは人間が役立つのには十八にならぬと駄目だと言いますが、保護の対象者は大概青年連中の曲がったのを直すだけで人的資源に役立つ故に戦争中なればこそ司法保護が要ると思います。

その次は治安の確保という問題で戦争中若しも思想犯の一人一人に警察官が尾行したならば、全鮮で思想関係者だけでも三万おりますから三万の警察官が必要である。これを保護し、そうして一人でも警察に引っ張られないようにすることは大した仕事じゃないかと思います。

第三としては、これらの連中を生産方面に使って行く。之等思想犯というものは、殊に朝鮮の思想犯というのは口ばかりですから、我々保護観察所では大和塾を通じて理屈は抜きにして国家の要求する仕事は何でもやれということで授産の方面に力を注いで居ります。

思想関係者を保護した結果、どんな風な状況かと申せば保護観察所が出来ましたのは昭和十一年の十二月でしたが、その頃までは思想関係者が刑務所を出たならば一割乃至二割まで逆転して再び刑務所にはいるという状態であったのが、保護観察所が出来て保護すると五十人に一人も逆転向する者がないようになった。併し今までは思想運動をやらぬというだけの消極的なものであったのが、単に思想運動をやらぬのみならず進んで日本人として国家のために尽くすというようになって居ります。これは司法保護の勝利ではないかと思います。

しかも朝鮮では彼等は内鮮一体の急先鋒として大和塾を通じて国語普及をやっております。彼等も必ずや天皇陛下万歳を叫んで死んで行くだろう確信しております。

本社側:大体思想的な動きを見る年齢は若いわけですね。

長崎氏:まあ中学の三年頃からですね。二十から三十まで、これが六割以上でしょう。

本社側:その若い時代を如何にして堅実に導くか言い換えればどうして皇民化するかという問題について...

長崎氏:私は先ず朝鮮の家庭の錬成にあると思う。例えば朝鮮で学生時代に民族主義運動をやったような連中を調べたところが割合に相当の家柄の旧韓国時代の両班階層の子弟に多いらしい。それは家庭の中で旧韓国時代であったならば自分達はもっと幸福な生活が出来たというような不平をいう。それを知らず識らずの間に聞いておって、こんな運動をやるようになる。それから青年がそういう運動に走るのは、朝鮮の昔と現在のことを知らん、旧韓国時代に如何に彼等が統治者から圧迫されたかということをよく知らん。もう一つは世界の大勢がどんなだったか、これら半島人に希望を与えることです。それから私の考えでは、よくやる者は本当に可愛がって引っ張って行ってやる。その代わり、やらん者は徹底的に弾圧するというようにして行かなければならぬと思う。

佐藤保護課長:二、三日前の統計ですが、朝鮮の予防拘禁所にはいっている最も悪い連中を調べたところが、三十歳から四十歳迄が三分の二です。その辺が一番思想的に悪いということになるんでしょう。

早田法務局長:今の家庭が悪いということについて最近聞いた話ですが、朝鮮でも上流の家庭の子供が今思想犯で刑務所にはいっていますが、その男はそう悪くはないのです。ところが本人の云うところによれば、自分の家庭に出入りする者がみんな思想的に変なことをいう連中ばかりだったから、自分もそうならざるを得なかったというようなことを云っている。そういうように興味を持って自然そうなって来るのですね。だから家庭というものが大事ですね。

本社側:弥栄青少年道場にどんな風な人が集まっておりますか。

大久保真敏氏:最近少年審判所から犯罪少年を十名ばかり頂いておりまして、その前に貧困児を十名ばかり収容して居りますが、私の方は報国教育をみっちりやらすことにして、五月からは特に朝の神祠参拝などを奨励しまして、晩に祖先の崇拝並びに般若心経のようなものを読ませまして、特にそれを翻訳して聞かせておりますが、最近非常によくなったようです。ただ遺憾なことには半島の子供は内地の子供と較べて非常に物質的に長じて居りまして、現在二名の内地人の子供が混ざっておりますが、内地の子供はただ言われたままに一生懸命にやっております。ところが半島の子供は、すぐこれだけ外で働けばこれだけの収入があると打算するらしいのです。

本社側:思想犯罪者もおりますか。

大久保氏:現在のところ、おりませんが、多少皆そうした傾向はもって居ります。

京城日報 1943年9月11日

司法保護を語る
本社主催座談会2
前途に”光”を与えよ
感じ易い思想発生期の年頃

本社側:仙甘島は思想というより、その前期あたりでしょうね。

藤井祥一氏:あの子供達はそういう意志はありませんね。みんな腹一杯食えばいいという連中ばかりです。

本社側:やはり思想前期の者でも、その儘放って置いたら大変なことになるというところに仙甘島の事業もあると思うのですが。

藤井氏:そうです。仙甘島には現在二百五十名。その中で国民学校に通学しておった者が約六十名で、あとは全部不就学の子供ばかりです。したがって国語を解する者も二百五十名中百人内外で最近国語常用を目指して起っておりますので、今は誰方が来られても聞くことは誰でも出来ます。それから浮浪児ばかりですから、一体どういう性質を持っているということが職員全体の不安であり、半面興味でもあったのですが、質が非常にいいのにびっくりしました。ですから二百五十名の中で、先ず二百名位までは普通の子供であって、決して異常児ではない。適当な指導さえ与えれば、ある程度の進展は十分に遂げられるものだという見透しがついております。殆どが普通児であります。普通児が環境からそういう風になったのでありますから、この種の子供は教育すれば相当よくなるものと思われます。

ただ先程もお話が出ましたように、光明を与えるという点が必要です。子供は俺達は一体何時までここに置かれるのだろう、出されるときは何処に出されるのだろう、かという不安の念を持っているために島を逃げ出すような気持ちも起って来るのであります。

最近非常に都合のいいことに、某会社から連続的に生徒を呉れないかという交渉を持ちかけて来ましたのです。最近その会社にあたって続々出そうと思っております。この話を薄々子供に話しましたところが、非常に喜びまして『先生もう逃げません』というようなことを言っております。

本社側:そんな子供達は大東亜戦争というものをどれ位心に持っているのですか。

藤井氏:各寮に地図を掲げて殆ど朝晩新聞によって説明してやりますし、また朝会などで戦争認識をうんと注ぎこんでおりますが、勝たなければならないということはみんな考えているようです。

本社側:そこで一番重要時期である思想発生期に於ける青年学生の教学という問題について増田先生一つ。

増田法専校長:検事局におられた伊藤検事さんの調査に依ると一年に犯罪前科者の四十%が再犯を犯している。つまり半年経たぬ中にまたやっているということになる。それでただ犯罪人を保護するよりも刑務所から出たての者をよく見た方がよい。それよりもまだ効き目のよいのは執行猶予を受けた者。それよりも有効なのは起訴猶予を受けた者。こういうように一般保護の方で言われているのですが、成程そうだと思います。更にこれは検事と裁判行刑、保護になるわけですが、もう一歩進めて保護が大事である、或いは治安が大事であるということを朝鮮でもう少し認識してもらいたいのです。

従来の朝鮮の統治の歴史を見ると治安第一ということを警察署長会議でも総督から言われる。或いは最近では産業第一であるというところまで進んで来ているように思う。私は治安も産業も大事であるが、もう少し教育というものを真面目に考えて我々と協力してもらいたいと思う。世の中の識者は教育を批判したり教育者を軽蔑したりする。けれども、教育の大事なことを考えて教育者に対し親身になってもらいたい。

先般内地の専門学校長会議に我々朝鮮の専門学校長が全部参りましたが、その時の話では内地に居る朝鮮人学生はその二パーセント位しかない。ところが、その少ない朝鮮の学生が内地の思想事件において、どの位の数を占めているかというと五十パーセントを超えているそうです。朝鮮の方はどういう状態かというと非常に少ない。それから朝鮮語を使う状態を調べて見ると、これも内地の学校に行っておった連中に多い。我々が考えなければならないことは若い者は純真で鋭敏で正義感が強いから我々の導きようでどうにでもなるものではないかということで、今まで治安第一主義で取り締まりに主眼を置いていたが、教育の真の徹底を社会全般がはからねばならぬと思うのです。それと共に思うことは、

我々の若い時には国家の興亡というものが今日の青年ほど頭にピンと響かなかった。其の点今の青年は恵まれている。したがって教育者も昔流儀の考えでおったのでは駄目なんで、生徒と一緒に一歩でも千歩でも飛び出して生徒を引っ張ってやるというような気持ちでやって行かなければならんのじゃないかと思う。錬成ということも結構ですが、錬成の中で最も本筋なものは教育ではないかと思う。青年は柔らかい時に気合を入れれば入れただけ立派になる。

青年の中で思想問題で思想犯を冒した連中は検挙して裁判をして刑務所に入れて出たら保護観察に附す。そうして工合の悪い奴は予防拘禁所に入れる。これも結構ですが、何故もっと若い青少年の教育に力を入れて呉れないのか。

本社側:今学生層とか青少年に対する決戦気魄というか、熱意というようなことについてお話しがありましたが、一般の思想問題については小島さんどうぞ。

小島朝鮮聯盟思想課長:先ず思想犯人を造らないことが司法保護だと考えます。そこで国民運動は社会の浄化運動或いは直接積極的な国民信仰確立というような点に重点を置きます。どうも思想などを取り扱いますのに、その限界を道徳的なところまで拡げ得られないというような處がありますので、もう少し生活に食い入った信仰、勿論国体の本義に透徹して神社を中心とするところの国民信仰の確立にすべての基準を置いて、これが確立には個人の魂を錬成し、その魂から迸り出ずるところの所謂歓喜の力を最も効率あらしむるように、これを戦力増強就中生産の増強に向けることが国民運動として最も大切な時局の要請に応ずる途ではないかと思います。

その点に関しましては勤労制度の改善ということもありますが、根本として皇国勤労観の確立ということに、その重点を置いております。即ち国民意識の確立とこの皇国勤労観の確立の二つの面から思想の確立をはかっているのが現状です。その清らかな流れが浄化力を持っているように、この二つの方面からよりよき社会環境を造り出したいと念願しております。

Sunday, November 21, 2021

By April 1944, there were 13 internment camps in Seoul for Japanizing Korean girls into wives for Japanese soldiers, with most of the girls enlisted for military labor, and instructional time cut from all day to just the afternoons (photo: Japanese language class at a camp in Jongno-gu, Seoul)

 


This article from April 1944 shows that this system of internment camps had expanded to at least 13 in Seoul housing a total of 650 internees. That is an increase from 2 camps housing a total of 520 internees as described in the February 1944 article (340 internees at Ewha, 180 internees at Sookmyung). But whereas the February 1944 article described pretty intense training 6 hours a day (3 hours in the morning, 3 hours in the afternoon), this article describes a shortened training schedule from 1:30 to 4 p.m. with an average of 2 hours a day. Perhaps the intense pace of training was unsustainable due to the escalating demands of war with labor, material, and food shortages, and physical labor took precedence over academic studies.

One word popped out at me when reading this article: 傭人 (yonin), which is hard to find an English equivalent word for, so I'll just call it "enlisted laborers" here. Many comfort women have been listed as yonin in Japanese military name rosters, as one paper notes. Back then, it was a word generally used to refer to a category of uneducated physical laborers working for the Japanese government or the Japanese military. In the context of the times, this probably means that most of the internees became physical laborers working directly under the Japanese military. That would have meant being eventually sent to Japan proper or some other destination depending on the immediate labor needs of the Japanese military.

(my translation)

April 21, 1944 Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo)

We're Also First Year Students

Women of the Peninsula who strive to become mothers of strong soldiers

"What is this, everyone?" "Yes, it's a cherry blossom." In response to the young female instructor's question, the young women of the peninsula, who were aiming to become the mothers of strong soldiers, chanted clearly and powerfully in the Japanese language, their voices echoing in the quiet classroom window and flowing into the sunny spring sky. The Seoul Provincial Women's Youth Training Centers, which are designed to improve the qualities of young women on the peninsula as imperial women in order to foster strong soldiers in preparation for the implementation of the glorious peninsular draft, opened on the 15th of last month at 13 locations in the province, accommodating 650 young women of appropriate age. From 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day, they are taking Japanese language class and other subjects with the passion of peninsular women in imperial training who are engaged in the fight.

On the 20th, we took a look at the students and instructors of Jaedong Women's Youth Training Center in Jongno District, Seoul who were united as one in passionate training. The attendance rate was nearly 90%, and most of the 40 students were enlisted laborers. Director Terada of the center, the main instructors, and assistant instructors who graduated from the Ewha Women's Youth Training Center this spring are teaching the four subjects: Japanese language, training in traditional Japanese customs, household work, and professional work. Although the Ewha Women's Training Center has just opened and does not have the prescribed training books, the students who attend the classes are doing their best as new first-year students of the National School. The training period is an average of two hours a day for one year. Photo: Class at Jaedong Women's Training Center

(my transcription into modern Japanese orthography)

昭和十九年四月二十一日 京城日報

私達も一年生

健兵の母へ張切る半島女性

”皆さん、これは何ですか””はい、桜の花です”

若い女子指導員の質問に答えて、雄々しき健兵の母を目ざす半島女性青年達が明確な国語で力強く唱和する声が静かな教室の窓に響いて陽春の空に流れる。光輝ある半島徴兵実施に備えて強兵を育成する半島女子青年の皇国女性としての資質を向上させる京城府内女子青年錬成所は去る十五日から適齢女子青年六百五十名を収容して府内十三ヶ所一斉に開所。毎日午後一時半から四時まで国語教育をはじめ、火の出るような皇民錬成に戦う半島女性の迸る熱を傾けて授業を始めている。廿日鐘路区斎洞女子青年錬成所の指導員生徒一体となっての熱心な錬成ぶりを覗けば、生徒の出席率九割近くで四十名の生徒は大半傭人達、寺田所長と今春梨花女子青年錬成所指導員養成科を巣立った本、副指導員が国語、修練、家事、職業の四科目を指導している。また開所したばかりで所定の錬成読本も揃わないが授業を受ける生徒たちはすっかり国民学校一年生になり切って一生懸命の錬成である。錬成期間は一日平均二時間一ヶ年間である。【写真=斎洞女子錬成所の授業】

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-04-21

Reddit Link: By April 1944, there were 13 internment camps in Seoul for Japanizing Korean girls into wives for Japanese soldiers, with most of the girls enlisted for military labor, and instructional time cut from all day to just the afternoons (photo: Japanese language class at a camp in Jongno-gu, Seoul) : korea (reddit.com)

In 1944, the Japanese govt built internment camps in Korea to intensively train young Korean school girls in Japanese ways and turn them into assimilated mothers and wives of Japanese soldiers (top photo: Ewha students in training; bottom photo: Sookmyung students teaching Japanese to local women)

 


TL;DR: In February 1944, the Japanese fascist government announced their plans to build internment camps all over Korea to intensively brainwash young Koreans girls of marriageable age and turn them into "good imperial Japanese mothers and spouses" of returning Japanese soldiers, so that they would make good imperial Japanese babies and help thoroughly assimilate Korea into Japan. It's not clear from my reading how much of this plan they actually managed to accomplish, but apparently they had already started with the poor students from Ewha and Sookmyung Girls High Schools in Seoul.

Now, it will be noted that the baby making was presumably to begin after Japan beat everyone in the war, so that the victorious Japanese soldiers could then return to Korea to start families with the assimilated Korean girls who were thoroughly Japanized in those internment camps. But as we all know, Japan lost the war, so this grand plan could not be fully carried out.

(my translation)

February 10, 1944 Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo)

Photo: (Top) students training at Ewha Girls Specialized School (Bottom) students at Sookmyung Girls Specialized School teaching a Japanese language class

To be a good mother and a good wife

A gate of training for women of the right age

April 1st

The long-awaited conscription system on the peninsula of 25 million will be implemented this year to conduct the first round of conscription, and some of the peninsula's young men will have the honor of going to the front lines. In two years, national compulsory school education will be implemented. However, compared to these men who are growing fast, what is the current status of women on the peninsula? Are they qualified to be good mothers and spouses to the men who are discharged from the Imperial military? For this reason, the Governor-General's Office of Korea took temporary emergency measures to set up "Women's Youth Training Centers" in each of the provinces, eups, and myeons of Korea from April 1st of this year, and to provide educational training to improve the quality of Japanese imperial women.

Established at last

The Governor-General's Office has made it the ultimate ideal that "there should be no uneducated households in any eup, and no uneducated people in any household". Interned in these Women's Youth Training Centers are young women of marriageable age who are burning with the desire to learn, as well as those who have been delinquent with their learning at national schools in the past. The main focus of the program is to provide them with the day-to-day knowledge of the Japanese language necessary for Japanese imperial women, to clarify the concept of Japanese national identity, and to give them the ability and understanding of agricultural work and other occupations. From the standpoint of strengthening the war effort, it is clear that, when sending husbands and children to the industrial front, if mothers and housewives are not filled with a sense of Japanese national consciousness, they will face obstacles in fulfilling a decisive production line. In the old Man'yoshu literature, it is said that there is sin on the lips of certain women, and there is a woman behind every crime. Thus, as it is said that women generally cause men to make mistakes, we cannot afford to have such things happen at war in the face of gunfire. The training and development of women is now an urgent matter. Those who may enter the Women's Youth Training Centers are 16 years and younger, and have not yet completed the primary level of national school. However, if there is room in the training center, those over 16 years old can also enter. The training centers placed in the provinces, eups, and myeons will be in public and national schools, but setting up training centers at private schools will also be permitted. They will be managed by a director and full-time or part-time instructors, and will have capacity for about 50 people.

The training will start in April every year, and the duration of the training will be about one year, with more than 600 hours of training. Thes tuition will be 50 sen per month. The subjects of training will include training in Japanese traditional customs, Japanese language, household work, professional work, as well as agricultural work, which will impart knowledge and expertise required to increase productivity.

Intense Training at Ewha and Sookmyung Girls Specialized Schools

In view of the promulgation of the regulations of the Korean Women's Youth Training Centers, the Women's Youth Training Centers will finally be inaugurated on April 1st in all regions of Korea, to be fully implemented by the year after next. In conjunction with the implementation of compulsory education, this measure to address the lack of Japanese national education for women and girls on the peninsula will lead to a dramatic improvement in the culture and industry of the peninsula in the future, and even if the training period is only one year, the results should be worth waiting for. On the other hand, at the newly established centers at Ewha and Sookmyung Women's Specialized Schools, the training center instructors themselves are training hard with a pioneering spirit before graduating in March. They have given up the faint dreams that they had when they first entered the schools, and they are striving to improve their qualities to eventually become leaders of the training schools. We will now take a peek into both schools.

Becoming a Strong and Resilient Woman

Ewha Girls Specialized School, a school of learning that advances towards practical application

[Ewha Women's Youth Training Center Instructor Training Course]

Of the initial 450 students, 340 students were admitted to the school, excluding those who were unable to make it due to unavoidable family reasons. All of them were settled in the dormitory and began their training. The only things that reminded them of their former sentimental life as female students were their school uniforms, but even those were now replaced by monpe trousers as women's work uniforms. The whole school was filled with the spirit of fostering "mothers of a strong militarized peninsula". The dormitory used to accommodate two people per room, but now it accommodates four people per room. They wake up at 6:00 a.m., have breakfast at 7:30 a.m., and start their morning training at 9:00 a.m. They do physical training for about 30 minutes. Then three hours of training in the morning and three hours of training in the afternoon, after lectures end at 5:00 p.m., dinner at 6:00 p.m., night training at the dormitory from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., reflection time to fill out diaries, etc., and going to bed at 10:00 p.m. to complete the day's activities.

The seven subjects are moral education (three hours), Japanese language (three hours), home economics (six hours), practical work (nine hours), national defense (six hours), physical training (three hours), and performing arts (three hours), for a total of thirty-six hours of lecture per week. Aside from these subjects, discretionary authority is given to the instructors to give lectures on topics outside of school, adapting to circumstances as necessary. In addition to this, etiquette and manners are taught in the dormitory room, and music, drawing, and other performing arts are taught in a way that is in line with practical application. Women from the farming villages have become familiar with the piano keys struck by students enraptured by Chopin's music, the music flowing happily from the quiet school changing into some soft popular music. Although the school building is still the same as in the past, the spirit of the students is much stronger, and with the growing peninsula on their backs, the music of the "Kenmin Kenbei" (healthy people and healthy soldiers) is now ringing out in the forest of Yanxi.

Focus on Japanese Language Education

Practical training for women on the peninsula, Sookmyung Girls Specialized School

[Sookmyung Women's Youth Training Center Instructor Training Course]

The school, which has been reborn to strengthen its war potential, has given up all past education in favor of a 100-million-strong fighting force. 180 students are currently working together under the leadership of Principal Oda to devote their hearts and souls to the education of the Training and Development Department, excited by the great hope and responsibility of training instructors to nurture the mothers of all soldiers. At 9:00 a.m., the principal, staff, and all students gather in the schoolyard for the morning assembly. This morning assembly is different from past morning assemblies, for it is a time of rigorous training to ensure that the core words of the training instructor are followed. After worshipping at Miyagi Shrine and Ise Shrine, the national rituals are performed. After the rituals, everyone valiantly recites the "Oath of the Training Instructor". The vow is as follows. "With words of the three thoughts of reflection, I will return to my true form as a woman of the Japanese Empire, and in my awakened state, I firmly vow to use that true form to mold uneducated young women of the peninsula into wise mothers of strong soldiers".

After the morning assembly, they move on to physical training and then immediately enter into academic studies, for which students are divided into groups of fifty. The seven subjects are moral education, Japanese language, home economics, practical work, national defense, physical training, and performing arts. The teachers are the current professors at the school. Among these subjects, special emphasis is placed on Japanese language. In order to apply the students' Japanese language education not only in the classroom but also in the real world, about 40 women from the town council near the school who have no understanding of the Japanese language are gathered at the school, where the students assume the role of teachers every day from 1 to 3 p.m. to give practical instruction to these women on the Japanese language, sharpening their skills as instructors.

Day-care Centers also in the Fight

Commendation for excellent day-care centers on the occasion of Japanese Empire Day.

A command has been issued to conduct a "full frontal attack at work", calling upon women to move into the workplace in industrial departments. In response to this, the nursery takes care of the children of women industrial warriors who devote themselves to the enhancement of production, and allows them to work in peace, boosting their labor power and playing an important role in the protection and fostering young Japanese people who will bear the responsibility of the next generation of Japan. The National Federation of Korean Industries awards the following commendations to the following day-care centers in Gyeonggi-do with excellent performance on the occasion of Japanese Empire Day.

(my transcription into modern Japanese orthography, with punctuation marks added or modified for clarity)

昭和十九年二月十日 京城日報

【写真=(上)梨花女専生徒の錬成ぶり (下)淑明女専の国語講習会】

よき母をよき妻を

適齢女性へ錬成の門

四月一日

半島二千五百万待望の徴兵制も今年第一回の徴兵を行い、半島青年の一部は戦列へ馳せ参ずる光栄に浴する。また明後年からは国民学校義務教育も実施されることになり、半島多年の熱鍛は達成されてゆくがこれら長足に伸びる男子に比し、半島女性の現況はどうか。今度皇軍の一員となった男子が除隊して来た場合、その良き配偶者となり母べき資格があるか否か。ここに於いて総督府は陽春四月一日から全鮮各府邑面に「女性青年錬成所」を設置、皇国女性としての資質向上を図るため教養訓練を行う臨時緊急措置をとった。

愈々設置

総督府は「邑に不学の家なく、家に不学の人なからしむる」ことを終局の理想としているのであるが、この度の女子青年錬成所には過去に国民学校で学ばないことを侮ると共に、学ばんとする意欲に燃えている結婚適齢期にある女子青年を収容し、皇国女性として必要なる日常の国語知識を授け、国体観念を明かにすることを主眼とし、農事その他職業に対する理解と能力を持たせることに重点を置いているのである。戦力増強の面からみても夫をわが子を産業戦線に送る際、母たり主婦たるものが国家意識に燃えていなくては、果敢なる生産線の完遂に障害を来すことは明かである。昔の万葉ではある紅唇罪あり、咸は犯罪の裏に女ありとかいう、男子を誤らせるのは概ね女性であるという、戦う銃後にこんなことがあってはならぬのだ。今こそ女性の修養錬成は焦眉の急である。女性青年錬成所に入所し得るものは満十六歳で国民学校初等科を修了していないものであるが、錬成所に余裕ある場合は十六歳を超ゆるものも入所出来るのである。錬成所は府邑面に配置するものは公立として国民学校に付設するのであるが、私立女性青年錬成所も認められている。所長及び専任指導員又は兼務指導員をもって経営し、五十人内外を収容する予定である。

錬成の項目は修練、国語、家事及び職業と共に農業に関する知識技能を得しめ、生産増強に資するもので、毎年四月に錬成を開始し、その期間は概ね一ヶ年とし、六百時間以上の錬成を行うのであるが、授業料は一ヶ月五十銭である。

梨花、淑明両女専の猛訓練

朝鮮女子青年錬成所規定の公布を見て愈々四月一日を期し全鮮津々浦々には女子青年錬成所が力強く発足する、明後年より実施する。義務教育の実施と相俟って、半島婦女子の国民教育不浸透分野に対する今回の措置は今後の半島文化、産業の飛躍的向上を契機つけるものであり、僅か一ヶ年間の錬成期間であっても、その成果は期して待つべきものがある。一方これら錬成所指導員は??新発足した梨花、淑明両女子専門学校で、開拓者的な意気込みで三月の卒業を前に猛訓練を積んでいるが、入学当初の淡い乙女の夢を擲って錬成所指導者としての全き資質練磨に邁進しているが、両指導員養成所を覗く。

強く逞しき女性へ

梨花女専、実践へ進む学びの園

【梨花女専女子青年錬成所指導員養成科】

従前の四百五十名の生徒の中、真にやむを得ない家庭的事情で、転じ得ない者を除いた三百四十名が揃って入所した。入所全員は洩れなく寄宿舎に入り、訓練生活に突入した。感傷的な女学生生活を偲ぶものは僅か制服のみとなったが、それすらいまはモンペの錬民服となり、”強い軍国半島の母”育成の気興進全学園にみなぎっている。寄宿舎は一室二人宛宿泊していたが、いまは四人宛で午前六時起床、同七時半朝食、同九時から朝の訓練を開始、約三十分間朔風を衝いてエッサエッサと体操訓練を行う。それから午前、午後三時間宛の学科錬成、午後五時講義を終えて同六時夕食、同七時から九時まで寮で夜間錬成を行い、それから反省時間で日記等を記入、同十時就寝、一日の行事を終える。

科目は道義(三時間)、国語(三時間)、家政(六時間)、実業(九時間)、国防(六時間)、体錬(三時間)、芸能(三時間)の七科目、一週三十六時間の講義時間数である。科外として校外より各方面の権威を講師に時局に即応した講義が行われる。この外礼儀作法が寮の一室で行われ、音楽、図画等の芸能課目は専ら実務に添うた方向に導いているかってショパンの曲に陶然となった生徒の叩くピアノのキーは農村の女性にも親しみ易い歌謡曲に変わって静かな学園から楽しく流れる。かくして校舎は昔のままの梨専ではあるが、学ぶ生徒の気構えは遥かに力強く、伸び上る半島を背負っていまや延嬉の杜は健民健兵譜が高鳴っている。

国語に重点

半島婦人に実習 淑明女専

【淑明女専青年錬成所指導員養成科】

一億戦闘配置の息吹きに過去の教育を一切擲って、戦力増強の一途に新生したこの学園は、現在百八十名の生徒が小田校長のもとに一丸となって逞しき万兵の母を育む錬成指導員の大きな希望と責務に胸を躍らせて錬成養成科の教育に精魂を打ち込んでいる。午前九時校長、職員を初め全生徒は校庭に集合、朝礼を行う。この朝礼も従来実施していたものとは違って、錬成指導員の本文に徹せんがために行う厳格な錬成の一刻である。宮城遥拝、伊勢の神宮遥拝をしたのち、国民儀礼を行い、終って全員は凛然と「錬成指導員の誓いの言葉」を朗誦する。その誓いは「己が皇国女性としての本然の姿に還るべき反省三思の言葉ともなり、その目ざめた本然の姿で無教育の半島女子青年をして強兵の賢母たらしめんとする峻烈な誓いである」。

それより体操に移って朝礼を終り、直ちに学科に入る。学科は五十名宛に分けて行う。科目も錬成に重点を置いたもので道義、国語、家政、実業、国防、体操、芸能の七科目で先生は現在の教授達が受待っている。この中で国語教育を特に重視して、生徒の国語教育を教室だけのものでなくして、実地に生かそうと、同校附近の町会から国語未解の婦人を約四十名学校に集め、毎日午後一時から三時まで生徒が先生となって国語講習の実習を実施、錬成指導としての素地を練磨している。

戦う幼児の園

紀元節に優良託児所を表彰

「いざ、我らの職場に総突撃だ」とあらゆる生産部門に婦人の職場進出の号令がくだされているが、これに応えて生産増強に挺身する婦人産業戦士の子供を預かり、安んじて就業させると共に、その勤労力を昂め、次代の日本を背負って起つ少国民の保護育成に大きな役割を果たしている託児所の成績優良なものにたいして、国民総力朝鮮聯盟では十一日紀元の佳節にあたり表彰する、京畿道内における被表彰託児所は次の通りである。

Source: 京城日報 1944-02-10 : 京城日報社 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Reddit Link: In 1944, the Japanese govt built internment camps in Korea to intensively train young Korean school girls in Japanese ways and turn them into assimilated mothers and wives of Japanese soldiers (top photo: Ewha students in training; bottom photo: Sookmyung students teaching Japanese to local women) : korea (reddit.com)

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