This 24-year-old Korean woman leveraged her connections with her powerful grandfather, Yi Hae-chang (이해창/李海昌) from the Korean collaborator elite, to land a comfortable job as patriotic group leader for the privileged Tae family clan (Sajik-dong, Seoul, 1944)

This brief 1944 article is about a well-connected 24-year-old Korean woman named Yi Hui-jun (이희준/李禧準) who leveraged her connections with her powerful grandfather, Yi Hae-chang (이해창/李海昌) from the elite aristocratic Korean collaborator class, to land a comfortable job as a patriotic group leader of a patriotic group in an up-scale neighborhood of Sajik-dong, which was home to the former royal Tae family clan.

Yi Hui-Jun

The Tae family clan was apparently privileged enough to retain its family customs and traditions even while the language and culture of the rest of the Korean population was being suppressed by the Imperial Japanese regime.

Patriotic Groups (JP: aikoku-han, KR: aeguk-ban, 愛國班) were neighborhood cells which functioned as the local arm of the Korean Federation of National Power (国民総力朝鮮連盟, 국민총력조선연맹), the single ruling party of colonial Korea. They typically consisted of a few households, led by a Patriotic Group leader, who normally acted as a mini-tyrant micromanaging the lives of everyone within the Patriotic Group. That included things like rationing food and goods, enforcing mandatory State Shinto prayer times and shrine visits, 'volunteering' laborers upon the colonial government's request, arranging marriages, holding mandatory Japanese language classes, spying on 'ideological criminals', etc.

But as a privileged Korean family clan, the Tae family clan would have probably gotten a pass on the most onerous obligations, like mandatory labor duty for things like manure collection. However, they apparently still had to perform emergency response training, which would have included things like fire extinguishing drills, first aid, and air raid drills.

As corrupt and nepotistic as their arrangement was, it would have been advantageous at least as far as Hui-jun and the Tae family were concerned. Hui-jun would be managing a group of privileged Koreans who were generally friendly towards the colonial regime, so they would have been pretty cooperative, making her job easier. In return, the Tae family would get a patriotic group leader who was from a similar background as them, so they could be sure that she would be relatively gentle on them. Perhaps Hui-jun actually married into the Tae family, since she is described as a bride. That would have made her a patriotic group leader of her in-laws, which would have made an interesting dynamic.

This got me curious about what kind of Korean man was powerful enough to pull strings in the Imperial Japanese government to secure his granddaughter a cushy job. Unfortunately for me personally, most of the available historical information online was in Korean, but I did find one Japanese language article about him, so I'm using that to share my findings about him.

Yi Hae-chang was born on October 15, 1865 in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, as the 13th generation descendant of Deokheung Daewongun, a famous King of Joseon who lived from 1530 to 1559. In 1889, he passed the Korean version of the grueling Imperial Chinese Keju Examinations to become a government bureaucrat in Yi Dynasty Korea. He steadily moved up in the government bureaucracy, and in 1904 he became a Panyun (Governor) of Seoul (then called Hanseongbu). He continued receiving Yi Dynasty honors and promotions through 1907. After Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan in 1910, he received the noble title of Marquis to enter the Korean collaborator aristocratic elite. He subsequently made some very powerful connections in Imperial Japanese business circles, and from 1923 to 1928, he served as an executive at Hansung Bank. He owned a lot of farmland in Gyeonggi-do. He died on March 2, 1945.

Scrolling down, you will see a raw Korean-language printout of Yi Hae-chang's entry in the Encyclopedia of Pro-Japanese Collaborationists in Korea (친일인명사전), which I am posting as it appeared on the Android app version of this book.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) April 12, 1944

The quintessential patriotic group leader

A married granddaughter of a Marquis, Mrs. Yi of Sajik-dong

This is a story of a married granddaughter of a Marquis,who broke the perverse custom of living a secluded life as a Korean aristocrat, and fought bravely as a patriotic group leader.

The 24-year-old Mrs. Yi Hui-jun (이희준/李禧準), the married granddaughter of the Marquis Yi Hae-chang (이해창/李海昌) and a resident of 262 Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, is hard at work dealing with preparations for the festivals held more than 30 times a year and the household chores of an aristocratic family that still retains the family customs of the Tae clan. It was last summer that she boldly stood up to become the leader of the Fourth Patriotic Group of the Fifth Team of Sajik-dong with her grandfather's approval. She wanted to do something to serve her country, realizing that countless hands were needed now to win the war, which was getting more and more intense.

Since then, she has been working hard, pouring her heart into the distribution of goods, the allocation of bonds, and care for the members of the patriotic group. Patriotic Group Leader Yi said,

"I thought I would spend the rest of my life buried in my own private life, but to my surprise, my grandfather understood me well and I was able to serve my country, albeit indirectly. The hardest thing is that we have not yet completed basic training, so our team members are not yet able to act in a disciplined manner during emergency response training. It is not easy, but we have only just embarked on this journey. We will grit our teeth and do our best."

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-04-12

(Transcription)

京城日報　1944年4月12日

流石名班長振り

侯爵の孫嫁、社稷町の李さん

侯爵の孫嫁さんが、内房生活という半島貴族の陋習を破り、一愛国班長として敢闘する決戦の話。

鐘路社稷町二六二李禧準さん（二四）は李海昌侯爵の孫嫁さんで、一年に三十回以上もあるお祭りの始末やら太家族風習のまだ残っている貴族名門の家事の処理に大へんなものであるが、戦局は苛烈の一途を辿り勝ち抜くためには、人手が無数に要る今日、何かとお国に尽くさねばと祖父さんの了解を得て社稷町五組四班長として蹶然起ったのが昨夏のことであった。

それ以来二十一世帯もある同班員の物資配給を初めとして、債券の割り当てなど或いは班員の世話へと心血を注いでいる李班長さんの話：

嬉しいことは一生を私的生活にうずめるだろうと思っていましたが、意外に祖父さまのよき理解で間接なりともお国に御奉公出来ることです。苦しいことは基本訓練が出来ていないので、警防錬成に班員がまだ規律ある行動がとれない点です。やりにくい点もありますが、乗り出した船です。歯を食いしばって頑張るつもりです。

(Lee Hae-chang's entry in 친일인명사전)

이해장 李海昌| 1865~1945

후작

1865 년 11 월 15일 경기도 포천에서 태어났다. 본관은 전 주, 자는 배언(拜言)이댜 1889 년 12월 알성시(謁聖試) 병 과(丙科) 42위로 합격해 홍문관 교리에 제수되었다.1892 년 5월 사간원 대사간에 임명되어 1895 년 8월 장례원 종정 사장(宗正司長), 1896 년 12월 봉상사 부제조, 1897 년 8월 강화부윤, 1899 년 8월 태복사장, 1900 년 2월 봉상사장 등 을 거쳐 5월에는 장례원 장례를 겸임했다.1900 년 9 월, 강 화부윤으로 있을 때 강화도 정족산성(鼎足山城) 사고(史 庫)에 보관돼 있던 실록(實錄) 일부를 잃어버린 책임으로 전남 지도군 고군산(古群山)으로 3 년 유배형에 처해졌다 가 실록을 잦게 되어 10월에 사면되었다.1901 년 10월부터 1903 년 8월까지 여러 자례 비서원승을 지냈고, 1904 년 10 월 한성부 판윤에 임명되었다.1904 년 11 월 4일 장산도정 (昌山都正)에 봉해졌다가 다음 날 장산군(昌山君)에 봉해 졌다.

1908 년 8월 기호흥학회 잔무부(贊務部) 특별주무원(特別主務員)으로 활동하면서 12월부터 특별찬성회원으로 1500환율 매달 25환씩 나눠 기부하여 부족한 재정율 도왔 다 같은 해 10월 일본적십자사 총회에서 특별사원에 위족 되었고, 11 월 대한산림협회 명예회원으로 잠여했다. 대한산 림협회는 일제가 전국의 산림 측량 등을 목적으로 설지한 단 제로 일본인 측량기사를 조빙해 산림 측량 등을 비롯한 산 림사업을 주관했다. 같은 해 12월 자지단제인 한성부민회의 하부단제로 인달방(仁達坊)적선방(積善坊)의 방호1(坊會) 조직을 위한 발기인으로 잠여했다.

합병 직후인 1910 년 10월 〈조선귀족령〉 에 따라후작작 위를 받았다. 같은 해 11 월 ‘조선귀족 일본관광단’의일행으 로 전황의 생일인 천장절(天長節) 연회에 조대받고 천황이 하사하는 주병(酒瓶)을 받았다. ‘조선귀족 일본관광단'은 조 선총독부가 비용 전액을 후원하여 일본 전황에게 사은의 뜻을 표하기 위해 조직되었다.1911 년 1 월 은사공재 16 만 8000원을 받았고, 2월에는 종독 관저에서 열린 작기본서봉 수식(爵記本書捧受式)에 의복을 갖주어 잠석했다.1912 년 8월 한국병합기념장을 받았고, 12월 종4위에 서위되었다. 1915 년 7월 조선총독부 주도로 식민지배를 정당화하고 시 정사업을 선전하기 위한 시정 5 년기념 조선물산공진회 경성 협찬회의 유공회원(有功會員)으로 기부했다.1915 년 11 월 다이쇼(大正)천황 즉위기념 대례기념장율 받았고, 1917 년 12월 정 4위로 승서(陞敍)되었다.1918 년 8월 경성구제회 (京城救濟會)에 기부했다.

1919 년 1 월 고종의 국장(國葬)과 1926 년 4월 순종의 국 장 때 종적집사를 맡았다.1923 년 1 월 주식회사 한성은행 (漢城銀行) 제 35 회 정기 주주종회에서 감사역에 선줄되어 1928 년까지 재임했다.1926 년 6월부터 1935 년까지 주식 회사 선일지물(鮮一紙物) 감사를 지냈다• 1924 년 1 월 종3 위로 승서되었고, 1928 년 11 월 쇼와(昭和)전황 즉위기념 대례기념장을 받았다.1929 년 9 월 도박과 아편 등으로 몰락 해 가는 조선 귀족들의 파산율 구호하기 위해 조직된 재단법 인 장복회(昌福會)에서 1930 년 1 월 생활보조비로 지급한 교부금 250원을 받았다.1937 년 6월 현재 경기도 양주와 연전 일대에 각각 논밭 합계 30정보(町步 : 약 9 만 평) 이상 을 소유한 대지주였다. 같은 해 8월 조선종독부가 중일전쟁 이후 시국인식을 강화하기 위해 마련한 시국간담회에 잠석 했다 1939 년 11 월 조선총독부의 지원으로 전국 유림단제 를 연합하여 총후봉공을 위한 정신운동에 나서도록 족구하 기 위해 조직된 조선유도연합회(朝鮮儒道聯合會)의 잠여 (參與)에 선출되었댜 1940 년 11 월 기원 2600 년축전 기념 식전 및 봉축회에 조대받고 기원 2600 년축전기념장을 받았 다. 1941 년 10월 종2위로 후작 작위를 유지하다가 1945 년 3월 2일 사망했다. 특지(特旨)로 정 2위에 주승되었다. 장남 이덕주(李德柱)가 1914년 6월 사자(嗣子)로 종 5위에 서위되어 사령서를 받았고, 이해창이 사망한 날에 호주를 상 속했다 해방 후, 1949 년 5월 반민특위에서 습작(襲爵)한 당연범으로 조사를 받았으나 특별검찰부에서 무혐의 저분 을 받았다. 자남 이흥주(李興柱)의 저는 중주원 부찬의 홍우 석(洪祐晳)의 딸로서 애국금자회 간사를 지낸 홍승원(洪承 嫄)이다.

[잠고문헌]

《日省錄》; 《高純宗實錄》; 《舊韓國官報》; 《朝鮮總督府官報》; 《（日本內閣)官報》; 《皇城新聞》1906.9.12, 1908.10.27, 11.5, 12.8 ; 《新韓民 報》1910.11.2 ; 《新韓國報》1910.10.25 ; 《韓 民》1936.8.29 ; 《東亞日報》1924.1.10 ; 《每日申 報每日新報》1910.10.8, 11.5, 1911.2.23, 1915.7.11, 1918.8.29, 1919.7.15, 1923.1.23, 1937.8.21, 1945.3.4 ; 《京城新報》1910.10.8; 《京城日報》1925.1.22 104, 1926.5.2 ; 《聯合新聞》1949.5.29 ; 《漢城日, 報》1949.9.8 ; 《畿湖興學會月報》제 1 호(1908.8)， 제 5호(1908.12) ; 《經學院雜誌》제 45호(1940.12) ; 《韓 國併合記念章授與人名> (1913) ; 《（大正)大禮記念章 授與人名錄》; 《大禮記念章裁可書(昭和4年)》第 二十九; 〈〈大韓山林協會(趙旨書·規約·細則要領·說明 書)》(1908.11 ) ; 〈韓官人ノ經歷一般(1909. 5)> ( 《統 監府文書》8) ; 〈朝鮮貴族略歷(1925.10) 〉( 《齋藤實 文書》100-3-850) ; 〈朝鮮貴族略歷(1929.12) 〉( 《齋 藤實文書》100-4-851) ; 〈朝鮮人ニ對スル授爵二關 スル意見(1926.11.22) 〉 ( 《齋藤實文書》100-6-843) ; 〈朝鮮貴族名簿(1929.11 .1 현 재)〉 ( 《齋藤實文書》 100-7-853) ; 〈朝鮮貴族名簿〉(1941.10 현재) ; 《朝 鮮年鑑》(1 945) ; 《朝日年鑑》(1 933, 1 934, 1 937 1939, 1942, 1944) ; 《每日年鑑》(1940) ; 《朝鮮貴族 列傳》(1910.12) ; 《朝鮮紳士名鑑》(1911.5) ; 《朝鮮 紳士寶鑑(1913 年版)》(1913.6) ; 《朝鮮紳士大同譜》 (1913.12) ; 《始政五年記念朝鮮物産共進會京城協贊 會報告》(1916.3) ; 《朝鮮銀行會杜(組合)要錄》(1923, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935) ; 《朝鮮實業要 錄》(1935.9) ; 《1937年版朝鮮都邑大觀》(1937.3) ; 《紀元二千六百年祝典記念光榮錄》(1941.10) ; 《恩 賞考》(1944.7) ; 《民族正氣의 審判》(1949.4) ; 《農地 改革時被分配地主및 日帝下大地主名簿》(1985.12) ; 《朝興銀行百年史》(1997.3)

Korean father carrying remains of his Imperial Army son in 1944 was upset his hometown ignored him and didn't line up to salute his son like they did in Japan; colonial officials were ordered to show bereaved families proper respect or else the Koreans might start asking, 'What did my son die for?'

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. It has never been republished or translated before, to the best of my knowledge. Ever since someone dumped these old newspaper issues in the Internet Archive last October, I have been slowly translating and posting select articles at various subreddits to share my findings with the wider community.

This is a typical piece of what I might call a ‘stunned Korean’ propaganda story – a Korean travels to mainland Japan for the first time and is stunned by how ‘superior’ Japan is compared to Korea. Articles covering the trips of Korean comfort women to mainland Japan also follow a similar pattern. Given the similarities of these flattering comments to each other, we could surmise that the interviewed Koreans already knew what kinds of answers the colonial interviewers were expecting to hear.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) April 26, 1944

The key is sincere service
Let’s follow the example of veterans aid in mainland Japan

During the week of veterans aid, we must extend a helping hand to the families of fallen soldiers and to the wounded soldiers to sincerely provide them with warm support, so that they no longer have to worry about the future. We should be pleased to know that Korea, which is known as a patriotic peninsula, contributes a considerable amount of money to the military towards the national defense fund. However, why are contributions to the veterans fund so small in comparison?

When a ritual to honor orphans of veterans families was held at the Seoul National Protection Shinto Shrine, there were only a few visitors excluding the staff members. It was a lonely affair for the head of the train station to receive the remains of the second-class heroes who were born on the Korean peninsula. Herein lies the problem that we must reflect on and wipe out our mistakes. The Korean peninsula must become a “home for soldiers,” a place of honor for many, by implementing conscription starting this year. This is definitely not someone else’s problem.

Veterans aid is not something that can be solved with money and material goods, but rather with sincere service and heartfelt support. During the week of veterans aid, writer Nobuyuki Tateno, who happened to be in Korea to cover the biography of a Korean second-class special volunteer soldier, sent the following heartrending memoir to the Korea Armed Forces Press Department on March 24. It is a piece of writing that those in leadership positions must read along with those in training to provide veterans aid. [Photo: Mr. Tatsuno].

Mr. Nobuyuki Tateno’s Memoir

It was on November 21 of last year that the family of Private Captain Moon Am (문암/文岩), who had been honored to serve as a second-class hero, was notified by his original unit via the myeon township office that they should come to retrieve his remains. His hometown was Sinbu-myeon, Seoncheon-gun, Pyeonganbuk-do. It was a Sunday, and there was no one at the township (myeon) office or at the county (gun) office. So they were at a loss as to what to do. No one was willing to accompany them.

Although Captain Moon Am’s father, Hang-jun (항준/恒俊), was a poor farmer, he had graduated from Normal School (elementary school) in the old days and could speak Japanese. So he decided to go by himself without relying on anyone. He took the 12 o’clock train that night, accompanied by his wife, Gok-on (곡온/曲媼), who could not speak Japanese, and a younger son who was still in the sixth grade at National School (elementary school). Even though he could speak Japanese, it was Hang-jun’s first time in mainland Japan. When he thought about going all the way to [redacted], he was anxious about the difficulties that they would face along the way.

After spending one night in Busan, they boarded the ship and each received two loaves of bread for lunch. When Hang-jun saw that his younger son was hungry on the ship, he shared a loaf of his own bread with him, while he himself made do with only a small loaf of bread. When they arrived in Shimonoseki in the evening, they were getting hungrier and hungrier. But as they were trying to figure out where to go to eat, two soldiers whom he had met on the ship took pity on them. Apparently, they were soldiers from [redacted] who were going back to their original unit. The soldiers took the child and his mother to Shimonoseki to look for food.

In the meantime, Hang-jun watched their luggage, including the soldiers’ luggage. Even though he had nothing to eat, the soldiers’ simple kindness touched his heart so deeply that he forgot about his hunger. After a while, the soldiers returned with his wife and child. It appeared that they had found food with difficulty. With some guidance from the soldiers, Hang-jun and his family took the train again, and changed trains at Osaka station.

However, the child became hungry again, so they got off the train at Tsuruga to get some food. They walked all over Tsuruga in search of food, but were unable to find any in the unfamiliar city. So, they got on the train again. A middle-aged Japanese woman, who kindly gave them a seat on the train, saw Gok-on in her Korean clothes and asked her, “Where are you going, and to do what?”

Hang-jun told her that they were actually going to their deceased son’s original unit in [redacted] to pick up his remains. The lady said, “Oh, I see,” and got up and bowed politely to Hang-jun and his family with a reverent look on her face and said, “Thank you for your hard work”.

Mr. Hang-jun was struck by this. The ladies in mainland Japan, even the ordinary ladies in the third-class cars, were so polite and respectful, and their attitudes were also admirable. He plainly felt, this is why Japan is so strong in war.

In the morning, soon after dawn, he looked out the window of the train and saw a farmer’s wife in the rice paddy, wearing a white hand towel on her head and harvesting rice around the field. Hang-jun tugged on his wife Gok-on’s sleeve and said,

“Look! All the women in mainland Japan work like that from early in the morning, doing the work that men do. Japan is strong in war, because their women are so diligent. Compared to this, what have the women of the Korean peninsula been doing? Only the men go out to work in the fields, while the women are playing around indoors. This is a disgrace! Unless all the women in Korea learn from the women in mainland Japan, Korea will not improve.”

For two days, Hang-jun and his family ate almost nothing. However, Hang-jun was filled with pride when he saw for the first time that the customs in mainland Japan were not in the least bit disorderly. Instead, they were orderly, calm, and composed, even in the midst of a fierce war. He felt so much pride about it that he even forgot that he was hungry. From Hang-jun’s perspective, it was also astonishing that not a single policeman was to be found patrolling at any of the train stations in mainland Japan.

When they turned up at their deceased son’s original unit, they were given proper accommodation, and Hang-jun and his family were able to relax there for the first time. After receiving his deceased son’s remains and being escorted off, Hang-jun and his family were loaded into a second-class train car and started their return trip home. When changing trains in Osaka and Shimonoseki, the stationmaster led the way. The stations in Osaka and Shimonoseki were crowded with people. However, when Hang-jun carried his deceased son’s remains, led by the stationmaster, the crowd quickly split to the left and right, and everyone stopped and saluted at the same time. Even the military officers stopped and saluted, and the police patrol officers also saluted.

Hang-jun was amazed to see such controlled and dignified salutes in mainland Japan. Although his son had died, he did not regret it in the slightest. He felt a sense of pride in his heart, knowing that his son had given his life honorably as a Japanese national and as a Japanese soldier to His Majesty the Emperor. Mr. Hang-jun held on to this pride until he arrived at the train station in his hometown of Seoncheon.

But what did he see at the train station? He had sent a telegram, did he not? Or perhaps he had typed the telegram incorrectly? There no one who greeted him at the train station, and the foot traffic was disordered and crowded as usual. Not only did the crowds not make way for Hang-jun, who was carrying his deceased son’s remains in his arms, but Hang-jun was pushed into the crowd and crushed mercilessly. Seeing the ignorant and disorderly crowd, Hang-jun said,

‘Why are the people of the Korean peninsula so backward?’, finally coming to this realization and crying out in shame. As Hang-jun just realized then, the people of the Korean peninsula are still very backward.

So what should we do when their remains arrive? What should we do for the families of the deceased soldiers? We must take them by the hand and patiently explain things to them so they understand. I don’t know whether the Governor-General’s Office or the Korean Federation of National Power will come up with a concrete plan, but we must come up with a plan as soon as possible and put it into action.

In particular, provinces (do), counties (gun), towns (eup), and townships (myeon) must take action. Otherwise, the pride that Hang-jun felt in his heart when he went to receive his son’s remains would be distorted in some strange way. The pride that Hang-jun held in his heart is precious. He has truly gained this pride by losing his son, by having his son’s blood spilled.

In particular, conscription is being implemented on the Korean peninsula, and there are many young men who are currently undergoing their draft examinations, eager to become second-class soldiers. It is clear that in the near future, there will be many dozens, or even thousands of second-class soldiers like Captain Moon Am. In view of this, the Governor-General’s Office, the provinces, and the Federation must be fully informed of the actual situation, and provide guidance to the counties and townships regarding the proper way to interact with the honorable bereaved families of fallen pioneer second-class soldiers. This is a major task that requires urgent attention.

It would be a problem if the bereaved families were to have even the slightest doubt so as to ask, ‘What did my son die for?’. There are still no plans to build ‘loyal soul’ monuments to the three captains whom I have accompanied.

(Written while staying in accommodations in Seoul on April 24th)

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-04-26

(Transcription)

京城日報　1944年4月26日

要は”真心の奉仕”
見倣おう内地の軍援

援護週間に銃後は出征陣没勇士の遺家族に、傷痍軍人に熱き援護を誠を尽くし、後顧の憂いを断つ奉仕救援の手を差しのべねばならない。愛国半島の名を謳われる朝鮮が軍への国防献金が相当額に達しているのは喜ぶべきではあるが、これに引き較べて恤兵金の少ないのはどういうことであろうか。

さきに京城護国神社で初の遺児社頭対面の儀が行われた際、係員のほかは参者の数は少々たるものであったこと。半島が生んだ二階級特進の勇士の遺骨を迎える駅頭の淋しかったこと。ここに幾多反省して過ちを拭わねばならぬ問題がある。半島も今年から徴兵制の実施に依って数多誉れの”兵の家”となるのである。断じて人ことではない。

軍援は物と金で解決されるものではなく、真心の奉仕、真心の援助こそが要請されるのだ。軍援週間に当り、たまたま半島特別志願兵二階級特進勇士の伝記取材のため、来鮮中の作家立野信之氏は二十四日朝鮮軍報道部に左の如き胸うたれる手記を寄せて来た。指導の地位に立つ者軍援の訓練にともに聴かねばならぬ一文である。【写真＝立野氏】

立野信之氏手記

二階級特進の栄に輝く文岩兵長（平北宣川郡新府面）の遺族の許に原隊から遺骨を受け取りに来るようにとの通知が面事務所を通じてあったのは、昨年の十一月二十一日。恰度その日は日曜日で、面事務所にも郡庁にも誰も人が出て居らない。それでどういう処置を取ったらいいか分からないで、まごついた。だれもついて行ってやろうとする者もない。

文岩兵長の父親の恒俊さんは貧農だが、昔の普通学校を出ているので、国語は出来る。そこで誰も頼らずに、自分で行くことにした。そしてその晩の十二時の汽車で、国語の出来ない妻の曲媼さんとその時まだ国民学校の六年生であった兵長のすぐ下の男の子とをつれて出掛けた。しかし国語が出来るといっても、恒俊さんは内地は初めてである。それも遠い〇〇まではるばる行くことを思うと、途中の難儀が思われて不安であった。

釜山で一泊して、弁当にパンを二筒づつ貰い船に乗った。船の中で次男が腹をすかしているのをみかねて、恒俊さんは自分のパンを一筒子供に分けてやり、自分は小さいパン一筒で我慢をした。夕方下関へ着いたが、益益腹が減って仕方がない。しかしどこで食事をしていいのか分からず、まごまごしていたら、船の中で知り合った二人の兵隊～やはり〇〇の兵隊で、原隊へ帰るのだといっていたが見兼ねて、子供と母親をつれて、下関の町の方へ食物をさがしにつれて行ってくれた。

恒俊さんは自分達の荷物と兵隊の荷物を預かって番をしていた。自分は何も食べなくとも兵隊の質朴な親切が身に沁み腹が一杯であった。暫くして兵隊は妻と子供をつれて帰ってきた。どうやら苦労して食物にありついたのである。恒俊さん達は、その兵隊に教わってまた汽車に乗り、大阪で乗り換えた。

しかしまた子供が腹をすかしたので、食物を得るために敦賀で下車してしまった。敦賀じゅうを食物をさがして歩いたが、馴れない街では結局食べ物を得られなかった。そしてまた汽車に乗った。すると汽車の中で親切に座席をあけてくれた内地人の中年のおかみさんが朝鮮服姿の曲媼さんを見て、『あなた方は何処まで何しに行くのか』ときいた。

そこで恒俊さんが、実はこれこれで、〇〇の原隊まで遺骨を受け取りに行くのだ、と話した。するとそのおかみさんは『ああそうですか』と言って、起ちあがり敬虔な面持で恒俊さん達に向かって丁寧に頭をさげて『ご苦労さまです』と言った。

恒俊さんは胸を打たれた。内地の婦人は、三等車に乗っている普通のおかみさんですらこのように礼儀正しく、態度も立派である。これだから日本は戦争に強いのだと淡々感じた。

そして朝、夜が明けて間もなく汽車の窓から見ると、田圃には百姓のおかみさんが白い手拭をかぶって点々と稲こぎをしている姿が認められた。恒俊さんは妻の曲媼さんの袖をひいて、いった。

『見なさい。内地の女は、皆ああして朝早くから男のやる仕事をしている。女がこんなにも勤勉だから日本は戦争に強い。これに比べて今まで半島の女は何をしていたか。男だけが野良へ出て働き、女はみな内房でゴロゴロ遊んでいたじゃないか。恥ずかしいことだ。朝鮮中の女がみな内地の女を見習うようにならなければ、朝鮮はよくならない』

二日間、恒俊さん達は殆ど何にも食べなかった。だが恒俊さんは、はじめて見た内地の風物が激しい戦争の最中だというのに、少しも乱れず、整然としていて、むしろ余裕綽々たる有様に胸が一杯で、別にひもじいとも思わなかったのである。そういう恒俊さんの眼には、内地の駅々に巡査の姿が一人も見当たらぬということもまた驚異であった。

原隊に出頭して見ると、宿舎もちゃんと取ってあり、そこではじめて恒俊さん達は寛ぐことができた。遺骨を受け取り、見送られて、こんどは二等車に乗せられて帰路についた。大阪や下関で乗り換えの時、駅長が先導してくれた。大阪や下関の駅は人で目まぐるしいほどの雑沓である。しかし恒俊さんが駅長に先導されて遺骨を抱えて行くと、雑沓している群衆はサッと左右に分かれて、皆一斉に立ち停まって敬礼をする。将校までが立ち停まって敬礼してくれた。巡査も敬礼する。

恒俊さんは内地の、その統制ある奥ゆかしい礼譲を目の当りに見て、感嘆した。息子を死なしたが、少しも惜しくはない。いや日本国民として、日本兵氏として立派に陛下に生命を捧げたのだという誇りが胸に湧いたのだった。恒俊さんはその誇りを故郷の宣川の駅に降り立つまで堅く待ちつづけてきた。

だが、宣川駅で見たものは何であったか。電報を打って置いたのに。或いは打ち方が悪かったかも知れぬが。出迎えの人は見当たらず、相変わらず統制のない雑沓ぶりで、遺骨を抱えた恒俊さんに道をあけようともしないばかりか、恒俊さんは遺骨を抱えたまま群集の雑沓の中に押し込まれて、もみくちゃにされてしまったのだった。その無智と無統制な群集を見て、恒俊さんは、

『わが半島の民度はこんなにも後れているのか』と今更に気づき、情けなくて涙が流れた。恒俊さんが悟った如く、半島の民度はまだまだ非常に低い。

それだけに、遺骨がきた時にはどうすべきか。軍人遺家族に対してはどうすべきか。噛んでふくめるように手を取って教えなければならぬ。それの具体案は総督府が立てて実行するのか、総力聯盟がやるのか知らぬが、ともあれ早々に案をたてて実行に移さなければならぬ。

殊に道、郡、邑、面は身を以ってそれに当らなければならぬ。さもないと、恒俊さんが内地へ遺骨を受け取りに行って、胸の中に確固として抱いてきた『息子は陛下のお役に立った』『これで日本人になれた』という誇りは、妙な所でひき歪められてしまう。恒俊さんが胸に抱いてきた誇りは尊いものである。息子を失い、息子の血を流させて如実に得たものである。

殊に半島では今度徴兵が実施され、二階級特進の兵につづかんの熱意に燃える壮丁が、現に徴兵検査をうけつつある。もっとも近き将来に第二の文岩兵長が何人、何十人、何千人と出るだろうことは明かである。それを思うとき、先駆者たる二階級特進の栄ある軍人遺族に対する対し方というものは、総督府なり、道なり、聯盟なりが充分実情を知らして面や郡を指導しなければならぬ。これは火急を要する大きな仕事である。

遺族に『伜は何のために死んだのか』という疑いを少しでも抱かせたら問題である。私が歩いた三人の兵長のところでは、まだ忠魂碑を建てる計画さえも無かった。

（四月二十四日京城の宿舎にて記す）

Post navigation

12-year-old Korean girl in Tokyo allegedly chanted ‘Banzai to the Emperor’ 3 times with her last dying breaths before dying of diphtheria in April 1942, her father suddenly died soon afterwards of a broken heart, Governor-General Koiso of colonial Korea gave condolence money to her surviving family

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 14, 1943
The Model Korean Maiden
"Banzai to the Emperor" at the Moment of Death
The Warmth of the Governor-General's Heart for the Bereaved Family

This is a story of Governor-General Koiso's gift of a sealed envelope of money to a young Korean girl of unhappy circumstances who passed away after singing 'Banzai to the Emperor'. Kim Gi-seon (김기선/金基仙) (12), a fifth-year student at Komamoto National School in Hongō Ward, Tokyo, contracted diphtheria on April 1 of last year. She was hospitalized at Komagome Hospital in the same city, but her younger sister Mitsuyo and mother were also hospitalized to also find themselves in the bottommost pit of unhappy circumstances, and finally Gi-seon died on the 18th of the same month.

Afterwards, her father died suddenly, perhaps unable to bear the pain in his heart due to his repeated misfortunes, and her mother and younger sister, Mitsuko, who were finally discharged from the hospital, are now living a lonely life.

At the moment of her death, she sang a patriotic march from beneath her labored breathing while holding the hand of her father, Kim Soon-baek (김순백/金順百), and sang three chants of 'Banzai to His Majesty the Emperor!' before passing away holding her father's hand and saying, "Father, I'm sorry."

On the seventh day after her death, a piggy bank containing 26 yen 8 sen, which she had saved from her small allowance, was found, and it was immediately donated to the Imperial Army and Navy in accordance with Gi-seon's intentions.

When Governor-General Koiso heard this sad story, he was deeply moved by Gi-seon's disposition as an Imperial person, and he sent a sealed envelope of money to the bereaved family to pray for Gi-seon's repose.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-02-14 (page 3)

(My comments)

This is an example of the propaganda media spin machine taking what was otherwise a tragic, private story of a young girl who died of a communicable childhood disease, relatively common in the days before widespread childhood vaccinations, and turning it into some bizarre 'feel-good' story of Imperial patriotism. It was the dream of Imperial soldiers to die gloriously shouting 'Banzai to the Emperor', so this story must have resonated in a heartfelt way with many people in Japan.

I think it's actually not remarkable that this Korean girl sang a propaganda song in the last moments of her life. She was brainwashed in a Japanese school, exposed to the same Imperial propaganda like other schoolchildren in Japan. Given this immersive brainwashing, it's not surprising that she chose this song to comfort herself in the last moments of her life.

There are different ways of interpreting this story. When she said "Father, I'm sorry," was she expressing sorrow for dying so early, or sorrow for offending her father who didn't like Imperial Japan? When her father died of a broken heart, was it just because of his daughter's death, or was it also because she died a brainwashed Imperial person? We may never know for sure.

The 26 yen 8 sen in her piggy bank account is roughly $400 to $600 US Dollars, depending on how you calculate it. Each morning edition of the Keijo Nippo of 1942 was priced at 6 sen. Today, each morning edition of Asahi Shimbun is priced at 160 yen. Depending on which Japanese yen to US Dollar conversion you use, you will get roughly this range.

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年2月14日
半島乙女の亀鑑
死の瞬間に”天皇陛下万歳”
遺族へ注ぐ総督の温情

万歳を奉唱して逝った薄幸の半島少女に小磯総督が金一封を贈った話題。東京市本郷区駒本国民学校五年生金基仙さん（一二）は昨年四月一日ジフテリアに感染。同市駒込病院に入院したが妹美津代さん母親もまた入院という不幸のどん底で、遂に同月十八日基仙さんは死んだ。

その死の瞬間、父の金順百さんの手を握りながら苦しい息の下から愛国行進曲を歌い、更に天皇陛下万歳を三唱し父の手を握って『お父さん、ごめんなさい』の一語を残して逝ったのである。

その初七日には零細な小遣いを貯めた二十六円八銭入りの貯金箱が発見されたので直ちに基仙さんの志を生かして陸海軍へ献金された。その後お父さんは重なる不幸痛心にたえなかったものか急死し、漸く退院した母親と妹美津子さんは淋しく暮しているというのである。

この哀話をこのほど耳にした小磯総督は基仙さんの皇民としての心様にうたれ、遺族に宛て金一封を贈り、基仙さんの冥福を祈った。

Propaganda story about a Japanese couple in Seoul adopting a poor Korean orphan boy who grows up to become a restaurant owner in Japan with Japanese wife and mixed children, tearfully reuniting with his adoptive parents and vowing to "fulfill our duties as Imperial subjects on the home front" (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. It has never been republished or translated before, to the best of my knowledge. Ever since someone dumped these old newspaper issues onto the Internet Archive last October, I have been slowly translating and posting select articles at various subreddits to share my findings with the wider community.

This article is meant to be a feel-good story about a Japanese flower shop owner in central Seoul who 'adopts' an unemployed 18-year-old Korean orphan to live with him for four years, employing him at his store. Afterwards, the Korean orphan moves to Japan and eventually settles in Okayama to start his own upscale Japanese restaurant, marries a local Japanese woman, and has three daughters. He later has a tearful reunion with his adoptive Japanese parents when he returns to Seoul to set up a family register for his daughter. His adoptive Japanese parents reciprocate by visiting their adoptive son's family in Okayama.

Unlike the other 'model Korean families' featured in other propaganda articles, which praise Korean families for speaking only Japanese at home and identifying themselves as Imperial Japanese, this featured family stood out from the others because it was an ethnically mixed family, where the husband was ethnic Korean and the wife was ethnic Japanese. The ethnically mixed daughter had to set up her family register in Korea, because under the Japanese koseki (family registration) system, every citizen had to register at their father's family domicile.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) November 13, 1943

An angel without a home moves up in society with warm humanity

A flower of Japanese-Korean Unification blossoms at a crossroads

Fourteen years have passed since a Korean boy with no relatives was rescued, and now he has grown up and established his own respectable family in mainland Japan. After managing to reunite with his former master through chance circumstances, his former master visited him, traveling a long distance to encourage him, and they vowed to each other, "Let us both fulfill our duties as Imperial subjects on the home front". The following is a beautiful story of Japanese-Korean Unification.

Mr. Shōichi Yoshida (32) and his Japanese wife Atsue (27). To the left of Mr. Yoshida is his eldest daughter Masako (8). Atsue is carrying their youngest daughter, and to her right is their middle daughter. Top right insert is Mr. Yoshida's adoptive Japanese father, Mr. Einosuke Furusawa (59)

The subject of this story is Mr. Einosuke Furusawa (59), owner of Musumeya Flower Arrangement Shop, located at 2-2 Honmachi Avenue in central Seoul, whose innate chivalrous spirit led him to save a Korean boy who was struggling on the roadside 14 years ago. The boy who worked for him for four years and then went to Japan is Mr. Shōichi Yoshida (32), who is now involved in running all aspects of a restaurant called "White Fox" at 75 Nishi-Nakasange, Okayama City. He and his wife Atsue (27), whom he married in mainland Japan, have three daughters, including their eldest daughter Masako (8), and are now living happily ever after. With the help of Judge Shirakawa at the Seoul Oversight Court, they set up a family register for his eldest daughter to complete her school enrollment paperwork, and it was then that the story of his former master Mr. Furusawa's chivalry and deep compassion came to light. Here we look back at their story.

In the early spring of 1928, Mr. Furusawa took in and cared for a poor orphan boy who was wandering around the Meiji-machi neighborhood every day. He got along unusually well with customers, beloved by everyone who came and went, and he spent four years at Mr. Furusawa's home. This boy was Shōichi, who had long wanted to work in mainland Japan. He subsequently moved there, and after ten years of hard work in the Osaka and Okayama areas, he became so successful that he opened his own high-class kappō Japanese restaurant.

He married a mainland Japanese woman and had three daughters, but when his eldest daughter entered school, he was troubled by the issue of her family registration. This spring, Shōichi came to Seoul and visited the family of his former masters, Mr. and Mrs. Furusawa. When he met Mrs. Jitsuno Furusawa (52) at the storefront, he greeted her saying "Mother, you are just as healthy as you were in the past". She was stunned by the suddenness of his greeting, but when she recognized Shōichi's appearance, noticing how he had moved up in society, she said with tears in her eyes, "Well, you've grown up so fine..." Mr. and Mrs. Furusawa were as happy as if they were welcoming their own child. With the help of Mr. and Mrs. Furusawa, his daughter with no family register was granted the privilege of creating a family register, which is considered a groundbreaking system on the Korean peninsula along with the Sōshi-Kaimei system under which Koreans adopt Japanese names. Then they went home in high spirits.

Mr. Furusawa visited Okayama City on November 8th, and spent the night with Mr. Yoshida and his family, parting with a vow to "make sure to protect each other on the home front as a national people at war". Judge Shirakawa, who worked hard to create the family register, praised Mr. Furusawa's chivalry. [Photo: Mr. Furusawa with Mr. Yoshida and his family]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-11-13

(End of Translation)

Unfortunately, I could not find any trace of Mr. Yoshida's "White Fox" restaurant anywhere in Japan today. However, I looked up Mr. Furusawa's old store location in Seoul on a 1933 map and on Google Maps in an area just to the west of Myeongdong Cathedral, and it is still a lively, busy apparel retail district, just as it was in the colonial era. The local Russian Tatar community also likely had its clothing businesses in this area.

Mr. Furusawa's flower arrangement shop, Musumeya, in 1933 Seoul.

The former location of Mr. Furusawa's store in 2022 Seoul today (Google Maps).

Link to 1933 Map of Seoul: https://www.reddit.com/r/korea/comments/ta395c/seoul_1933_versus_seoul_2022_map_comparisons/

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年11月13日

家なき天使が温かい人情で出世

巷に咲いた内鮮一体の華

身寄りなき半島少年を救って十四年。偶然の機会に再会した元の主人が今は内地にあって立派に一家をなした当人を遥々訪れて激励し、『皇国臣民としてお互いに銃後の務めを果たしましょう』と互いに誓い合った内鮮一体の美談がある。

話題の主は府内中枢本町通り二ノ二、むすめや造花店主人古沢栄之助氏（五九）がその人で、生来の義侠心から十四年前路傍に行悩む半島少年を救った。四年間同氏の下で実直に働いて内地に渡った当時の少年は現在岡山市西中山下七五に料理店『白狐』を手広く経営する吉田正一さん（三二）である。今では内地で貰った妻女厚枝さん（二七）との間に長女正子さん（八つ）ほか二女をもうけ、幸福な日を送っているが、長女の入学手続きのため本籍地の戸籍必要から京城覆審法院白川判事に依頼して戸籍を設定し、ここに旧主人古沢氏の義侠と厚い人情美談が判明したもの、話は遡る．．．

昭和三年の春浅き頃、毎日のように明治町附近を彷う哀れな孤児の少年を古沢氏は引き取って面倒をみた。珍しく客当たりのいい子で出入りの誰彼に可愛がられて、四年間を同家に過ごした。この少年が現在の正一氏でかねての希望からその後内地に渡り、大阪、岡山方面で刻苦精励の甲斐あって十余年後には独立して割烹店を開く程の成功を遂げた。

内地人の妻女を娶り三女をもうけたが、長女の入学に当ってハタと困ったのは戸籍の問題であった。今春来城した正一さんは旧主古沢氏の一家を訪れた。店頭にいた古沢氏婦人ジツノさん（五二）に会って『おっかさん、昔通りにお元気ですね』と突然の挨拶に呆然とした夫人もやがて正一氏の出世姿と判ると『まあ、お前さんは随分立派になって．．．』と後は互いに涙にくれた。わが児を迎えるような喜びの古沢氏夫妻の斡旋で半島の画期的制度たる創氏と共に無籍者の戸籍創設の恩典に浴し晴れやかに帰郷した。

古沢氏は、さる八日岡山市を訪れ、吉田氏の一家と共に一夜を語り明し、『決戦下の国民として銃後を互いにしっかりと護り抜こう』と誓って別れた。戸籍創設に尽力した白川判事も古沢氏の義侠心を賛賞している。【写真＝古沢氏と吉田さん一家】

Propaganda 'feel good story' praises Korean grandfather for finally accepting his grandson's voluntary enlistment in the Imperial Japanese air force, as it was 'not easy to persuade' him due to his 'having lived through half a century of complicated historical changes' (Dongdaemun Seoul, 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 is a propaganda story of a Korean grandfather who finally approves of his grandson voluntarily enlisting in the Imperial Japanese air force. The aviator's family members in this story all appear to have Japanese names except his mother Aji. We could surmise that their Korean surname was Kim, as their Japanese surname Kaneda contains the Hanja for Kim. 

As we have seen in other articles, this story plays on the stereotype that Koreans have excessive filial piety, often described as 'Korean Confucianism', which supposedly prevents them from serving in the armed forces for the good of the whole country.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 18, 1943

His grandfather is now a big supporter

Kaneda's parents cheer on their aviator child

The family was waiting for Mr. Kaneda Mitsunaga, who was flying in, embraced by his two shining wings, on a sunny visit to his hometown at 72-132 Sungin-dong, Dongdaemun District. His father Kichihei (48), his mother Aji (아지/阿只) (47), his older brother Morinaga (25), his older sister Masako (married off), and aunt Masuko imagined Mitsunaga magnificently appearing in the clear autumn sky as they shouted, 'My son! My brother!' Talking to each other about this joyous day, they were gathered at the edge of the yard around his nephew Nobutake (4), who was holding a model airplane in his hand and excitedly shouting "Airplane! Airplane!"

The Kaneda family gathered around four-year-old Nobutake who is holding a model airplane.

Just three months after Mitsunaga left Kyungbock Middle School having attended only three years, and shrugging off the reluctance of some of his relatives, he was in his military uniform with his military cap and collar insignia of a youth airman, calling out "Follow me, junior soldiers". This sunny flight for a hometown visit was a dream come true.

It was not easy to persuade Mitsunaga's grandfather about his voluntary enlistment, since his grandfather had lived through half a century of complicated historical changes. Mitsunaga said that he would atone for his temporary lack of filial piety to his grandfather by making up for it with his determination and loyalty to his ancestral land in a time of crisis.

I believe that it was ultimately his mother's words of understanding that gave strong encouragement to her son's passion for the sky. When his grandfather beheld Mitsunaga's dignified and energetic appearance during his visit this summer, his grandfather gave his full approval. The family was very happy to welcome Mitsunaga on board the plane. [Photo: Mr. Kaneda's joyous family at his home]

Airplane Donation Campaign

Aviation Memorial Day

Launched at Shimonoseki

[Shimonoseki Telephone Report] On the 20th, for Aviation Memorial Day, lecture meetings were held at five Soldier Training Centers in Shimonoseki starting at 7:00 p.m. Amid a series of extremely harsh air battles, we hardened our resolve to send as many airplanes and people as possible to the front line and take to the skies to fight decisive battles, and an explosive movement was launched for the donation of airplanes.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-09-18

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年9月18日

祖父、今じゃ大賛成

翼の子に歓声あがる金田君実家

晴れの郷土訪問に輝く双翼に抱かれて飛び来る一人金田光永君を待ちあぐむ、東大門区崇仁町七二ノ一三二に我が子、我が弟の壮姿を澄み切った秋空に描く父、吉平氏（四八）、母、阿只さん（四七）、兄、守永氏（二五）、姉、正子さん（出嫁）、叔母増子さんを訪えば庭先に一家揃って模型飛行機を手にしながら『ヒコウキ』『ヒコウキ』とはしゃぐ甥宣武君（四つ）を真中にして喜びの日を語り合うのだった。

光永が景福中学を三年だけで切り上げ近親の一部の気乗りしない態度を振り切って門出して僅か三ヶ月後、軍帽に少年航空兵の襟章も輝かしい軍服姿で”後輩よ我に続け”と呼びかけ、今また晴れの郷土訪問飛行とは夢のようです。

光永の志願について祖父さんは半世紀の複雑な歴史の転換を中に生きてきただけに説得することは容易ではありませんでした。光永は祖父さんに対する一時の不孝は祖国の危急に赴く決意と尽忠の至誠とをもって充分償いますといっていました。

そうした中には始終我が子の空への熱魂に強い激励を与えたものは母親の理解ある言葉であったと思います。今夏訪れた光永君の凛々しくはきはきした姿にその祖父もすっかり大賛成となったのです。そうして空の機上に光永を迎えるとのことで一家はあげてこの喜びです。【写真＝喜びに沸く金田君の実家】

翼献納の運動

航空記念日

下関に展開

【下関電話】二十日の航空記念日、下関市内の五壮丁錬成所では午後七時から各錬成所一斉に講演会を開催。凄愴苛烈な航空決戦を繰り返す今日、一機でも一人でも多く前線に送ろう。我等決戦の大空へ征かんの決意を固むると共に爆発的な飛行機献納運動を展開することとなった。

This Korean father made sure his family and employees exclusively spoke Japanese, he ran a store supplying residences of Imperial Japanese Army officers in Yongsan, said he got triggered seeing 'bold gentleman types speaking to each other enthusiastically in Korean' inside the trains (Seoul 1942)

 

Photo: Ikeyoshi family: Tokuji (41) and his wife Sachiko (31). L-to-R: daughter Masako (10), sons Fumio (8), Masao (6), Toshio (3).

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 20, 1942

Japanese-Korean unification starts with the Japanese language

Store employees also 'speak Japanese exclusively'

No need to call us a 'Japanese-speaking family'

Mr. Tokuji Ikeyoshi tells his story

"Please don't call us regular Japanese speakers - that's such a stuffy phrase. All our store employees are using the Japanese language as you can see here. Ha, ha, ha!"

The word "regular Japanese speaker" sounded especially funny to Mr. Ikeyoshi. Indeed, Mr. Ikeyoshi's use of the Japanese language is literally not only regular, but also exclusive. Mr. Tokuji Ikeyoshi (41) has run his business selling food supplies, miscellaneous goods, rice, grains, firewood, and coal on 11 Hangang-daero for 10 years. Thanks to his persistence in speaking Japanese, he has been able to gain people's trust, and he has been exclusively entrusted with supplying the living quarters of Imperial Japanese Army officers.

He is an "expert in the Japanese language". Even his children speak Japanese at home, and they make a happy family. Mr. Ikeyoshi learned Japanese from the time he was 7 or 8 years old. By the time he was 11, he had already begun a full-fledged life speaking the Japanese language, and he went to work for Shiozawa Shop within the grounds of the Imperial Japanese Army base.

"... so I have been speaking Japanese regularly for the past 30 years", said Mr. Ikeyoshi. The lifestyle of Mr. Ikeyoshi's family does not differ at all from Japanese families. He has four children with his wife Sachiko (31): Masako (10), the eldest daughter, who attends Hyochang National School; Fumio (8), the eldest son, who attends Yongsan National School; Masao (6), the second son; and Toshio (3), the third son. Of course, since their marriage, they have been involved in raising all of their children thoroughly in the Japanese language.

It does not stop with the children. The store employees are not allowed to speak Korean at all, not only when greeting customers, but also in their conversations with each other. That is why it feels very good listening to the store employees when they speak.

The way they speak Japanese so fluently and without hesitation, it is hard to believe that they are Koreans. They are so fluent in Japanese that even the regular customers are inclined to doubt that they are Korean. 

On the other hand, those who speak lots of dialect are shameless wretches. "In the trains, I often see these bold gentleman types speaking to each other enthusiastically in Korean. Every time I see them, I wonder if it is really OK for them to be this way", said Mr. Ikeyoshi, who has become a true Imperial Japanese person, as he tilted his head and looked at the reporter intently. [Photo: Mr. Ikeyoshi's family]

(End of translation)

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-05-20

The Ikeyoshi family ran their business at 11 Hangang-daero (otherwise known as the 11th Area), which was right inside the grounds of the Imperial Japanese Army's military base and very close to the Governor-General's mansion and the command center of the Imperial Army. Today, this area is associated with the Yongsan Garrison of the United States military, as well as the Ministry of National Defense of South Korea, which is near the new office of President Yoon.

Below is a 1933 map of Seoul of 11 Hangang-daero compared to a Google map from today.

(Transcription)

京城日報　1942年5月20日

内鮮一体は『国語』から

店員も”国語専用”

常用家庭などいわないで呉れ

池吉徳治さん語る

「今更国語常用だなんて四角張ったことを言わないで下さいよ。御覧の通り店員達もみんなこの通り国語でやってるんですからね。ハッ、ハッ、ハッ」

国語常用だなど池吉さんにとっては殊更らしくて可笑しな話だった。ことほど左様に池吉さんの国語常用ぶりは文字通りの常用であり専用だ。”国語常用の家”池吉徳治さん（四一）は漢江通一一に食糧雑貨米穀薪炭商を営み十年来、国語をもって押し通し、お陰で信用も出来、専ら陸軍官舎の御用を承っている。

”国語玄人”である。家庭も子供に至るまで国語で話し、楽しい団欒ぶりだ。池吉さんは七、八歳の幼い頃から国語を習い、十一歳の時には既に本格的な国語生活に入り、陸軍構内の塩沢商店に奉公に上がったのだ。

「．．．ですから私の国語常用はもう三十年も前からのことなんです」という池吉さんの家庭は生活様式だって総て内地人と変わりはなく、佐千子夫人（三一）との間に長女政子ちゃん（一〇）＝考昌国民学校＝長男文男君（八つ）＝龍山国民学校＝二男正男ちゃん（六つ）三男利夫ちゃん（三つ）の四人の子供があるが、勿論結婚以来子供たちの育成には一から十まで国語で押し通した。

育児方面ばかりではない。店の奉公人達もお客さんの応待は勿論のこと、お互いの会話にも一切朝鮮語は使わせない。だから店員諸君の話し振りを聞いていると、実に気持ちがいい。

よどみなくスラスラ話し合っている姿はどうみても半島の人とは思われない。得意の人々も疑いたくなる位の流暢さで、方言を多く使うなどかえって顔負けのていたらくだ。

「堂々たる紳士タイプの方が電車の中などで盛んに朝鮮語で話し合っておられるのをよく見かけるんですが、その度に、あれでよいのかと思うのですよー」　心から皇民になり切っている池吉さんは、首を傾けて記者の顔をじっと窺っていた。【写真＝池吉さんの一家】

Propaganda story of Japanese couple adopting poor Korean girl, raising her to become a "respectable" Japanese woman, and marrying her off to a model Japanese-speaking Korean man (Seoul, 1942)

 

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.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-05-28

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 28, 1942

Japanese-Korean unification starts with the Japanese language

A Japanese policy-type "married couple"

A model marriage linked by the Japanese language

'If you don't know the Japanese language, I won't become your wife'. Both the bride and the groom were equally insistent that they wouldn't marry anyone unless they knew the Japanese language. After a secret investigation, it was discovered that the bride and groom were both from Japanese-speaking families. Here is a story about a model marriage in which the Japanese language was tied into everything from the Takasago play in which they performed to the conclusion of their marriage ceremony.

Now, let's look into this admirable young couple and see what kind of lady this young bride is. The excellent bride is Ohana-chan (23), a housemaid employed by Mr. Sakuji Matsumura, managing director of Korea Transport at 404 Sindang-dong. She was born in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do. Because her family was poor, she was wearing only a dirty jeogori and chima when she was hired by Mr. Matsumura in February, the coldest month of the year, when she was 14-years-old. Mrs. Misae Matsumura was at first worried about how to raise a girl who did not even understand the Japanese language.

She initially bought her a first grade textbook and taught it to her, showing her unchanging compassion and treating her as her beloved child. Accordingly, Hana-chan, who was naturally clever, picked up the Japanese language at an astonishingly fast pace in less than half a year. She learned Japanese to the point where she was able to do her daily chores without any trouble. As Mrs. Misae taught her how to do calculations on the abacus, even Mr. Matsumura threw up his hands in amazement at this country girl's unusual, robust memory.

Ultimately, Mrs. Matsumura taught Hana-chan how to tailor Japanese-style clothes, and at the same time, she took her by the hand and instructed her in Japanese manners. This is how Hana-chan grew up not as a Korean girl, but rather as a respectable Japanese woman.

"She is now sewing even silk fabrics with ease! There is no other girl like her. She has become a true Japanese person. She is number one in Japan when it comes to devotion to her parents", said Mrs. Misae, who praised Hana-chan with narrowed eyes and is now showing her affection as her true daughter. Hana-chan has sent all the money she has earned over the past ten years to her father Chui-wol, who is now a self-sufficient farmer with a farm of 4 tan and 7 bu (4,023 square meters, or about 1 acre). Of course, this is thanks to Hana-chan.

It was last spring when Mr. and Mrs. Matsumura started to have headaches worrying, "Hanako has reached an age where she needs to get married somewhere..." Respecting Hana-chan's wish that "I will not marry anyone unless he is from a Japanese-speaking family", they finally found a model artisan, Kenji Mishima (27) of Nagasakiya, a pastry store in Honmachi 5-chome famous for its kasutera sponge cakes.

This world number one groom is a genuine native of Seoul, and he started his career at Nagasakiya in 1933. He is now a fine artisan and one of the most treasured disciples of his master, Mr. Mori.

Hana-chan made a wish to her fiancé saying, "my husband, please be sure to make me a Japanese-speaking wife in our family". To make this wish come true, their wedding took place as soon as possible, with the groom's master as the matchmaker and party leader of the patriotic organization as their witness. They will prosper and children will be born to this 'national policy' couple. All of their children will eventually become second-generation Hana-chans and Kenji-kuns.

As a final note, both Hana-chan and Kenji-kun received Korean names at the times of their births, but at the request of both of them, their Korean names will not be listed here. Photo: Mrs. Misae Matsumura with Hana-chan.

(End of translation)

Earlier, I posted another article (A Korean father spent 8 years looking for the right prospective husband who only spoke Japanese) in which a Korean father arranges a marriage between his daughter and a Japanese-speaking man. These kinds of articles were apparently placed in this propaganda newspaper to encourage Japanese-speaking Koreans to marry each other in hopes of increasing the population of Japanese-speaking Koreans in Korea. 

This article mentions a party leader of the patriotic organization acting as the witness for the couple. This refers to 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 groom worked at Nagasakiya, a pastry shop in Seoul which was famous for its kasutera (sponge cakes). The store is visible in this 1933 map of Seoul:

This store appears to have disappeared from modern Seoul:

(Transcription)

京城日報　1942年5月28日

”内鮮一体は『国語』から

国策型の”めおと”

国語が結ぶ模範結婚

国語常用の人でなければお嫁にいきません。国語を知らなければ嫁には貰わぬと双方が同じようにいい張って、さて内密に調査してみたらお互いに国語の家の男女だったというので、ここにめでたくも高砂や、あと結納が取り交わされたという国語が結ぶ模範結婚の話。

さて、その感心な花嫁御寮とはどんな婦人であろう。新堂町四〇四朝鮮運送常務取締役松村作二氏の下に使われている女中お花ちゃん（二三）がその優れた国語花嫁である。お花ちゃんは全南務安郡の生れて家が貧しいために、十四の年の寒い二月に汚れたチョゴリとチマ一枚で松村氏宅に雇われたのだ。みさ江夫人は、この国語も解せぬ一少女を”どんな工合に育てたものか”とまず苦心した。

取り敢えず小学一年生の読本を買い与えて夫人自ら講師となって教えこんだ。愛児へ対する少しも変わらぬ夫人の慈しみに生来利発な花ちゃんは半年経たぬ間に驚く程の速さで国語が解るようになり、日常の用務には事欠かぬ程度となったので更に夫人は算術算盤を次々と仕込んでゆく中にこのまれにみる田舎娘の記憶力の旺盛さに流石の松村氏も手を上げた。

かくして最後は和服仕立てを教えると同時に日本式の作法について夫人が手を執るようにして指導したので見る見る花ちゃんは半島娘としてではなく、立派な内地婦人の如く完成されて行ったのである。

『今は絹物でも平気で縫いますよ。こんな珍しい娘はありません。全く日本人ですよ。そして親孝行なことは日本一です』と目を細めて花ちゃんを賞めるみさ江夫人は今は真実の娘として慈愛を垂れているのだ。苦節十年頂いた給金は全部父翠月さんに送って、その父も既に四段七歩の自作農となっている。これも花ちゃんのお陰であることは勿論のことだ。

『花子も年頃となったから、どこかお嫁にやらなくては．．．』と松村氏夫妻が頭を痛め出したのは去年の春からだったが、『私は国語の家でなければお嫁に参りません』という花ちゃんの意志を尊重して漸くこのほど探し当てたのが本町五丁目カステラで有名な長崎屋の模範職人三島健次君（二七）だった。

この三国一の婚鑑は生粋の京城っ子で長崎屋に年期を入れたのが昭和八年。今では立派な職人として主人毛利氏の秘蔵弟子の一人だ。

『御主人、私の家は是非国語婦人にして下さいよ』という願い叶って、めでたく双方は来る早々結婚式を挙げることとなったのだが、仲人は水入らずの主人夫妻、立会人は愛国班長に頼もうという今からの取り極めだ。やがては栄え行くであろうと、この国策夫婦の間に生れる子等のすべては何れは二世花ちゃんや健次君になることであろう。

最後にいい残したが、花ちゃんも健次君も生れた時の朝鮮名は持っているが、御両人の希望によって、ここには載せぬこととする。【写真＝松村みさ江夫人とお花ちゃん】

Korean family of radio broadcasting official lived under the Samurai code, spoke only Japanese, and taught their children kenshibu (interpretive dance with katana sword performed to poetry) (Gye-dong Seoul 1942)

 

(Notes)

Back row, left-to-right: mother Keiko (38), son Kenkichi, daughters Eiko (18), Akiko (15), father Shōsei/Changseong (창성) (45)

Front row, left-to-right: daughters Kōkichi (3), Tokuko (8), paternal grandmother, daughters Kenko (11), Mitsuko (6)

The children of the Yahata family were taught shigin, the art of Japanese poetry recitation that was chanted in a melody. They also learned kenbu or kenshibu, a traditional Japanese interpretive dance with katana sword performed to shigin. 

The Yahata family lived in a desirable part of Seoul near the home of Colonel Prince Yi U, a member of the imperial family of Korea as a prince, the head of Unhyeon Palace, and a lieutenant colonel in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. He was killed during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The home was well within walking distance of Gyeonggi Girls' High School, which daughters Eiko and Akiko attended, and Jaedong Elementary School, which daughters Kenko and Tokuko attended (showing 1933 map of Seoul).

This location is still in a desirable neighborhood in Seoul today, as shown in the latest Google Map:

The father was the head of the Second Broadcasting Department of Seoul's radio station. From reading the pages of Keijo Nippo, it seems like Seoul had only one radio station at the time, and there was a First Broadcasting Department and a Second Broadcasting Department. In general, the First Department handled radio programming before noon, and the Second Department handled radio programming in the afternoon and evenings. In the late 1930's, there was usually a little bit of Korean language programming here and there - a 30-minute news program in the morning with an extra 30 minutes of some talk show, but by the early 1940's, even that disappeared, and the only Korean language programming available was generally for Japanese language courses taught partly in Korean.

The second article is about the orphans at the orphanage Hyangrinwon (향린원/香隣園), featured in the 1941 Korean-language movie Homeless Angels (Japanese-language synopsis here, Korean-language synopsis here) about a Korean doctor who builds an orphanage, saves a pair of siblings from the streets, and gathers them under the Imperial Japanese flag to pledge their loyalty as Imperial subjects. This article also mentions a conscription order, but in 1942, this was a call for volunteers and an announcement of an upcoming mandatory military draft in the future.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 21, 1942

Unification of Japan and Korea starts with the Japanese language

Japanese-style clothing is favored

Encourage the regular use of the Japanese language from childhood, say Mr. Yahata Shōsei and his wife.

Mr. Yahata Shōsei (45), whose address is 140-5 Gyedong, has worked for the broadcasting station for 15 years since its establishment and is currently the head of the Second Broadcasting Department. He is also a happy regular speaker of the Japanese language. When I visited the family on May 20, his wife Keiko (38) greeted me affectionately and the couple told me the following. [Photo: the Yahata family] 

"Since we went to school for Japanese people from the time we were in elementary school, we have always used the Japanese language from an early age, so our own children naturally also use only Japanese in daily conversations.

My mother, however, speaks Korean only in passing, and we wear Western or Japanese clothes. My wife has never worn Korean clothes before, and she has become completely used to wearing Japanese clothes, saying that she prefers wearing them. Ten years ago, I injured my foot in the train, and I had no choice but to wear Korean clothes, because it would otherwise have been very cumbersome when sitting down or wearing geta (wooden Japanese sandals)", Shōsei said regretfully. His wife Keiko spoke,

"The most important thing is that the colonial people who will take on the responsibility of the next generation of the Japanese Empire should be trained to have a strong, correct, and bright spirit. To be of service as true Imperial subjects in the future, we must first get our children used to a lifestyle similar to that of the Japanese people. At the same time, I believe that the most important thing is to educate families to nurture the spirit of Bushidō (Japanese samurai code), which is unique to Japan, in their daily lives. For this reason, we invite teachers into our home every day to teach our children kenbu (interpretive dance with katana sword performed to traditional music and poetry) and Japanese poetry recitation (shigin).

Especially last year, at around the time of Sōshi-kaimei (the 1940 ordinance pushing Koreans to adopt Japanese names), my husband was very happy and said that it was a great honor. Our son is named Kenkichi, but based on the six Chinese characters (英明賢徳光興) in the Japanese proverb saying, 'gloriously prosperous are the outstanding, smart, wise, and virtuous', we named our six daughters using those six Chinese characters as follows: Our eldest daughter is named Eiko (英子, 18 years old), who graduated from Gyeonggi Girls' High School. Our second daughter is named Akiko (明子, 15 years old), third year student at the same school. Our third daughter is named Kenko (賢子, 11 years old), fourth year student at Jaedong Elementary School. Our fourth daughter is named Tokuko (徳子, 8 years old), second year student at the same school. Our fifth daughter is named Mitsuko (光子, 6 years old) and our sixth daughter is named Kōkichi (興吉, 3 years old).

From now on in these times, the Korean people will also use the Japanese language regularly. I believe that this will help us to achieve the fruits of Japanese-Korean unification more quickly. I believe that the most important thing is to speak the Japanese language without hesitation to everyone. Since it is impossible to pronounce Japanese words correctly unless they are spoken from an early age, it is absolutely necessary to encourage the use of the Japanese language from childhood first and foremost."

Spurring the Training of "Strong Little Citizens"

Seoul Shōgi Academy

At the Seoul Shōgi Academy in Shin'ei-machi, School Director Kaneda has been devoting himself to providing free Imperial Japanese education to more than 20 "homeless angels" from the orphanage Hyangrinwon (향린원/香隣園), and has earned the gratitude and trust of all concerned. As the conscription order was issued to Korean compatriots on April 9th, people were moved by the greatness of his divine generosity. "To repay the honor of this conscription order, we must improve the physical condition of the little citizens," he said, and he designated every Wednesday as a physical training day for all the students. On that day, he mobilized all the children, numbering more than 460, and actively conducted disciplined group training.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-05-21

Reddit Link: 

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(Transcription)

京城日報　1942年5月21日

内鮮一体は『国語』から

服装も内地好み

幼少時から常用を奨励せよ、八幡昌成氏夫人語る

放送局創立以来満十五年勤務、現在第二放送部長、桂洞町一四〇ノ五、八幡昌成氏（四五）方も嬉しい国語常用家で、二十日同家を訪れると慶子夫人（三八）は愛想よく迎えながら次の如く語った。【写真＝八幡さんの一家】

『私達は小学校の時分から内地人側の学校に行っていたので、幼少の頃からずっと国語を常用しておりますので、子供達も自然日常の会話なども国語ばかりを用いています。

只私の母がちょっとした弾みに朝鮮語を話す位で、服装も洋服か和服を着用し、夫人は今まで一度も朝鮮服を着たことがなく和服姿にもすっかり馴れて、「着物は和服に限るよ」といっていますが、私は十年前の或る日、電車で足を負傷したため、それからは下駄も履けず坐る時にも非常に困るので、仕方なく私だけが朝鮮服を着ていますよ』と口惜しそうに語り、

『最も大事なのは、これから次代の帝国を背負って起つ第二国民を強く正しく明るい精神を培い、将来真の皇民としてお役に立つためには子供等を先ず内地人同様の生活様式に馴らせると同時に、そうした日常生活のうちに日本固有の武士道精神を養うような家庭教育が一番必要だと思います。これがため、家の子供等には毎日先生を招いて剣舞や詩吟等も教えています。

特に去年、創氏制度の時には、主人が非常に喜んで「これは目出度いことだ」と長男健吉を除く六人の娘は英明賢徳にして光興であるという日本の言葉を基に長女は英子（一八）＝京畿高女卒業＝次は明子（一五）＝同校三年＝三女は賢子（一一）＝斉洞国民学校四年＝四女は徳子（八つ）＝同校二年＝五女は光子（六つ）、六女は興吉（三つ）と名付けました。

これからは、もう半島人も国語常用の時代ですね。これによってより早く内鮮一体の実を挙げることが出来ると存じます。国語常用には世間や相手方に遠慮なく話すことが何より大事だと思っておりますが、言葉は幼少の時分からでないと、正確な発音が出来ませんから、国語常用は先ず何よりも子供の時分から大いに奨励することが絶対必要であると存じます。』

”強い小国民”の錬成に拍車

京城彰義学院

新栄町京城彰義学院では金田院長の肝煎りで香隣園の『家なき天使』二十余名を収容、無料で皇民教育を授け、関係者から感謝と信望が寄せられているが、去る九日半島同胞に徴兵令発布されるや、聖恩の鴻大無辺に感激。『この光栄に報ゆるには小国民の体位向上を図らねばならぬ』と毎週水曜日を全院生の体育錬成日と定め、同日は四百六十余名の全児童を総動員して規律正しい団体訓練を積極的に行っている。