Rule by Fear: How Imperial Japan Expanded the Death Penalty and Toughened Sentences in Wartime Korea – Crackdowns on Protesters After Just One Warning (February 1944)

This February 17, 1944 Keijo Nippo article—published during Imperial Japan’s final wartime push—lays out the colonial government’s Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases as applied in Korea. Framed as a “question-and-answer” explanation of new legal provisions, it offers a rare window into the colonial regime’s obsession with internal control as the war turned against Japan.

Buried beneath the bureaucratic tone is unmistakable evidence of civil unrest in wartime Korea. The detailed sections on riots, “public disturbances,” and “obstruction of wartime industries” reveal that protests and resistance were occurring often enough to alarm the colonial authorities into ramping up criminal sentencing guidelines. The penalties were draconian: ringleaders could face death or life imprisonment, anyone taking part could receive up to fifteen years, and even bystanders risked three years in prison or a fine of up to 1,000 yen. The law also reduced the number of police warnings required before a crackdown from three to just one—a clear signal of zero tolerance for dissent.

These extreme measures underscore both the depth of Imperial Japan’s anxiety over maintaining control and the courage of Korean resistance activists who continued to defy colonial authorities despite knowing that even standing nearby at a protest could mean imprisonment—or death.

The following table summarizes the harsh punishments listed in the February 17, 1944 Keijo Nippo article explaining Japan’s “Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases” in colonial Korea.

Category / Crime	New Wartime Penalty (1944 Ordinance)
Arson (inhabited buildings, trains, ships, coal mines)	Death, life imprisonment, or at least 10 years’ imprisonment
Arson (uninhabited property)	Life imprisonment or at least 3 years
Arson of aircraft or automobiles	Newly added category; same as above due to military importance
Indecent assault / rape / robbery with violence	Death penalty possible; prosecution allowed without victim’s complaint
Obstruction of air-defense officials	Up to 7 years’ imprisonment
Riot or public disturbance	Ringleader: death, life, or ≥3 years; other participants: 1–15 years or ≤1,000 yen fine; onlookers: ≤3 years or ≤1,000 yen fine; punishment after just one warning
Obstruction of public air defense / observation	Death, life, or ≥3 years; damage to meteorological facilities ≤10 years
Obstruction of communications	Life imprisonment or at least 1 year
Obstruction of vital industries	Up to life imprisonment, including for labor unrest
Hoarding or profiteering	At least 5 years’ imprisonment or ≤10,000 yen fine (or both); merchants punished most severely
Obstruction of wartime transport	≥1 year; if injury or death: death, life, or ≥3 years; interfering with trains/ships: life or ≥5 years; if death occurs: death penalty
Unlawful home entry	≥5 years or ≤1,000 yen fine (even if household member consents without master’s approval)
Corruption / bribery (including intermediaries)	Intermediaries punished the same as direct bribe-givers
Defense attorney limit	Maximum of two defense attorneys, must be appointed within 10 days
Trial system change	Appeals reduced from three tiers to two (effective March 15, 1944)

 

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 17, 1944

The Character of the Wartime Criminal Special Ordinance: Q&A
A Single Word: ‘Crackdown!’
Particularly Harsh on Black-Market Merchants
Even Intermediaries in Bribery to Be Punished

On February 15, the government simultaneously promulgated the Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases, Special Ordinance for Wartime Civil Cases, Court Ordinance Wartime Special Provisions, and other related measures, including the Wartime Special Provisions for the National Defense Security Law and Peace Preservation Law for simplifying judicial procedures in Korea, as well as revisions to the Korean Tenancy Mediation Ordinance and Korean Personnel Mediation Ordinance. These will take effect on March 15.

As the Greater East Asia War enters its decisive stage, Imperial Japan’s one hundred million people must mobilize all their strength to achieve a dramatic increase in war power. The decisive strengthening and reorganization of the Korean judicial system has been completed to ensure domestic peace and the stability of the citizens’ duties and rights, which form the basic conditions for the maximum exertion of the nation’s total war power. Henceforth, citizens must live by the principle of “365 days of law observance.”

Among the new wartime judicial decrees, the Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases strengthens and systematizes substantive criminal penalties to address various crimes arising under wartime conditions. It prepares for any emergencies that may occur under continuous air-raid blackouts as enemy attacks become inevitable. Even apart from such emergencies, it is the most important criminal provision for domestic security under wartime conditions, designed to preserve social tranquility, accomplish the national defense economy, and ensure an ironclad defense against malicious crimes in wartime governance.

The following is a Q&A interview conducted with Mr. Miyazaki Yasuoki, an official of the Criminal Affairs Division, Legal Affairs Bureau, Office of the Governor-General of Korea, to clarify the full scope and character of this Korean Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases.

Mr. Miyazaki, Legal Affairs Officer

(Photo: Mr. Miyazaki, Legal Affairs Officer)

Q: How does the punishment for arson differ from before?

A: Under Article 108 of the Penal Code, arson against an inhabited building, train, locomotive, ship, or coal mine carried a sentence of death, life imprisonment, or at least five years’ imprisonment. Now, this has been raised to death, life imprisonment, or at least ten years’ imprisonment.

Arson against uninhabited properties has previously been punished by at least two years’ imprisonment, but the sentence has now been raised to life imprisonment or at least three years. Aircraft and automobiles are now added as new categories, reflecting their wartime importance as weapons.

Q: What about crimes of indecent assault and robbery accompanied by violence?

A: In Germany, these already carry the death penalty. In particular, this provision aims to impose resolute punishment for lawless acts committed during preparations for air-defense operations or under blackout conditions. All such offenses are now classified as non-complaint crimes: whereas previously crimes such as rape could only be prosecuted upon a formal accusation by the victim or her husband, under wartime conditions arrests may be made immediately upon discovery of the criminal act, without waiting for any such complaint.

Furthermore, the offense of indecent assault and sexual misconduct, which had previously been handled under a special decree concerning wartime criminal punishment, has now been consolidated together with robbery accompanied by violence.

Q: What is “obstruction of official duty against air-defense public officials”?

A: This provision, newly established alongside the crime of treason and insurrection, underscores the critical importance of the air-defense system in this stage of decisive warfare. Any act of violence or intimidation against air-defense personnel in the performance of their duties will incur harsher penalties, punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years.

Q: Who are considered “air-defense public officials”?

A: It naturally includes all government officials involved in air defense. In mainland Japan, air-defense rescue workers are also considered to be public officials.

Q: In wartime riots, how many people constitute a “group”?

A: The number is not fixed; it will be determined by common sense and circumstances.

Q: What punishments apply to rioting?

A: The ringleader shall be punished by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for not less than three years (formerly one to ten years). Even if there is no ringleader, those who direct the disturbance or take the lead in aiding its momentum shall now face imprisonment of one to fifteen years (formerly six months to seven years). Followers and onlookers who join in are also to be strictly punished: what was once a fine of up to fifty yen has been raised to a fine of up to one thousand yen or imprisonment for up to three years.

When a crowd gathers and the police order it to disperse, the previous rule was that punishment applied only after the order had been given three times and still not obeyed. Under the new provision, punishment now applies after a single order. In such cases, the ringleader may be sentenced to up to ten years’ imprisonment (formerly three years), and others, who were previously subject only to fines, now face imprisonment of up to three years or fines of up to one thousand yen. The public is therefore cautioned to take care not to become entangled in such disturbances.

Q: What is “obstruction of public air defense or observation”?

A: Like the offense of obstructing air-defense officials, this too is a provision newly established under the Special Ordinance for Wartime Criminal Cases in recognition of the critical importance of air defense during wartime. Anyone who destroys an air-raid shelter, public shelter, evacuation site, observation post, or signaling device, or who—even without destroying them—renders an air-raid siren unable to sound, shall be punished by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for not less than three years. Those who damage meteorological observation buildings or facilities shall be punished by imprisonment for up to ten years

Q: What constitutes “obstruction of public communications”?

A: Cutting postal or telecommunication facilities or wires. Formerly lightly punished under telegraph law, now punishable by life imprisonment or at least one year’s imprisonment.

Q: How about “obstruction of vital industries”?

A: Especially in Korea, where heavy industry is developed, citizens must take great care. This provision has been newly established to ensure the continued execution of industries essential to national defense during wartime. Not only does it apply to aircraft, weapons, and other vital munitions industries, but even when workers cause disturbances over treatment or wages, the maximum penalty prescribed is life imprisonment.

Q: A decisive crackdown is now to be rendered against those engaged in hoarding and withholding goods for profit—acts that most directly concern us ordinary citizens in wartime. In what ways does this differ from the previous provisions?

A: The purpose of this provision is to ensure the smooth balance of supply and demand for daily necessities. Accordingly, anyone who hoards or withholds essential goods with the intent of obtaining illicit business profits shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than five years or a fine of up to ten thousand yen, and, depending on the circumstances, may be subjected to both imprisonment and a fine.

Previously, acts of hoarding or withholding were punishable under Article 105 of the Penal Code, which prescribed imprisonment of at least one year or up to life imprisonment for acts that ‘seriously disrupt the operation of the national economy through disturbances in the financial markets, interference with the production or distribution of essential goods, or other such means.’ However, since not all cases of hoarding or withholding reached that level of economic disruption, this new special decree targets a narrower but more malicious class of offenders—those who hoard or withhold goods with the intent of obtaining illegitimate business profits—who are deemed more blameworthy than those merely violating the earlier regulations on profiteering acts.

Put more plainly, whereas under the previous system both merchants and ordinary individuals were punished equally for hoarding or withholding goods, under the new ordinance merchants are subject to far harsher penalties. In effect, the law’s loopholes have been completely closed.

Q: “Obstruction of wartime traffic” sounds broad—what does it cover?

A: This category includes roads, bridges, railways, signs, and harbor buoys. The provision applies to cases in which these are damaged in a manner that obstructs the operation of trains, streetcars, or ships.

For example, anyone who damages a road, waterway, or bridge and thereby interferes with transportation shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year (formerly by a fine of not less than two hundred yen or imprisonment for up to two years). If, as a result, a person is killed or injured, the penalty shall be death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for not less than three years. If the act obstructs the operation of trains, streetcars, or ships, the punishment shall be life imprisonment or imprisonment for not less than five years. If the obstruction concerns a train, streetcar, or ship carrying passengers and results in death, the death penalty shall be imposed — a singularly severe punishment applied without exception. These measures underscore how vital transportation is during wartime.

Q: Home invasions have recently caused serious social concern.

A: The maintenance of social order on the home front during wartime must be upheld without fail. Even if one obtains the consent of the wife or other members of the household, entering another person’s residence without the consent of the master of the house constitutes unlawful entry, punishable by imprisonment for not less than five years or a fine of up to one thousand yen (formerly punishable by imprisonment for not less than three years or a fine of up to fifty yen).

Q: Disciplinary enforcement among government officials is becoming ever more stringent, but where does the focus lie in the present wartime offense of official misconduct?”

A: Officials, who ought to take the lead in guiding the people, must, in accordance with the spirit of the recently promulgated Wartime Public Officials Service Ordinance, convert every aspect of their conduct to a wartime footing. Acts of dereliction in office can by no means be tolerated in the present day. Under this new special ordinance, even those aspects that previously escaped punishment are now comprehensively brought within the scope of the law.

Of particular note for the general public is the newly established crime of ‘the giving and receiving of wartime bribery funds.’ Under the previous bribery statute, no offense was constituted unless the act of bribery was actually carried out. Under the new provisions, however, even a person who, for example, is induced by a corrupt broker to take custody of a bribe for delivery to a third party shall be punished by the same penalties as for the act of bribery itself.

Q: In the criminal procedure provisions, the number of defense attorneys has been limited to two. What is the purpose of this restriction?

A: The aim is to simplify court proceedings. Under the pressing conditions of the present situation, it is only natural to eliminate anything unnecessary. Along with limiting the number of defense attorneys, the period for their appointment has also been set at within ten days, so that the power of the courts may be exercised with greater speed.

Q: Under the new special ordinance, the judicial system will be reduced to two instances of trial, to take effect from March 15. What will happen to cases that are already pending before the courts prior to enforcement?

A: Cases in which arguments before the court of first instance have been concluded before March 15 will continue under the existing three-tier system. Cases that are currently in trial before the first-instance court, or have been filed but not yet heard by that date, will be handled under the new two-tier system.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年2月17日

あるは”断”の一字
戦時刑事特別令の性格：一問一答
特に厳しい商人の闇
贈賄はその取次ぎ者も処罰

裁判所令戦時特例、民事特別令、刑事特別令、更に半島における裁判手続簡素化のための国防保安法及び治安維持法の戦時特例に関する法律もこれに付随する朝鮮小作調停令及び朝鮮人事調停令の改正が去る十五日一斉に公布され、三月十五日から実施することとなった。

大東亜戦争が決戦の段階に突入、いまや一億は総力をあげて戦力の飛躍的増強に結集。国家の総合戦力を最高度に発揮するための基礎条件である国内治安の確保と国民権義の安定を期した半島司法体制の決戦的整備強化陣は成った。これにより愈愈国民が”遵法三百六十五日”で行かなければならない。この戦時司法令のうち刑事特別令は戦時下における各種犯罪に対処する為の実体的刑罰規定を整備強化して、今や敵襲必至の情勢下、連続実施する灯火管制下に生ずるかも知れない各種非常事態に備えたのは勿論、それまでならなくとも苟も戦時下、社会の安寧、国防経済の完遂、将又戦時運用に鉄壁を期して悪質犯罪を防がんとする国内治安上最も重要な刑罰規定である。

以下は総督府法務局刑事課事務官宮崎保興氏に一問一答を試みた”朝鮮戦時刑事特別令”の全貌とその性格である。【写真＝宮崎事務官】

問：放火罪は従来と如何に違うか？

答：刑法百八条によると、人の現に住まっている建造物及び電車、汽車、汽船、炭坑に放火した者は死刑、或は無期、五年以上の懲役に処せられていたが、これからは刑罰が重くひきあげられ死刑、無期十年以上の懲役となった。また放火場所が人の居ないところでは従来二年以上の懲役であったが、これまた無期或は三年以上の懲役に引き上げた。また放火対象物で右の外に新しく航空機、自動車が戦時下、兵器の重要性によって新しく加わった。

問：猥褻姦淫罪及び強窃盗罪は？

答：ドイツではすでに極刑をもってのぞんでいる。特にこれは防空態勢下の準備及び灯火管制における不逞な行為に対し断乎たる処罰を期するもので、その中総てが非親告罪となったことは、これまで強姦などは被害者とその夫の告訴によって成立したのが、戦時においては親告をまたなくとも犯罪事実発覚次第いくらでも検挙が出来る。

なお猥褻姦淫罪は戦時犯罪処罰の特令に関する件だったのがこんどは強窃盗罪と一緒に纏めている。

問：防空公務員に対する公務執行妨害罪とは？

答：国政変乱罪と共にこの方は新しく設けたものである。勿論決戦下の防空体制の重要性を現わしている。防空公務員の職務遂行に対する暴行、脅迫も刑罰が過重され、何れも七年以下の懲役に処せられる。

問：防空公務員とは如何なる範囲のものか？

答：防空関係の官公吏をいうのはいうまでもないが、内地では防空救護員も公務員としている。

問：戦時騒擾では、幾名をもって集団と看做すのか？

答：その数は一定していないといっても常識をもって判断する。

問：その刑罰はどんなものか？

答：首魁は死刑、無期及び三年以上の懲役（従来は一年以上十年以下の懲役）首魁がなくても指揮者及び率先して勢を助けたものは、これまで六月以上七年以下が一年以上十五年以下、それに雷同者、野次馬も厳重に処罰することとなり、従来五十円以下の罰金が千円以下の罰金または三年以下の懲役。

多数の者が集って警察官から解散を命ぜられた場合、いままではその命令が三回発せられてなおこれに服従しないときは罰せられたが、こんどはそれが一回となり、その中首魁は十年以下（従来は三年）その他も罰金のみだったのが三年以下の懲役及び千円以下の罰金と刑罰を過重した。若しもの場合、民衆はこのような騒擾に巻き込まれないように注意すべきである。

問：公共防空、観測妨害とは？

答：防空公務の執行妨害と同様にこれも戦時下、防空の重要性によって設けられた戦時刑事特別令であって、防空壕、公共待避壕、避難所、監視所、信号器などを破壊した者、壊さないまでも防空サイレンを鳴らないようにした者も死刑または無期、若しくは三年以上の懲役に処せられる。気象観測の建造物、施設を損壊した者は十年以下の懲役である。

問：公共通信妨害とは何をいうのか？

答：郵便、電気通信建物、工作物及び電線を切断した場合をいうものであって、従来は単なる電信法によって刑は軽かったが、これからは無期または一年以上の体刑となった。

問：重要産業妨害の場合はどうなるか？

答：半島は特に重工業が発達しているので、余程民衆は注意すべきである。

戦時下の国防重要産業の遂行を確保せんがために新しく規定されたものである。航空機その他兵器、軍需関係の重要工業は勿論、その建造物、施設を損壊し待遇や賃銀の問題で労務者が騒動を起した場合でも最高無期懲役まで規定せられている。

問：戦時下われわれ庶民大衆に最も問題になる買溜め、売惜しみの輩に対し”断”が下されるが従来と異なる点は？

答：目的とするところは生活必需品の円滑なる需給関係を確保するにある。従って今回の対象は業務上不正の利益を得る目的をもって生活必需品を買占め、または売惜しんだ者に対しては五年以上の懲役または一万円以下の罰金に処せられ、情によっては罰金の上に体刑を併せ科せられることになっている。

従来この種買溜め、売惜しみに対しては刑法百五条の”金融界の擾乱、重要物資の生産および配給の阻害その他の方法によって国民経済の運行を著しく阻害し”に対して一年以上無期懲役が科せられているが、この程度まで国民経済を深く阻害するに到らずといって単に”暴利を得て物品の売惜しみ、買占めをなす者”に対する暴利行為等取締規則に抵触する者より悪辣なる”業務上不正の利益を得る目的をもつ者”に対し今回の特令が下ったものである。

もっと解り易くいえば今までの買占め買惜しみに対する処罰は商売人でも普通の個人でも同じであったものが商売人の場合は厳罰をもって臨むことになったもので、法の穴を全面的に地均らしたのである。

問：戦時往来妨害というと非常に範囲が大きいが具体的にはどうなっているか？

答：道路、橋梁、鉄道、標識、港湾浮標などがこれに入る。これらを損壊し汽車、電車、船舶の運行を阻害する場合に適用される。

例えば道路、水路、橋梁を破損し交通を邪魔した者は一年以上の懲役（従来は二百円以上の罰金または二年以下の懲役）そのために、たまたま人が死傷した場合は死刑、無期または三年以上の懲役。そのため、汽車、電車、船舶の運行を妨害した場合は無期または五年以上の懲役、人が乗っている汽車、電車、船舶を妨害し、そのため人が死んだ場合は死刑ただ一本をもって臨むという厳刑である。

戦時下交通運輸を如何に重大視しているかが証明されよう。

問：家宅侵入も最近しばしば深刻な問題を生んでいるが。

答：決戦下銃後の社会治安は断じて護らねばならぬ。たとい主婦、家人の承諾を得ても主人の承諾を得ずして他人の住居に入ると不法侵入になり五年以上の懲役または千円以下の罰金である（従前は三年以上の懲役または五十円以下の罰金）

問：官公吏の綱紀粛正はますます峻厳になって行くが今回の戦時涜職罪の重点はどこにあるか？

答：民衆に率先、指導の任にあるべき官公吏はさきに公布された戦時官吏服務令の心構えで総てを戦時に切り換えねばならぬ。今日職を涜すが如き断じてあってはならぬ。今回の特令により今までは処罰出来なかった面をも漏れなく把握することになった。

特に一般が注意すべきは『戦時贈賄資金の授受』の罪である。従来の贈賄罪は事実において贈賄しなければ罪を構成しなかったが、今回より例えば悪ブローカーに乗ぜられ贈賄物を第三者に伝達すべく預かっても贈賄の罪と同じ刑に処せられる。

問：刑事手続関係中、弁護人が二名以内に制限されたが主旨は如何？

答：裁判の簡捷化にある、喫緊の現時局下必要以上のものは排除するのが当然である。弁護人の数を制限すると共に選任の時期を十日以内としたのも裁判の力を迅速に発揮しようとするにある。

問：新特別令にすれば二審別となり三月十五日から実施されるが実施前に裁判所に繋属中の事件はどうなるか？

答：三月十五日以前に第一審裁判所の弁論を終結した事件は従来通り三審制で続ける。第一審において現に公判中のものまたは公判前の受付をなしたものは二審制になる。

Source: National Library of Korea, Digital Newspaper Archive 

‘Selfless’ Imperial Japanese policeman visits pregnant Korean mother daily and delivers her baby after forcing her husband into Imperial war service: a 1945 ‘heartwarming’ propaganda tale

In the waning days of Japanese colonial rule in January 1945, a propaganda article was published in the Keijo Nippo newspaper in Seoul, Korea retelling what appears on the surface to be a heartwarming story of selfless generosity. A Japanese police officer Korea went above and beyond to help Mrs. Ryōko Hirata, a heavily pregnant Korean mother, after her husband was conscripted into the Imperial war effort. The officer was the one to hand the conscription order to her husband. After the reluctant husband was sent away, the officer reportedly visited Ryōko daily, provided money, arranged for medicine and a midwife, and even helped deliver her baby. It is presented as a tale of compassion and duty.

Original caption: Officer Okamoto with the joyful Hirata family

But was it truly altruism? Or did the officer have ulterior motives? While the article paints a rosy picture, a more critical examination of the narrative suggests that maybe this is not the entire story. The mother is later expected to "work" once she recovers. Why? How exactly was she supposed to "repay" the officer’s kindness? This raises uncomfortable questions: Was the officer creating a sense of indebtedness to manipulate her? If there was a romantic interest involved, his actions could have been aimed at building a more intimate relationship with Ryōko, more akin to grooming behavior.

Another disturbing aspect is from the perspective of Ryōko’s husband. Deployed on mandatory Imperial war service, he may have been deeply uneasy about a Japanese officer becoming so intimate with his wife in his absence. Yet he had no choice but to put on a brave face. In a humiliating show of forced gratitude, he referred to the officer as his family’s "guardian god" in his letters—an acknowledgment likely born of necessity rather than true sentiment.

Furthermore, it is important to consider the role of Imperial police officers during this era. These were influential figures who not only enforced colonial law but also worked closely with the Imperial Army and local patriotic groups (neighborhood cells). Police officers often wielded significant power over local communities, including decisions on conscription. It is entirely plausible that this officer played a role in determining who received conscription orders and may have ensured that Mr. Hirata was drafted—potentially setting the stage for his narrative of "saving" the Hirata family in the husband’s absence.

In Imperial Japan, there were different types of conscription orders differentiated by the color of the paper that they were printed on: red (赤紙, Akagami), white (白紙, Hakushi), blue (青紙, Aogami), and also pink paper (紅紙, Kōgami).

White Paper conscription was used for "educational conscription" and training-related activities, such as "教育召集" (educational conscription), "演習召集" (training mobilization), and "簡閲点呼" (roll-call inspection). Red and pink papers were generally used for calling people into active military service, and blue papers were used for short-term homeland defense, particularly against events like air raids.

Given that Mr. Hirata was a married father with children, he may have been issued a red, pink, or blue paper on this particular occasion. The issuing of these orders was a way to manage the different needs and urgencies of military and homeland activities during the war period.

We can safely assume that the Hirata family was ethnic Korean, as another propaganda article from 1943 featured a model Korean family from the same neighborhood, Sungin-dong, and Ryōko appears to be wearing Hanbok in the news photo. The police officer in question, Officer Okamoto, is described as hailing from Kagoshima Prefecture, so he is ethnic Japanese.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) January 10, 1945

On Days Off, Officers Dedicate Themselves to Welfare Visits

Two Policemen Protect the Families of Conscripted Warriors

"Maintaining public order is not the sole duty of a police officer." This is the story of a policeman who steadfastly supported the family of a conscripted warrior, ensuring that a heavily pregnant wife on the verge of homelessness received proper care, including medicine and medical attention, and safely delivered her child. It is also the story of another policeman who, despite his modest salary, set aside part of his income each month to provide living expenses for conscripted families. These two heartwarming episodes of compassion and unity between police and citizens shine as inspirational examples of humanity and courage to mark a bright and resolute start to the New Year.

Officer Yoshiaki Okamoto, originally from Kagoshima and stationed at the Dongmyo Police Substation under the Dongdaemun Precinct in Seoul, visited the home of Mr. Takemitsu Hirata in Sungin-dong, Dongdaemun District, one bitterly cold evening in December of last year. He carried with him an official conscription deployment order.

Upon receiving the conscription deployment order, Mr. Hirata was taken aback and turned to look at his wife. His wife, Ryōko, was in the final month of her pregnancy and could give birth at any moment, whether that day or the next. Desperate, Mr. Hirata pleaded with Officer Okamoto, asking if there was any way his departure could be postponed until after the child was born. Officer Okamoto was troubled by the request but knew that a supreme national mandate could not be swayed by personal circumstances.

Thus, Mr. Hirata, unable to wait for his child to be born, resolved himself and left for his conscription duty. At that moment, Officer Okamoto firmly vowed in his heart, "Alright, I will take full responsibility for what comes next." From that day forward, he visited the Hirata household daily, attending to various needs. Additionally, he gave her an envelope of money, instructing her to use it for childbirth expenses.

Upon learning of the situation, Mr. Motoki Matsue, the neighborhood leader of the sixth patriotic group, also stepped in. Declaring, "It is the duty of our patriotic group to protect the families of conscripted warriors," he contributed 50 yen. Together with Officer Okamoto, he worked tirelessly, arranging for medicine and a midwife, their efforts marked by heartfelt determination.

Thus, Ryōko, despite feeling the loneliness of a home without her husband, safely delivered her child amidst an outpouring of kindness that brought her to tears. The baby, born healthy, welcomed the New Year in good health.

Officer Okamoto was not only known for his recent acts of kindness. In the past, he had selflessly taken a penniless blind man to Seoul Imperial University Hospital at his own expense, where he arranged ten days of treatment for him. For this compassionate act, he was commended by Chief Ushijima of the Dongdaemun Precinct. When Officer Okamoto received his year-end bonus, he chose not to celebrate solely for himself. Instead, he decided to share the joy of the New Year with thirteen families of conscripted soldiers within his jurisdiction who faced the holiday without their loved ones. To these families, he sent heartfelt year-end gifts filled with warmth and care.

Ryōko Hirata said, "When my husband left, I felt a deep sense of loneliness and wondered how we would manage. However, thanks to Officer Okamoto’s many acts of kindness, my child was born safely. I informed my husband of everything, and he replied, 'Officer Okamoto is a living guardian god for our family. Please express my heartfelt gratitude to him. I will work with all my might to repay this debt of gratitude, but you must not rely too much on his kindness. As soon as you recover, work to repay his generosity as well.' Now that I have recovered, I am ready to take on any work," she said, her voice trembling and filled with tears.

[Photo caption: Officer Okamoto with the joyful Hirata family.]

Similarly, Officer Shigeru Yamaguchi, also stationed at the Dongmyo Substation and originally from Wakayama Prefecture, took it upon himself to assess the living conditions of conscripted warriors’ families. During his visits, he discovered that the wife of Mr. Yoshimichi Niraku, living at 52-7 Sungin-dong in Dongdaemun District, was struggling to support four children in a rented home and could not even afford rice. Moved by their plight, Officer Yamaguchi secretly began sending monthly financial support to the family. On his days off, he made it a point to visit and provide further assistance. Working together with the aforementioned Officer Okamoto, they encouraged each other and alternated visits to the family every two days.

When Precinct Chief Ushijima learned of these acts, he was overjoyed, saying, "You have done a remarkable job. I wholeheartedly commend your efforts and have also given a small monetary reward as an example for others to follow."

[Transcription]

京城日報 1945年1月10日

非番の日は必ず慰問

応徴士の家族を護る二警官

『治安維持だけが警察官の務めではない』臨月の腹をかかえ路頭に迷わんとする応徴士の家族をしっかと護り、薬よ、医者よと世話をし、健やかにお産をさせたお巡りさん。同じく少ない俸給を割いて毎月応徴家族に生活費を贈っているお巡りさん。これは『明朗敢闘』の新春を飾る警民一体の人情佳話二篇。

府内東大門署東廟派出所勤務の岡元良秋警官（鹿児島出身）が徴用出動令書を持って東大門区崇仁町平田武光君の家を訪れたのは旧臘十二月寒さのきびしい或る夕方だった。

令書を手にした平田君ははっとして妻をかえり見た。それは妻女良子さんが臨月できょう生れるか明日産むかのときであったからだ。そこで平田君はなんとか子供が生れた後に行くように延期は出来ないものかと頼んだ。岡元警官は返事に困ったが、国家の至上命令は私ことで左右さるべきでない。

かくて平田君は子供の生れるのも待たず意を決して立って征った。その時岡元警官は「よしっ、後は必ず引受けるぞ」と心に固く誓い、それから毎日此家を訪れては何かと世話し、またお産の時に使って呉れと金一封を贈った。

このときこれを知った同組六班長の松江元揆さんも『応徴士を護るのは愛国班の務めだ』と五十円を贈り、岡元警察官と心を合せ薬よ産婆さんよと涙ぐましい世話をした。

かくして良子さんは夫なき淋しい家ながら人の情にむせび泣きつつ目出度く安産をした。そしてその子は健やかに正月を迎えたのである。

この岡元警官はそればかりでなく前にはビタ一文持たぬ盲を自費で城大に連れて行き十日も治療を施し牛島東大門署長に表彰を受けた奇特な人であるが、年末の賞与を貰ったときは自分ばかりが喜ぶより主なき正月を迎える応徴家族にも共に正月の祝いをしようと受持管内にある十三軒に温かい心のこもるお歳暮を贈った。平田良子は、

夫が行くときはほんとうにどうなるのかと心淋しく思っていましたが、岡元さんから色々世話して戴き、このように子供も無事に生れ、このことを主人に知らせました處、主人から『岡元さんは我が家の生き神様だ。お前からお礼を申上げて呉れ。私も命がけで働いて御恩返しをするつもりだが、お前も余り温情にあまえずに体がよくなり次第働いて御恩返しをしろ』と言って来ました。私ももうよくなりましたから、どんな仕事でもやりますと、涙にむせびうるんだ声で語るのだった。【写真＝岡元警官と喜ぶ平田一家】

◇．．．同じく東廟派出所勤務の山口茂警官（和歌山県）は応徴家族の生計状況を見て廻ったが、そのうち東大門区崇仁町五二の七、二樂喜道君の妻女が四人の子供をかかえ間借りのうえに米代すらないのを知り、人には秘して毎月生活費を贈り、非番の日には必ず慰問して廻ろうと前記岡元警官と励まし合って二日おきに見舞っている。この話を聞いた牛島署長も我がことのように喜び、『よくやって呉れたと、私は心からほめてやり、他の範にすべて金一封を贈りました』と語っている。

Source: 키워드 검색 - 신문 검색 - 대한민국 신문 아카이브

Korean Woman in Hanbok Detained by Imperial Police in 1944 Seoul for Wearing the "Wrong" Clothing in Violation of Wartime Attire Regulations

This photo, published by the colonial regime in 1944, captures a police encounter of a Korean woman with members of the Jongno General Uprising Committee's Youth Division during an air raid drill. The woman was accused of violating strict wartime attire regulations imposed by the Imperial Japanese authorities in Korea. These regulations were part of a broader effort to militarize civilian life and enforce a standardized "battle-ready" appearance among the population.

The Youth Division was an extension of the Jongno General Uprising Committee, which operated under the supervision of the Imperial police in Seoul. It was composed of younger members of local patriotic groups, or neighborhood cells, which the police routinely interacted with within their precincts. These groups often convened meetings to discuss loyalty to the empire and were tasked with parapolice activities, such as night patrols and enforcement of wartime regulations.

In this case, the police likely mobilized members of these neighborhood cells to patrol the streets of Jongno district and inspect the clothing of passersby. The Youth Division members, equipped with megaphones, stationed themselves at busy intersections and scrutinized the attire of pedestrians. Violators were detained, admonished publicly, and often photographed or reported to serve as a warning to others.

The woman in the photo was reportedly detained in Kōgane 4-Chōme (present-day Euljiro-4-ga) for wearing a chima dress that did not comply with the August 31 and September 22, 1943 regulations outlined in the Keijo Nippo. These regulations required chima dresses to meet specific wartime standards:

• Style: Chima dresses had to adopt a tubular design instead of the traditional flared shape.
• Sleeves: Sleeves needed to be narrow and short.
• Fasteners: String fasteners were prohibited and had to be replaced with buttons.

It is likely that the detained woman’s dress violated these rules, either because the dress had the traditional flared shape or because she was still using string fasteners. Such police encounters were intended to enforce compliance and instill a sense of urgency and discipline among civilians.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) August 9, 1944

How Compliant is Your Battle-Ready Attire?

The Jongno Uprising Committee Calls for Compliance

Eradicate Violators of Attire Regulations!

When it comes to wartime life marked by desperate air raids, vigilance begins with proper attire. Despite repeated and stern warnings from authorities via radio, newspapers, and street announcements, the situation in Seoul on the 8th—the Imperial Rescript Commemoration Day—was shocking. Violators of attire regulations flooded areas like Honmachi and Jongno, leaving officials speechless.

At the intersection of Kōgane 4-Chōme, during an air raid drill warning issued at 10 a.m., more than a hundred attire violators filled the streets within just 30 minutes. Traffic was temporarily halted, and they were admonished by Chief Warden Takekuma of the Honmachi Police Station, who sternly lectured them, "The enemy planes are drawing near overhead. Is your attire truly appropriate for this?"

There is now an urgent call for greater vigilance and proper attire maintenance among the general public. [Photo: Attire violator receiving a warning.]

To ensure every single Korean compatriot on is mobilized into combat readiness, the Jongno General Uprising Committee's Youth Division deployed 40 leaders across 15 police stations in high-traffic areas under the Jongno precinct on the morning of the 8th, starting at 7:30 a.m. They used microphones to loudly proclaim, "Air-raid attire is vital, and negligence is unacceptable!" stopping passersby in their tracks and leaving a deep impression. The key points of their lecture were as follows:

"At this decisive moment, upon which the rise or fall of the Imperial Nation depends, are you idly loafing about, consuming without contributing, avoiding conscription through scheming, or recklessly searching for nonessential goods? Have you become like [illegible] with [illegible], losing your soul to the darkness of such a life? ... [illegible] ... Gentlemen, ladies, what about your air-raid attire? Not wearing monpe or gaiters is not just a matter of formality. It is evidence of your lack of mental preparedness. If you recognize this as wrong, do not wait until tomorrow; correct it immediately, starting today."

Source 1: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-08-09/page/n3/mode/1up

Source 2: 키워드 검색 - 신문 검색 - 대한민국 신문 아카이브

Note 1: Much of the text from the microphone lecture was illegible due to the way the high-quality scan from the National Library of Korea was cut off at the edge. But I believe the illegible portion also includes an accusation that the attire violators are profit-seeking scoundrels worshipping liberal capitalism. 

Note 2: The Imperial Rescript Commemoration Day (大詔奉戴日, Taishō Hōtai-bi) was a nationwide patriotic observance established in January 1942 as part of Japan's wartime mobilization efforts during the Pacific War (referred to in Japan as the Great East Asia War, 大東亜戦争). It was tied to the anniversary of the declaration of war against the United States and the United Kingdom, marked by the issuance of the Imperial Rescript on Declaration of War on December 8, 1941. To commemorate this event, the 8th of every month was designated as a day of reflection and mobilization for the war effort.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年8月9日

あなたの決戦服装は
鐘路蹶起委員会が呼かく
服装違反者を一掃

空襲必死の決戦生活はまず敏活な服装から。当局がラジオや新聞や街頭放送に口をすっぱくしての厳重な注意にもかかわらず八日大詔奉戴日の京城府内には本町といわず鐘路といわず服装違反者の氾濫ぶりに係官を唖然たらしめた。

訓練警報発令中の黄金町四丁目交叉点の午前十時から僅々三十分間に百余名の服装違反者が街頭にあふれ、一時通行停止を喰って『敵機は頭上に迫っている。きみ達の服装はそれでよいのか』と武隈本町署保安主任の厳重な説諭を受けた。一般府民の今一層の緊張と服装整備が要望されている。【写真＝注意をうける服装違反者】

半島同胞一人残らず戦闘配置につかしめるため、鐘路総蹶起委員会青年部では大詔奉戴日の八日午前七時半から鐘路署管内で交通の輻輳している地域の交番十五ヶ所に幹部四十名を動員。”防空服装は、闇は”とマイクを通じて絶叫、通行府民の足をとどめ、耳をそばたたせ多大の感銘を与えた講演要旨次の通り。

『皇国の興廃をかけた決戦に際しブラブラ遊んで徒食しながら徴用をのがれんとしてあくせくしたり、ないものを買い漁って足を[illegible]のように[illegible]闇の生活に魂を失ったものはありませんか。[illegible]男の方、女の方、あなたは防空服装はどうしましたか。モンペや脚絆をつけないことは形式の問題ではありません。あなたの心の緊張を失った証拠です。悪いと思ったら明日といわず今日直ちに直して下さい』

Korean rice farmers barely survived eating grass roots as they worked tirelessly to meet the rice quotas imposed by the Imperial Army in 1944, even sacrificing their own personal rice supplies to face starvation under pressure from the police inspector and the township chief

This disturbing propaganda news story from 1944 is about a rice farming township (Seonso-myeon) in Suncheon County, South Pyeongan Province in what is now North Korea, which was supposedly so grateful to their police inspector for being compassionate and not scolding or beating them, that they were inspired to not only offer up all the rice they had kept to feed themselves for the year, but also sacrifice their own lives for the police inspector. The rice farmers had just worked through incredible hardship, even eating roots to barely survive, but they still came short of the rice quota that the Imperial Army had imposed on them, which is why they had to give up their own personal supplies of rice so that they could meet the quota, even if it meant that they could starve to death in the process. 

Patriotic Korean military grandma Tanzan Kōzō

This article provides a glimpse into the cruel colonial power structure that led to the oppressive exploitation and even possible starvation and genocide of Korean farmers under Imperial Japanese rule. Apparently, the county police chiefs were responsible for delivering the rice quotas that were imposed by the Imperial Army. The county police chief would direct the police inspector to pressure the local township leader, or myeon chief, to make sure that the rice farmers worked hard enough to meet the Imperial Army's rice quotas. The myeon chief was typically a Korean collaborator from the township who was installed into this position by the colonial government. Similar food procuring operations were conducted by the Imperial Japanese military all across occupied areas during World War II to deadly effect. For example, Vietnam experienced a famine in 1944-1945.

The Korean Federation of National Power (国民総力朝鮮連盟, 국민총력조선연맹), which sent the news dispatch team which wrote this news story, was the single ruling party of Japan-colonized Korea. The propaganda purpose of their article was probably to inspire readers with the hard work ethic displayed by the Korean rice farmers, and to encourage other Korean farmers to work just as hard as the rice farmers of Seonso-myeon to provide food supplies to the Imperial Army, even if it meant putting themselves at the brink of starvation. The article was also a way of rewarding the police chief and police inspector for squeezing the demanded rice quota out of the rice farmers. They added some personal anecdotes about missing a mother's funeral and dealing with a sick baby to humanize the police chief.  

See also the similar 1943 story of rice farmer Kim Chi-gu and his sons, who vowed to donate about 150,000 kg of rice to the Imperial Army over ten years.

Another propaganda story features a Korean 'military grandma' whose son died serving in the Imperial Army. She allegedly transcribed the Japanese national anthem, 'Kimigayo', and the Imperial Subjects' Oath into Korean and recited them day and night in an effort to be a better Imperial subject. 

The Imperial Subjects' Oath (皇国臣民ノ誓詞), which the 'military grandma' transcribed into Hangul and recited day and night, was promulgated throughout Korea on October 2, 1937. It was actually drafted by a Korean collaborator named Lee Gag-jong (李覺鐘), and then finalized by then Governor of occupied Korea, Minami Jirō. The oath is as follows. 

• 私共は、大日本帝国の臣民であります。
• 私共は、心を合わせて天皇陛下に忠義を尽します。
• 私共は、忍苦鍛錬して立派な強い国民となります。
• 我等は皇国臣民なり、忠誠以て君国に報ぜん。
• 我等皇国臣民は互に信愛協力し、以て団結を固くせん。
• 我等皇国臣民は忍苦鍛錬力を養い以て皇道を宣揚せん。
• We are subjects of the Great Empire of Japan.
• We are united in our hearts in our loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor.
• We will persevere and train ourselves to become a fine and strong people.
• We are subjects of the Imperial State, and we will repay the sovereign nation with loyalty.
• We, the subjects of the Imperial State, shall love and cooperate with each other, and thus solidify our unity.
• We, the subjects of the Imperial State, shall cultivate the power of endurance and discipline, and thereby proclaim the Imperial Way.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) March 16, 1944

Righteousness and Tears Behind the Rice Contribution

A Military Grandma, a Devoted Imperial Subject, Offers Up Her Beloved Child

A Beautiful Story Found in a Farming Village

By Special Correspondent Kiyohara

As a member of the special news dispatch team sent by the Korean Federation of National Power, I participated in the "Total National Mobilization Rally to Destroy the U.S. and Britain" from February 22, starting in Gando Township (myeon) (간동면, 看東面), Junghwa County, South Pyeongan Province, and continued for about two weeks in one town (eup) and six townships. During this time, I sought to understand the genuine spirit of how the farming villages were living and fighting. In my spare moments, I visited the farmers, rich with the fragrance of the earth, and heard stories of righteousness and tears from a police chief, and moving stories such as that of a military mother who offered her beloved child to the Imperial Nation. Here, I will recount my report.

One day in Seonso Township (선소면, 仙沼面), Suncheon County, South Pyeongan Province: Through the deep snow, or along the cold windswept mountain roads and fields, they continued to carry the heavy rice sacks loaded on carts, chanting “Essah, Essah!” From spring to summer, and from summer to fall, they overcame the shortage of fertilizer and battled against nature. The sweat they shed was crystallized into rice, nurtured by the land that they were entrusted with by the Emperor. It was this rice that became food for the soldiers and sustenance for the warriors of increased production. This is why they joyfully and proudly contributed it.

On the day of contribution, not even half the scheduled amount of rice had been delivered. Surprised, the township chief went to consult with Inspector Izumi at the local police station. The inspector, with a strong sense of responsibility, said, "The brave soldiers of the Imperial Army on the front lines are enduring battles for three or four days on just pickled plums. It is truly regrettable that the assigned quantity of rice cannot be delivered. This is shameful to our nation."

However, he added, "But we cannot force the farmers to provide more rice. The farmers are working with all their might, demonstrating their utmost sincerity. I have heard that during last spring's period of hardship, some people even ate roots to survive. They too must be suffering greatly."

The township chief, determined to request the farmers' cooperation once again, went to the meeting hall where they had gathered. Stirred by a fiery and burning fighting spirit surging through his entire body, he reported Inspector Izumi's heartfelt concern for the people of the township. He pleaded, "I am not asking you to force yourselves to contribute. But is this truly enough? Can we disregard the inspector’s tears?"

Moved by these words, a bearded farmer, with both cheeks flushed with emotion, cried out, "Everyone, until now, we have only thought of policemen as those who scold and beat us. Never in our wildest dreams did we think there was someone who would think so deeply and seriously about the plight of the farmers. For this inspector, we should not only offer rice, but also be willing to give our very lives!"

All of the township residents in attendance agreed, entrusting the responsibility of the contribution to the righteous and compassionate inspector and township chief. Fueled by a spirit of die-hard loyalty to the nation, they loaded their carts with the rice they had kept to feed themselves for the year. Fathers pulled, sons pushed, and some came from four ri (about 16 km) away, while others braved the frigid wind on slopes with a 45-degree incline. They heard the cries of pheasants in the distance as they continued to carry the rice late into the night, each one shouting, "Me too! Me too!"

By the time the night was over, rice sacks had been piled high in front of the township office. Nearly the entire scheduled amount had been delivered in a single day, and they had proudly fulfilled their responsibility to contribute.

Behind the leadership of the admirable Inspector Izumi stands another figure of selfless devotion: Police Chief Tatsuichi Hiramatsu of the Suncheon Police Station.

Last winter, a telegram arrived at Chief Hiramatsu's desk with the message, "Mother critically ill, return at once." The chief, known for his particularly strong filial piety, was ready to rush to his ailing mother's side. However, he thought to himself, "We are in a decisive battle. Public duties cannot be neglected, not for a single day, not even for an hour. The greater duty overrides one's personal obligations." With this thought, he bit his lip and threw his body and soul into his official duties, standing firm in the face of the enemy. A week later, another telegram arrived, bearing the message, "Mother has passed away."

The chief sat in silent meditation for a while, then clasped his hands together in prayer toward his hometown. After wiring money to cover his mother’s funeral expenses, he returned to his work with the same dedication as before, moving his fellow officers deeply.

When the reporter visited as part of the special news dispatch team, Chief Hiramatsu's beloved infant was suffering from a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Yet, he refused to neglect the crucial duties of the "Total National Mobilization Rally" for personal matters. Entrusting the care of his child to his loving wife, he left his home. Despite suffering from frostbite, which made walking difficult, he accompanied the reporter on foot for a round trip of five ri (about 20 km) along the mountainous path within the town (eup) to Bukchang Township (북창면, 北倉面), fulfilling his duties. This fervent devotion to his work, even at the cost of personal sacrifice, has become a silent yet powerful lesson for all the station's officers.

◇

In Gando Township, Junghwa County, South Pyeongan Province, there is a remarkable woman who offered up her beloved son as a shield for the nation, and she studies the national anthem "Kimigayo" and the Imperial Subjects' Oath by writing them in the Korean alphabet (Hangul).

Tanzan Kōzō (aged 57), from 87-Jiseok-ri (지석리, 支石里), Gando Township, Junghwa County, South Pyeongan Province, is the mother of four sons. One of them, Shōgorō (aged 26), bravely set off last September as an army civilian employee headed for the South Pacific. Two months later, he returned home in silence, having made the ultimate sacrifice. However, despite her son's tragic return, she never showed the slightest hint of sorrow or a dark expression to those who visited her. Instead, she would say, "He perished soon after setting off, without the chance to plant the Hinomaru Japanese flag in enemy territory. I worry that he may have died from illness on the ship. That is my only concern, and I feel terribly sorry toward His Majesty for that."

Believing that the first and foremost duty of the 25 million Korean compatriots, as Imperial subjects, is to cultivate their spirits, she has transcribed "Kimigayo" and the Imperial Subjects' Oath into Hangul and recites them day and night. Although she only knows Hangul and is unfamiliar with the Japanese language or its characters, her passionate patriotism has moved many. Her example inspired a surge in volunteer applications for military service, overwhelming those from other townships.

Photo: Mrs. Tanzan Kōzō

[Transcription]

京城日報 1944年3月16日

供出の蔭に義と涙

愛児捧げ、皇民一筋の軍国ばあさん

農村に拾う美わしき挿話

【清原本社特派員記】国民総力朝鮮聯盟派遣の報道特別挺身隊員として二月二十二日から平南中和郡看東面を皮切りに約二週間に亘り一邑六面の米英撃滅国民総蹶起大会に参加した。そして農村は如何に生き如何に戦っているが、そのいつわらぬ姿を求めようとひまを見つけては土の香り高い農民を温突に訪れ、義と涙の巡査部長や愛児を皇国に捧げた軍国の母の佳話などを耳にした。その報告記をここに綴ろう。

雪深い或は寒風の唸る山道や野原をどっしりと重い米俵を荷車に満載してエッサエッサと運びつづける春から夏、夏から秋にかけ肥料不足を克服し、自然と闘って得た汗の結晶も大君からお預かりしている大地が育みそだてたお米と思えばこそ、兵糧になり、増産戦士の糧になると思えばこそ喜びと誇りをもっての供出なのだ。平南順川郡仙沼面でのある一日である。

供出日というのに運ばれた米は予定数量の半分にもならない。驚いた面長はどうしたものかと駐在所の泉巡査部長を尋ねた。巡査部長は、「第一線の皇軍勇士は梅干しで三日も四日も戦をしのいでいるというのに、割り当てられた数量の供出が出来ないとは全くなげかわしい。これでは、お国に申し訳ない」と強い責任観念の一端をひらめかし、「だが農民にもっともっと米を出せと強いるわけにはゆかない。百姓も力一杯働き力一杯赤誠を示しているのだ。去年の春窮期には草の根を食糧にした者もあったそうだ。彼等もさぞ苦しいだろう」

面長は今一度農民に協力を要望して見ようと農民の集っている集会場に足を運び、鉄火と燃える闘魂を五体に沸らして泉部長の面民を思う真情を報告し、「無理に供出せよとはいわぬ。しかしこれでよいか。部長の涙をそのまま無にしてもよかろうか」と訴えると髭面の一百姓が感激に両頬を紅潮させて、「皆の衆、我々は今まで警察官とは叱りつけ、なぐりつける人とばかり思っていたが、百姓のことをそんなに真剣に深く考えてくれる方がおるとは夢にも思わなかった。この部長なら米は愚か命までも捧げようではないか」と叫び全面民はこれに賛成し供出後のことは義と涙の部長、面長に一任し、一年間の糧となる自家保有米を殉国の一念に燃えて車に満載し、父は引き息子は押して或者は四里も遠くから、或者は四十五度位の傾斜の峠を寒風に乗って聞こえる雉の泣き声を耳にしながら深夜まで”我も我も”と持ち運び面事務所の前には米俵が山と積まれ一日で予定数量に殆ど近い数字を示し供出の責任を立派に果たした。

このよき指導者泉部長の蔭にはこれまた滅私奉公の署長がおる。順川警察暑平松辰一署長である。この署長の机に『ハハキトク、スグカヘレ』の電報がどとけられたのは昨冬のことである。人一倍孝行心の強い所長は今にも病母の膝元へ駈けつけたが”決戦下だ。公務は一日も否一時間も休めない。大義親を滅すというではないか”と唇を噛んで敵前執務に身も魂も打ち込んだが、それから一週間後には『ハハシス』との電報が入った。しばらく瞑想していた署長は故郷に向かって合掌ののち母の葬儀費を電送したのち、またも従前通り働き署員を感激せしめた。

記者が報道挺身隊として訪れたときも、可愛い赤ん坊が四十度の高熱でうなっていたが国民総蹶起大会という大事な仕事を私事で怠ってはと後事を愛妻に託して家を後にし而も足が凍傷で歩きにくいのにも拘わらず、邑内から北倉面まで片道二里半の山道を記者とともに徒歩で往復し任務を果たした。この職務に殉せんとの熱意が全署員に無言の教訓を垂れているのである。

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平南中和郡看東面には愛息の醜の御楯と捧げ自分は国歌『君が代』や皇国臣民の誓詞を朝鮮諺文で書いて勉強する奇篤なおばさんがおる。平南中和郡看東面支石里八七丹山光三さん（五七）は四男まで設けたが、その中、祥五郎君（二六）が陸軍軍属として昨夏九月に南海に向けて勇躍出発。それから二ヶ月後に無言の凱旋をしたが、訪れる者に対しては暗い顔色は微塵も見せず返って『あれが征ってから間もなく散華したので、日の丸を敵陣に立てることも出来ず、途中船で病死したのではないかと只それが心配だし、且つ大君に申し訳ないと思っています』と答えそれから二千五万同胞が皇国臣民として重責を完うするにはまず魂の錬成が肝要だと『君が代』や皇国臣民の誓詞を諺文で表音して日夜唱えている。国語は勿論文字とても諺文しか知らないおばさんの愛国の熱情に感動し志願兵の応募数も他面を断然圧倒したという。

【写真＝丹山光三さん】

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-03-16/page/n1/mode/1up

Japanese Keijo Nippo reporters interviewed Korean abductee held captive in May 1939 by Kim Il-sung’s Korean communist guerrillas in Taehongdan (대홍단, 大紅湍)-the fighters mostly conversed in Chinese, abducted young men for recruiting, beheaded comrades for breaking strict male-female conduct rules

I found these remarkable 1939 Japanese articles about Kim Il-sung and his comrades in Keijo Nippo (Gyeongseong Ilbo), the official propaganda newspaper of the Imperial Japanese colonial regime that governed Korea from 1905 to 1945. The article from June 23, 1939 takes us on an interesting journey into the aftermath of the Battle of Taehongdan of May 1939, offering a unique perspective that has long been overshadowed by the North Korean account of this historical event.

Colonial security forces standing in front of Mr. Horimoto's home, which was raided by Kim Il-sung's men in May 1939.

What sets the June 23rd article apart is its exclusive interview with a Korean abductee who spent five harrowing days in captivity with none other than Kim Il-sung's band of guerrilla fighters. While the North Korean narrative has dominated online discussions, we now have a rare opportunity to compare it with the Imperial Japanese account of what transpired during that fateful battle.

One intriguing parallel that emerges is the number of casualties. Kim Il-sung's "Reminiscences" state that there were two injuries and one fatality on his side, as documented in Volume 7, page 187. In contrast, the Korean abductee's account reveals that 2 or 3 guerrillas were injured, with one of them severely. However, the Korean abductee goes a step further by providing fascinating insights, such as the revelation that the working language of the guerrillas was predominantly Chinese. Surprisingly, they only switched to Korean when communicating with the Korean abductee, who couldn't converse in Chinese.

This revelation seems to challenge Kim Il-sung's apparent need for a member fluent in Chinese to act as a liaison with ethnic Chinese in southern Manchuria, as implied in pages 82-83 of Volume 7 of his "Reminiscences." Indeed, according to Soviet archives, when Kim arrived in Korea in August 1945, his Korean was not very good, though he was fluent in Chinese and conversant in Russian, and he had to be fed a speech to learn and practice reading aloud in Korean (Source: The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future by Victor Cha). The question arises: why did Kim Il-sung conceal the fact that his group primarily communicated in Chinese during this period?

Another eye-opening aspect of the Korean abductee's testimony is the use of abduction as a recruitment tool to bolster their ranks with young individuals. Furthermore, we have an account from a Japanese abductee featured in another newspaper article published a few days earlier than the one describing Taehongdan, though it provides fewer details and focuses mainly on Kim Il-sung's appearance.

These extraordinary articles opens up a treasure trove of historical insights and raises thought-provoking questions about the Battle of Taehongdan and Kim Il-sung's guerrilla forces. Here is a link to the English copy of the Reminiscences of Kim Il Sung on the Marxists website. Select the Volume 7 and search the PDF for 'Taehongdan' for the relevant passages.

[Translation]

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) June 23, 1939

Anti-Bandit Frontline Reconnaissance (6)

The Bandits are Mostly Young Men

We hear from the abductees about the daily lives of the bandits

The Final Course

Since the tenth was the anniversary of that incident, everyone unusually gathered at eight in the morning. Now we headed to our final destination: Taehongdan (대홍단, 大紅湍) in the innermost part of the foot of Mount Jangsan (장산령, 長山嶺). We got on a truck, and the journey began in Samjang (삼장, 三長). Diverging from the riverbank road at Samsang-dong (삼상동, 三上洞), we followed the small streams, enduring the truck's violent rolling for several hours on treacherous mountain roads. Just before noon, we arrived at Kaetak-dong (개탁동, 開拓洞). During the journey, we were guarded by several security personnel, including Deputy Police Chief Shiramizu, who had joined us from Samsang-dong, and they also pushed the truck when it stalled.

Kaetak-dong is a rafting area for Northern Korean Paper Manufacturing, where about 50 raftsmen live. On the 24th of last month, it suffered the most significant damage in the recent incident when bandits attacked and abducted head raftsman Sakamoto Tetsuji (age 35) and around twenty others, plundering 900 yen in cash. Today, Mr. Horimoto's house, one of the places attacked by the bandits, stands forlornly deserted on a corner of the riverbank.

We were welcomed here by Deputy Police Chief Shimatsu (Elite Provincial Division), and after trekking for another two Ri (7.9 km) on terrible roads, we arrived at Taehongdan. We paid a consolation visit to the Shimatsu squad, immediately turned around our vehicle, and returned to Kaetak-dong. While dwelling on the past in the vacant house of Mr. Horimoto, a victim of the vividly distressing bandit attack, we ate our "Hinomaru" bento boxes. Here, we gathered around Kim Jae-ho (김재호, 金在濠) (age 42), who was abducted by bandits for five days, underwent hardships deep in the dense forest, and recently managed to escape. We listened to his testimony, an honest eyewitness account of the bandits' daily life. Here is a summary:

Abductee's Account

Q: What were the circumstances when you were abducted?

A: The bandits stormed into my house and immediately told me to carry some things and follow them. They forced me to carry rice and chestnuts, and took me away.

Q: What kind of weapons did they have?

A: They had unusually long guns, regular rifles, short pistols, and long swords.

Q: What were they talking about?

A: Initially they spoke in Chinese, so I could not understand them.

Q: What did they look like?

A: They were mostly young men under 30. There were six women among them who wore a top that resembled a military uniform and a bottom like a Korean Chima (skirt).

Q: What happened when they encountered the security forces and engaged in combat?

A: While they were fleeing, they encountered the security forces and fought four or five times. They just kept telling us to run and pulled us along aimlessly.

Q: How many casualties did the bandits have?

A: Two or three were wounded near the Cheonwang-dang (천왕당, 天王堂) area in Taehongdan. One was severely injured, and one of the abductees had to carry him.

Q: How many bandits were there?

A: They were divided into several groups of about ten people each. When the sun set, many more gathered from all around the foot of Mount Jangsan. I did not count, but there might have been about 300. They set up 13 tents and slept there. The tents were larger than this house and had a large furnace set up in the center, and they guarded the perimeter. About thirty people were staying in each tent.

Q: What did they feed you?

A: They gave us porridge made of chestnuts and steamed barley, which tasted terrible. But I had no choice but to eat because I was starving.

Q: Did they abuse you? And did they speak any Korean?

A: They did not beat me. When they realized I did not understand Chinese, they started speaking in Korean with an accent that seemed like it was from around Pyeonganbuk-do.

Q: What were the bandits mostly talking about?

A: There were around 30 abductees, and they were strongly encouraged to join their ranks. They did not say anything to the older ones like us, but they seemed to be brainwashing the young with communism. Every morning, everyone gathered around the tent, and someone who appeared to be the leader (or Kim Il-sung) gave some instructions in Chinese.

Strict Male-Female Relations

Q: What about the bandits' male-female relations?

A: I am not sure, but they were very strict. I heard that anyone who broke the prohibition was routinely beheaded.

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Although these may be superficial observations, this fragmented Q&A does seem to provide some sense of their daily lives.

[Photo = The house in Kaetak-dong of Mr. Horimoto, who was attacked by the bandits]

Gyeongseong Ilbo June 3, 1939

Astonished by Female Bandits

Kim Il-sung was a Gentleman

A Kidnap Victim Shares His Experience

[Telephone Report from Ranam] On the 22nd of last month, a person who had been kidnapped by bandits in the jurisdiction of the Samjang Police Station returned and spoke about the interesting inner workings of the bandits, based on his experiences of living with them deep in the mountains for over ten days.

One surprising thing was the presence of many female bandits among them, not just men as he had initially thought. These people are primarily ethnic Koreans from the Gando region and usually handle cooking and sewing for the bandits.

It was unique that they cook rice in a washbasin, but it was also surprising that they skillfully made Western clothes and combat hats using a proper hand-operated sewing machine. All of them uniformly expressed nostalgia for their homeland and said they wanted to return to Korea as soon as possible.

He met the leader who introduced himself as Kim Il-sung. Kim was a fair-skinned, good-looking man in his thirties, about 5 shaku and 5 or 6 sun tall (167 to 170 cm tall). He was bald, wore a combat hat, dressed in brown woolen clothes, and wore jika-tabi footwear.

[Transcription]

京城日報 1939年6月23日

討匪戦線縦走（６）

匪賊は若者揃い

被拉致者から彼等の日常を聴く

最終コースへ

十日は時の記念日だというので、一同珍しく朝の八時に勢揃いした。いよいよ最後のコース。長山山麓最奥大紅湍へ向けトラックに便乗して三長を進発。江岸道路を三上洞から分岐して小江満水に沿い、物凄い山道をトラックの激しいローリングに悩まされながら進行を続けること数時間。十二時少し前、開拓洞に到着。この間警護のため三上洞から同乗した白水警部補一行数名の警備員を煩わしてえんこしたトラックの後押しをする。

開拓洞は北鮮製紙の筏場で五十名ばかりの筏夫が住んでいるが、去る二十四日匪賊に襲撃され筏夫頭の坂本鉄治（三五）さんをはじめ二十数名の筏夫達が拉致され、現金九百円を掠奪されたという今事件中最大の被害地、江岸の一角に匪賊に襲われたという問題の堀本氏の家が今は主もなくわびしくたたずんでいる。

ここまで出迎えた、志摩津警部補（道高等課）一行と共に更に悪路を遡ること約二里、大紅湍に到着。志摩津部隊を慰問、直ちに車を返して開拓洞に戻り、匪襲事件の惨禍も生々しい被拉致者堀本氏の空き家で往時を偲びつつ日の丸弁当を頬張り、五日間匪賊に拉致されて密林の奥深く苦行を積み最近逃げ帰って来たという金在濠（四二）なる男を囲んで体験談を聴いた。これこそ真に偽らざる匪賊の日常生活の目撃談である。以下その概要：

被拉致者の話

問：拉致される時の状況はどうであったか？

答：匪賊は大挙して私の家を襲い、いきなりこれをもってついて来いてこいと、米と栗を背負わされ、無理やりに引き立てられた。

問：どんな武器を持っていたか？

答：妙に長い鉄砲と普通の小銃と短いピストルと長い刀を持っていた。

問：どんな話をしていたか？

答：初めは支那語で話していたので、何を言っているか分らなかった。

問：どんな恰好をしていたか？

答：匪賊は大概三十歳以下の若い者ばかりで、中には女が六人いた。着物は上衣は軍服のような洋服を着て、下は朝鮮のチマのようなものをはいていた。

問：警備隊と遭遇して交戦したが、その時の模様はどうであったか？

答：逃げる途中、四回か五回遭遇して交戦したが、奴らは唯逃げろ逃げろと私達を引きたくって無暗に逃げ廻るばかりだった。

問：匪賊にどの位の損害があったか？

答：大紅湍の天王堂附近で二三名負傷したが、一人は可なりな重傷で拉致者の誰かが背負わされた。

問：匪賊の数はどの位だったか？

答：十人ばかりを一団として数団体あったが、日が暮れると長山岳あたりに、あちらこちらから沢山集まって来た。数えて見なかったが、大方三百人位は居ただろうと思う。そして天幕を十三張ってみんなその中に寝泊りしていた。天幕はこの家よりも大きく中央に大きな炉を拵らえて、そのぐるりに護たか、一つの幕舎に三十人ばかり入っていた。

問：どんな物を食わしたか？

答：栗やら蒸し麥のお粥でとてもまずくて食べられなかったが、腹が空いて仕方がないのでどうにか食べられた。

問：いじめなかったか？そして、朝鮮語は全然話さなかったか？

答：別に殴りはしなかった。支那語が判らないというと、後からは朝鮮語で話していた。その朝鮮語は平北あたりのなまりがあるように思った。

問：匪賊は主としてどんな話をしていたか？

答：拉致された者がおよそ三十人ばかりいたが、一人一人に、お前はもう朝鮮に帰らずに俺達の仲間に入れと盛んにすすめていた。私共のような年寄りには何もいわなかったが、若い者には盛んに共産主義を吹き込んでいるようだった。そして毎朝、幕舎の前にみんな集って頭目らしいのが（或いは金日成が）何か盛んに支那語で訓示していた。

男女関係は厳重

問：匪賊達の男女関係はどうか？

答：よくわからないが、非常に厳重だ、ということだった。そしてその禁を破った者が度度打首にされたという話も聞いた。

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浅薄な観察ではあるが、この断片的な問答によって彼等の日常生活の概要が判るような気がする。

【写真＝匪賊に襲われた開拓洞の堀本氏の家】

京城日報 1939年6月3日

女匪賊に吃驚

金日成とは、やさ男

被拉致者の見聞談

【羅南電話】去る二十二日三長警察署管内で匪賊に拉致されたものが帰ってきて密林の奥深く匪賊とともに暮らした十余日間の経験に基き興味ある彼等の内幕を次の如く語っている。

匪賊は男だけかと思ったらどうして驚いたことは、沢山の女匪賊がいることである。彼等は主に間島出身の鮮人でいつもは匪賊の炊事と針仕事をやっている。

洗面器で飯を焚いているのも珍しいが、立派な手ミシンをもっていて器用に洋服や戦闘帽などを作っているのも驚かされた。彼らは皆一様に国が懐かしい、早く朝鮮に帰りたいとこぼしていた。

自分は頭目の金日成だというのに逢ったが彼はまだ三十位の色の白い優男で身長は五尺五六寸、頭は丸坊主で戦闘帽を冠り、茶色の羅紗服をきて地下足袋を穿いていた。

[Sources]

• https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1939-06-03/page/n10/mode/1up
• https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1939-06-23/page/n10/mode/1up
• https://www.marxists.org/archive/kim-il-sung/autobio/index.htm