Korean high school student uses anonymous tip box to rat out fellow student who spoke Korean at school (Dongduk Girls' High School in Seoul, June 1942)

 

Notes: In 1942, students at Dongduk Girls' High School in Seoul were using an anonymous tip box to rat out fellow students who were speaking Korean in school. According to this Japanese language academic paper, as of May 1943, there were 711 Korean students and 25 teachers at Dongduk Girls' High School. Of the 25 teachers, 21 were ethnic Korean (11 men, 10 women), and 4 were ethnic Japanese (2 men, 2 women). （see http://hdl.handle.net/10112/2235)

(My translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), June 3, 1942, page 4

A "treasure box" to encourage the use of the Japanese language / Dongduk High School girls implement a strange idea

Those whose name tags are placed in this box will be disgraced as unworthy of being subjects of the Imperial State. ・・・・ The "Hogoku Box" at Dongduk Girls' High School in Changsin-dong, which has been in operation since the start of the Greater East Asian War, has been steadily showing its effectiveness as a treasure box of reflection for throwing in the names of students who have mistakenly used the Korean language. On the first day of opening the box, no first, second, or third-year students, and only two fourth-year students were found to have mistakenly used the Korean language, which was a good result. The school's principal, Hayashikawa Toshoku, who conceived the idea, said the following: (Photo: Hogoku Box)

"I thought it would be better to cultivate students' awareness of the importance of using the Japanese language rather than forcing them to do so, so I encouraged each class to make a "Hogoku Box" under the supervision of the teacher at the regular morning meeting. In this box, the name of the student who mistakenly used Korean was thrown in, and the box was to be opened every Monday, with the students supervising each other. This method will gradually be extended to outside the school and even to the students' homes. Since students are not supposed to respond to anyone who speaks to them in Korean outside of the school, we would like to ask for the cooperation of the general public."

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-06-03/page/n2/mode/1up

Reddit Link: Korean high school student uses anonymous tip box to rat out fellow student who spoke Korean at school (Dongduk Girls' High School in Seoul, June 1942) : korea (reddit.com)

(Transcription into modern Japanese orthography)

「京城日報」1942年6月3日付4面

国語奨励の”宝箱”／同徳高女が妙案を実施

この箱に名札を入れられた人は、皇国臣民として不名誉です。・・・・大東亜戦以来実施している昌信町同徳高女の『報国箱』は、誤つて朝鮮語を用いた生徒の名を投げ入れる反省の宝箱として着々とその効を現し、一日の開箱日には一、二、三年生は一人も朝鮮語誤用者がなく、僅か四年生に二人という好成績をみせた。これを創案した同校校長林川東植氏は語る。【写真＝報国箱】

『国語常用は強制するより、生徒自身の自覚を養う方が宜しいと思いましたので、毎朝の常会で各組を単位に、先生監督の下に『報国箱』というのを作ることを励行させました。この箱の中には誤つて朝鮮語を用いた生徒の名を投げ入れ、毎週月曜日に開けることとなっているのですが、お互いに監督しあうところに特色があります。この方法は次第に校外や生徒の家庭にも及ぼして行く考えですが、校外では一切生徒が朝鮮語で話しかけられても返事をしないことになっておりますから、一般の方々にも御協力を願いたいと存じます。』

This 1942 stuttering correction seminar for Korean children involves Japanese vowel practice, abdominal training, and "infusing the Japanese spirit deep into the children's hearts"

 

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) August 5, 1942

Go out to the Co-Prosperity Sphere as a Human Resource

Resurrecting Correct Pronunciation

Thirty Stuttering Children Burning with Hope

The battle for the East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere is also a "battle of words". Understanding that even the best of bodies and brains are plagued by stuttering, Mr. Hiroshi Kasama, the president of the Shimonoseki Stuttering Academy, has been holding the "3rd Stuttering Correction Seminar" at the auditorium of Seoul Namsan National School since July 22 with the support of the Korean Education Association. 

"Everyone, it's necessary to practice saying the vowels a-i-u-e-o out loud, but the most important thing is to train your abdomen." He has been teaching stuttering correction for decades, and this precious experience has infused the Japanese spirit deep into the children's hearts. The thirty children mastered "correct pronunciation" with bright eyes. On the fourth, last day of the class, the youngest student on the stage, Im Bujeom, a second-year student at Gangnam National School, finished speaking fluently and was applauded by everyone. He was filled with a sense of joy and embarrassment as he left the stage.

At 1:00 p.m., the closing ceremony was held in the presence of Mr. Bando, Superintendent of the Governor's Office, Mr. Miyano, Director of the School Affairs Division of Seoul, and 100 parents and guardians. There was a progress report, presentation of the members' accomplishments, instructions by Mr. Kasama the lecturer, a congratulatory address by the guest of honor, a reply by Mr. Itano the general representative of the members, self-introductions by the members, talks and dialogues with the elementary school students, and talks and textual discussions with the middle school students. The meeting was closed at 3:00 p.m. after a lively question and answer session with the parents and guardians, including one mother who was moved to tears at the sight of her child's progress saying, "Oh my, that's my child!" Photo: Stuttering Workshop

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-08-05/page/n5/mode/1up

Reddit Link: This 1942 stuttering correction seminar for Korean children involves Japanese vowel practice, abdominal training, and "infusing the Japanese spirit deep into the children's hearts" : KoreanHistory (reddit.com)

京城日報　昭和十七年八月五日

征け共栄圏の人材として

正しい発音に甦る

希望に燃える吃音少年三十名

東亜共栄圏の戦いは”コトバの闘い”でもある。優秀な肉体も頭脳も「吃音」という習癖に災されては人的資源の上からもと下関吃音学院長笠間広氏が「私が見事に治してみせましょう」と朝鮮教育会後援でさる二十二日から京城南山国民学校講堂に「第三回吃音矯正講習会」を開いている。

「皆さん、アイウエオを口に出して物いう稽古も必要だが、吃音には何よりまず腹をねることが大切です」。吃音教育数十年の尊い体験は日本精神の沈着性を胸底深く吹き込み、三十名の少年たちは明るい瞳を輝かせて「正しい発音」を征服して四日はその最後の講習日、壇上に立った最年少者江南国民学校二年林部点君など見事にスラスラと「話し方」を終ってみんなの拍手を浴びる。嬉しい恥ずかしさを身に一杯にして降壇した。

午後一時から総督府坂東視学官、京城府宮野学務課長ほか来賓父兄百名の臨席の下に閉会式が行われ、経過報告、会員の成績発表、笠間講師の訓示、来賓祝辞、会員総代板野君の答辞についで、会員の自己紹介があり、初等学校児童の談話、対話、中等学校生の文章解説、談話、父兄との質疑応答に賑わい「これがまアあの児でしょうか…」と吾が子の更生の姿に感涙にむせぶ母親などの情景を見せて同三時閉会した。【写真＝吃音講習会】

In Japan-occupied Korea, Koreans often spoke Japanese using phrases and grammar from regional Japanese dialects that they picked up from colonial settlers - mandatory language classes made them unlearn these "vulgar colloquialisms" and speak standard Japanese

 

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), June 27, 1942

Shunning the adding of "shi" at the ends of sentences

The Eighth Regular Japanese Language Meeting of Maizuru Girls' High School

Showing off their bowl haircuts, the girls at Maizuru Girls' High School have been holding a regular meeting in public on the Japanese language since November last year in order to find an ethical solution to the suppression of their bad dialectal speech patterns. These suppression efforts have been showing effectiveness with the passing of each meeting and have suddenly become the focus of attention by the educational world in recent days. At the eighth regular meeting of the Japanese language held at 1:00 p.m. on the 25th, more than 80 people, including principals and staff members from public and private girls' schools in Seoul, as well as from Suwon, Kaesong, and Incheon public and private girls' schools, visited the meeting and listened carefully to the proceedings. The meeting was selected as a valuable research resource for the determination of the best future policy for teaching the Japanese language in the Korean peninsula.

As usual, the regular meeting was presided over by one of the school's top students, and with five student stenographers in attendance, the following 450 students gathered in the auditorium to report on the bad words that they had picked up from each other over the past month and to correct them, with the emphasis on "let's correctly use the Japanese language". In particular, they were deeply concerned about vulgar colloquialisms that originated from dialects, and sought to shed light on the belief that the imperialization of the peninsula could only be achieved by starting with a correct Japanese language, which would hasten the foundation of reconciliation between Korea and Japan. Completely attacked were dialectal phrases from certain regions of Japan proper, including the addition of "shi" at the ends of sentences such as "sugoi-shi" (It's great) and "namaikida-shi" (He/she is insolent).

Even the teachers were impressed by the girls' valiant efforts in the Japanese language, which they had never seen before. Once the meeting ended at 4:00 pm, the guests once again shared their excitement about the regular meeting, and leaving with a lasting impression, the attendees dispersed at 5:00 pm. Photo: Japanese Language Roundtable Discussion

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-06-27/page/n3/mode/1up

Reddit Link: In Japan-occupied Korea, Koreans often spoke Japanese using phrases and grammar from regional Japanese dialects that they picked up from colonial settlers - mandatory language classes made them unlearn these "vulgar colloquialisms" and speak standard Japanese : korea (reddit.com)

(Transcription)

京城日報　昭和十七年六月二十七日

語尾の”シ”を敬遠

舞鶴高女の第八回国語常会

お河童頭を振り立てて世に講義する少女達の悪方言弾圧に倫理を発見して昨年十一月から試みられていた京城公立舞鶴高等女学校の国語常会は回を重ねる毎に、その効果をもたらして最近俄かに教育界注目の的となったが、二十五日午後一時から開かれたその第八回国語常会に際しては京城府内各公私立女学校校長並びに職員はじめ遠く水原、開城、仁川各公私立女学校からも校長以下総勢八十余名が見学して、つぶさに常会の模様を傾聴、今後の半島国語常用化の具体的な指導最高方針決定のための貴重な研究資料として、その対照に選ばれることとなった。

常会は例によって同校最高学年生の一人によって司会が行われ、五名の速記学生を配して以下四百五十名の生徒が講堂に集まって一ヶ月間に互いに拾い集めた悪い言葉を報告し合って、それを矯正し「正しい国語を正しく使いましょう」に重点を置いて進んだのであったが、この言葉の中でも殊に方言によって生れた下品な慣用語を深く警戒し、半島の皇国臣民化は全く正しき国語より出発してこそ内鮮融和の基を早めるものであるとの信念に光りを求め、「スゴイシ」「ナマイキダシ」の語尾に「シ」を用いる内地のある地方の方言用語も、ここでは完膚ないまでに攻撃をうけてしまった。

これには並みいる先生方も初めてみる少女達の国語への敢闘に思わず感激の声を放ち、同四時終了を待ち兼ねて来賓一同改めて常会見学の感想を述べ合い、醒めぬ感激を残して五時散会した。【写真＝国語座談会】

February 1943, Seoul high school girls perform group calisthenics to prepare to become mothers of strong Imperial Japanese soldiers

 

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 6, 1943

Behold our training!

Gallantly doing group calisthenics

Seoul No. 1 High School girls aiming to be mothers of healthy soldiers

As the clock struck eleven in the morning, the loudspeaker above the entrance to the school building played a heroic marching song that echoed loudly throughout the school grounds. All the girls, dressed in their dignified Monpe work pants, gathered in the schoolyard at once.

It only took three minutes, but the strict training of Seoul No. 1 Girls' High School began　with the electrifying assembly. The girls' calisthenics exercises were carried out with the blood of the maidens boiling and overflowing in the line of fire. 

The girls' calisthenics exercises, which create a strong power and a robust spirit for striving to become mothers of healthy soldiers, become a ball of fire and cultivate a solid unity that overcomes any difficulties and pushes forward.

Stretch your arms out as far as you can. Stomp your feet. Once you say it's boring, you're out. But with a single command, they can move their own bodies freely. The limbs of one thousand one hundred maidens move in unison. The unrestrained extension of their bodies is controlled by a single will. It may be painful. But when you think that the people in front of you and behind you are doing the same thing, you feel a different kind of power surging through you.

The self that blends into the group. The group! The group! The self moves the group by fully fulfilling its own responsibilities. When you feel this, the joy that rises up in you arouses a new power. This power will not die even when you are alone. It is quick, unyielding, and bold. This is how the bodies and minds of the girls are forged through strong exercises worthy of "mothers of healthy soldiers".

A mere twenty minutes of group calisthenics have such power.　If these were just exercises to merely shake their arms and legs, they would not be training or health exercises. In this school, girls' school calisthenics have been carried out for eight years without a day off, even on days of severe cold and heat, and have borne fruit in terms of training. (Photo: Group calisthenics)

Remarks by the leader, School Principal Kajiwara

"Training should not be conducted like fireworks. The effects of the training can only be achieved through constant and unbending practice. In addition to calisthenics, I am going to have the students do dry towel rubdown therapy or cold water friction therapy at home every morning when they wake up. This is also a form of training."

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-02-06

Reddit Link: February 1943, Seoul high school girls perform group calisthenics to prepare to become mothers of strong Imperial Japanese soldiers : KoreanHistory (reddit.com)

(Transcription)

京城日報　昭和十八年二月六日

拝見”我らの錬成”

颯爽と集団体操

”健兵の母”目指す第一高女生

時計の針が午前十一時を指すと、校舎の玄関の上にある拡声器から勇壮な行進曲が流れ、校庭の隅々にまで高らかに響き渡ると凛々しくモンペ姿に身を固めた全女生徒は一斉に校庭に集結する。

それ迄が僅か三分間、電撃的集合から京城第一高等女学校の厳しい修養錬成は始まる。”女学校体操”が潤み溢れる銃後乙女の血潮を沸らせて繰りあげられる。

健兵の母を目指して強靭な威力と剛健な精神を生み出す”女学校体操”は一塊の火の玉となってどんな難関をも克服、突き進む固い団結心を培う。

両手を思いきり伸ばす。足を踏んまえる。つまらないといえばそれまでだ。然し号令一つで自己の肉体を自由に動かす。千百名の乙女の四肢が一律に動く。奔放な伸び盛りの肉体を一つの意志で統御してゆく。苦しいかもしれない。だが前の人も後の人も同じ動作を行っていると思えば、また自ら異なった沸き上がる力を感ずるのだ。

集団、集団、集団の中に融けこんでゆく自己。その自己は自分の責務を完全に果たすことによって集団を動かしてゆく。そう感じた時に突き上がって来る歓喜が新しい力をよび起すのだ。その力は一人になっても死なない。敏速、不屈、果敢。”健兵の母”たるべき剛操の心身はかくて鍛えられてゆく。

僅か二十分間の集団体操は、こんな力を秘めているのだ。単に手足を振り動かすだけの体操ならば、それは健康法であっても錬成ではない。この学校では”女学校体操”を既に八年前から厳寒、酷暑の日でも一日も休まず実施して錬成の実を結んでいる。【写真＝集団体操】

指導者の弁　梶原校長談

錬成は線香花火式ではならぬ。不断の撓まざる実践からはじめて錬成の効果が挙げられる。体操のほかに、これから生徒達にそれぞれ家庭で毎朝起きたとき、乾擦布摩か冷水摩擦をやらせようと思っている。これも錬成だ。

In Japan-occupied Korea, Koreans often mixed their spoken Japanese with Korean words like 아이고 ('gosh') and 나쁜 ('bad') and English words like 'slogan' and 'service' - in 1942, one Seoul police station cracked down on this by fining employees every time they uttered a Korean or English word

 

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), July 8, 1942

Saying "Aigo" also results in punishment

Seodaemun Police Officer Suggests a New Idea for Regular Use of Japanese Language

At the Seodaemun Police Station, Chief Yoshioka had been encouraging his staff to use the Japanese language in public and private life. On June 26, Detective Sergeant Hirayama came up with an ingenious idea and put it into practice as a model for others to follow, achieving very good results ahead of the other police stations in Seoul.

In short, it was decided that if anyone unintentionally used Korean or English while working in the station, even if it was just a word, they would be charged 10 sen each time.

Korean and Japanese employees used to exchange unpleasant words such as "aigo" and "nappeun" in Korean and "service" and "slogan" in English. But since then, these impure words have been cleanly eradicated as a result. The accumulated fines will be used as donations for the National Defense Fund.

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-07-08

Reddit Link: In Japan-occupied Korea, Koreans often mixed their spoken Japanese with Korean words like 아이고 ('gosh') and 나쁜 ('bad') and English words like 'slogan' and 'service' - in 1942, one Seoul police station cracked down on this by fining employees every time they uttered a Korean or English word : korea (reddit.com)

京城日報　昭和十七年七月八日

”アイゴー”も懲罰

国語常用に西大門署員が妙案

西大門署高等係では吉岡主任が予て同係職員たちに公私を問わず国語で通すよう慫慂していたが、平山部長刑事が去る二十六日妙案を考え出して実行。府内各署に先駆けて非常な好成績をあげて署内は素より各署職人に範を垂れた。

つまり署内で執務の際は仮令無意識にせよ朝鮮語若しくは英語等を使用した場合は、それが単語であっても一回につき金十銭也を徴収することを決議し実行している。

その結果、従来は内鮮職員が”アイゴー”とか”ナップン”とか英語では”サービス”とか”スローガン”等々の聞き憎い言葉が得々として交わされていたが、爾来これらの雑語類が綺麗に一掃された。積み立てた罰金はそっくり国防献金にするという。

1943 Imperial Japanese editorial decries liberalism, individualistic humanism, rationalism, international universalism, and Marxist materialism of the West for corrupting Japan, and calls for a "high-minded Japanese worldview" and reliance on "irrational and mysterious powers" of the Japanese spirit

 

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo), February 24, 1943

The True Meaning of National Identity and the Righteous Peninsula (3)

By Kamata Sawaichiro

Now is the Time to Deny the Past
Toward the Establishment of a High-minded Japanese Worldview

Looking back at the past, since the opening of Japan to the outside world in the Meiji era, Japan has gradually developed the characteristics of early modern liberalism, following the mainstream of thought since the commercial revolution in Western Europe. However, the liberalism of the early modern period in the West was the mechanization of human life, the promise of unlimited material development, and the construction of a luxurious capitalist civilization on top of that.

Thus, the enlightened individualistic humanism that originated in the Renaissance, flourished in the Reformation, and bore fruit in the independence of the United States, the political reforms in France, and the social revolution in Russia, was the natural destination of the modern spirit that denied God. Static, stagnant societies were replaced by noisy, dynamic, progressive societies. Communal societies were replaced by profit-driven societies. Natural societies were replaced by societies of rights and contracts. Societies of faith were replaced by societies of science. The Kingdom of God was buried, and the Kingdom of Knowledge was established.

People have forgotten the demands of the higher soul or divine value, and have come to place the greatest value only on material value and its increase by various technical means. This has become even more blatant in the Marxist view of materialist history, which was developed due to the impasse of liberalism. Japan in particular, which had lagged behind in the development of capitalist civilization in the early modern period due to the isolationist policy of Tokugawa feudal society, was tasked with the challenge of catching up with the standards of Europe and America in every aspect. It had to concentrate on westernizing the lives of its subjects, even to the point of enduring the humiliations of the Meiji Rokumeikan Era.

During the Meiji era, our predecessors fought with their blood to boldly deny the past. They felt attracted to the rationalism and international universalism of early modern Europe, based on Bacon's assertion that "knowledge is power," and strove for the globalization of Japan. We must not deny that fact.

It was only because of this that Japan was able to liberate itself from its insular lifestyle and emerge as one of the leading peoples in world history, and even if there were some excesses in this process, it was an unavoidable part of the inevitable process of history. We cannot deny the fact that our forefathers, despite their excesses, received the baptism of European culture in a pure and humble manner, and that is the reason why Japan today has become an independent leading nation, different from China and India, with a global mission. The history of the Meiji era was not simply a history of errors to be cleared up.

However, this does not lead us to conclude that the period from the end of the Taisho era to the Showa era was the beginning of a new era of construction and improvement that had its impetus in the Meiji era. No matter how generously we look at it, we cannot deny that contradictory aspects of excess and stagnation appeared, accompanied by the corruption of the nation.

The goal of the education of the intellectual class was focused on "how to get away from being Japanese," and it was thought that to be nationalist or ethnic was reactionary and even a disgrace to the cultured person. For a long time, the selection of intellectuals was based on "how Western" their thoughts and lives were.

In such an atmosphere, it was foolish to grasp the spirit of the founding of the Japanese nation. Even the thought of the purity of the Japanese nation's history was destroyed, and all things related to the Japanese spirit were driven into oblivion. At the podiums of the highest academic institutions, the "Emperor's Organization Theory" was lectured on without any hesitation, to the point where no awe or wonder could be felt. Cynical and shallow imitations of American and British culture abounded, and corrupt journalism further incited and fostered such imitations, to the point of knowing no end.

In the midst of this situation arose the Manchurian Incident, followed by the Second Sino-Japanese War, which stimulated, awakened, and elevated the national instincts of the Japanese people. This, together with the global trend of totalitarian ideology, sparked a serious study of Japanese culture and the Japanese spirit, and finally opened the door for the penetration of the true meaning of national identity.

For the Japanese world of ideas, which had been under the weight of European foreign ideas for a long time, the tide of Japan-centrism that broke out with the calls to "return to the spirit of the founding of the Japanese nation" and "reaffirm the Japanese homeland" was a truly spiritual and historical dawn that shone through the dark night for those who sought its growth. After many years of pilgrimages to foreign ideas, we have finally returned to Japan, the homeland of our souls, and the Greater East Asian War broke out on the eve of the explosion of our unavoidable national desire to seek the majesty and grandeur of the Japanese spirit itself.

Our country, with its long historical tradition since the time of the gods, may have been completely westernized on the outside, but its inner essence had not been lost. It resembles an iceberg floating in the northern oceans.

The iceberg may appear in a very small form, but it has infinite latent power. Once an iceberg collides with something, the latent force that has been submerged under the surface of the water suddenly becomes manifest and exerts an irrational and mysterious power. This is exactly how the Manchurian Incident occurred. In addition to the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Greater East Asia War, the power of the great iceberg has continued to be exerted more and more.

However, just as aviation heroes need excellent airplanes, in order to win this great battle, it is not permissible to rely only on irrational and mysterious powers. The time has come for us to establish a high-minded Japanese worldview that is unbeatable and indestructible, to cultivate the fundamentals of the true meaning of national identity, to give courage to the will, joy to the emotions, and insight to the intellect, and to make it the final unifying principle of all our activities.

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-02-24

Reddit Link: 1943 Imperial Japanese editorial decries liberalism, individualistic humanism, rationalism, international universalism, and Marxist materialism of the West for corrupting Japan, and calls for a "high-minded Japanese worldview" and reliance on "irrational and mysterious powers" of the Japanese spirit : badphilosophy (reddit.com)

(Transcription)

京城日報　昭和十八年二月二十四日

国体の本義と道義半島（三）

鎌田沢一郎

今こそ過去否定の時代
高邁なる日本的世界観樹立へ

翻って思うに明治開国以来の我国の思潮は、西欧商業革命以来の思潮の主流を追うて、次第に近世自由主義の特徴を具備して来ったのであるが、西欧近世の自由主義は人間生活の機械化であり、物質の無限的発展の約束であり、その上に豪華な資本主義文明を構築することであった。

かくてルネッサンスに発源し、宗教改革に於いて華を開き、米国の独立と、仏蘭西の政治改革と、さらにロシアの社会革命とに実を結んだ啓蒙個人主義的ヒューマニズムこそは、神を否定した近代精神が当然赴くところであり、従って静的な停滞的な社会は喧噪な動的な発展的な社会に代わり、本来共同的な社会が、利益社会に代わり、自然的な社会に対して権利の社会、契約の社会が現れ、信仰の社会に対して科学の社会が現れ、神の王国が葬られて、知識の王国が樹立せられたのである。

人々は高き魂の要求、或いは神的価値を忘却して、ただ物的価値とその諸々の技巧手段による増加とのみに最大の価値をもつに至り、そのことは自由主義の行き詰まりによって展開されたるマルキシズムの唯物史観に於いて、さらに一段露骨なる鋒鋩を現すに至ったのである。殊に徳川封建社会の封鎖政策のため、近世資本主義文明の進展に一歩遅れをとった我国においては、あらゆる部面において欧羅巴の水準を追いつくということが仕事であり、課題となり、たとえば鹿鳴館時代のごとき屈辱を敢えて忍んでまで、その国民生活の西欧化に熱中しなければならなかった。

さりとて、われらの先覚が血によって闘いとった明治時代の大胆なる過去否定と、「知識は力也」とのベーコンの主張によるヨーロッパ近世の合理主義、国際的普遍主義に魅力を感じ、日本の世界水準化を目ざして邁進した勇気と実践をまで否定してはならない。

これあってこそ狭い日本が島国的生活から自己を開放して世界史的指導民族の一つとして登場することが出来たのであり、そこに多少の行き過ぎはあったとしても、それは歴史の必然的過程の一断面として、むしろやむを得ざるもの。われわれの父祖達は、かかる行き過ぎを犯してまで、飽くまで謙虚な態度もて純真にヨーロッパ文化の洗礼を受けたればこそ、今日の日本が支那や印度と異なった独立的な指導国家として世界的使命を担うものになり得た事実を否定することは出来ない。明治の歴史は決して単に清算さるべき誤謬の歴史ではなかったのである。

しかし乍ら大正の末期より昭和にかけては、この明治の余勢を駆って建設向上の一路を踏み来ったものとの理解には到達し得ない。如何に贔屓目に見るも、そこには行き過ぎと停滞の矛盾の相が現れ、民族の堕落さえ伴って来たことは否定し得ない。

知識階級の教養の目標の如きは「如何にして日本人であることから離れること」にあるかに集中せられ、国民的、民族的であることこそ即ち反動的であり、文化人の恥辱であるとさえ考えられ、久しきに亘り彼等知識的選良を以て任ずる人々の思想と生活は「如何にして西欧的であるか」に根拠を置いていたのである。

かかる雰囲気の中にあっては、肇国の精神を把握することは愚か、国史の純潔を誇る思惟すら滅却され、日本精神のあらゆるものが、忘却の彼方に追いやられて、最高学府の講壇では平然として「天皇機関説」が講義せられて何等の不可思議すら感ぜざる程に立至り、巷には皮相浅薄なる米英文化の模倣が充満し堕落したジャーナリズムはさらに一層それを扇動助長して停止するところを知らざる有様となった。

かかるさ中に勃発した満州事変引き継ぐ支那事変こそは日本人の民族本能を異常に刺激し、覚醒し、高揚せしめた。これが世界的風潮としての全体主義的な思想と相俟って日本文化、日本精神の真剣な研究は、その口火を切られ、国体の本義透徹の門戸はようやくにして開かれんとする端緒に到達した。

久しくヨーロッパ的外来思想の重圧下にあった日本の思想界にとって「肇国の精神に還れ」「祖国を再認識せよ」の声とともに、ここに勃発として動く日本主義の潮流は、その生長を希求するものにとって暗々たる夜色を通じて輝き出でたる真に精神史的な黎明であり、外来思想への多年の遍歴ののち、ようやく魂の故郷日本へ帰り、日本精神そのものの中に荘厳偉列なものを希求せんとする、やむにやまれぬ民族的欲望が、その爆発の前夜にあるところへ、大東亜戦争が突発したのである。

まことに神代以来悠久なる歴史伝統を有する我国は、たとい外面的には西欧化し尽くしたかに見えていても、その内面的本質は、これを失ってはいなかったのである。それは恰も北氷洋上に悠然と浮遊する氷山にも似ているのである。

氷山は、現るるその姿は僅少であって、無限の潜勢力を有している。一度氷山が何物かに衝突する場合、今まで水面下に沈積されていた潜勢力は忽ち顕勢力となって、むしろ非合理不可思議なる力を発揮する。満州事変はまさに、かくのごとくにして起ったのである。さらに支那事変、大東亜戦争と、ひきつづき大氷山の威力は多々益々発揚されてやまぬものがある。

しかし乍ら恰も航空勇士に優秀なる飛行機が必要なるごとく、この大決戦に勝ち抜く為には、ただ非合理不可思議なる力にのみ信倚することは許されない。完勝と壮大なる大建設を目ざし、今こそ必勝不壊にして且つ高邁なる日本的世界観を樹立し、国体の本義に徹するの根本を培い、意志には勇気を感情には歓喜を、知性には達観を与えて、一切の活動の最後の統一原理たるの性格を備えしめなければならぬ時期こそは到来したのである。

In 1942 Busan, Korean pastors and foreign residents (Russian Tatar family, English woman, Chinese consul) praise Imperial Japan as British POWs captured in Malaysia start arriving in the city

 

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 24, 1942

People on the ground asked about the captured prisoners of war landing on the peninsula

By Oyama (Korean surname: 'In') and Suyama, correspondents at Busan

Prisoners of war are coming, prisoners of war are coming! Prisoners of war who were captured in Malaysia have come to Korea in big ships. The British soldiers were once seen together in the midst of war, but on the 24th, [redacted] prisoners of war are to land in Busan, vividly showing the war achievements of the Imperial Military. Hearing the announcement of the Korean army, the 24 million people on the peninsula were filled with gratitude and excitement that they had been born in the Imperial Kingdom on this day and at this time. We would like to ask each of the 280,000 residents of Busan Prefecture, who are now looking at the crumbling remains of the British Empire with their own eyes, striving to complete the Greater East Asia War and learn wisdom from the follies of others, to give thanks for the announcement made today.

"Don't be arrogant after victory"

Shin'ichi Yamashita, Prefectural Governor of Busan

We have to win the war. The British prisoners of war who were defeated in the war also took up their swords for the sake of their country, but in the end they spared their own lives and exposed their own shame. The final decision and attitude of a person, not just a warrior, is important. I felt deeply that the saying in Hagakure's Analects, "A warrior must find it in himself to die," was true in all cases. It is only natural that they should be punished for their selfishness and injustice in East Asia before the war. No matter what kind of nation you are, you should never get carried away. Winning and not being arrogant about it is the essence of the Japanese spirit. Japan, as a victorious nation, must not make the same mistake that Britain, the home country of these prisoners of war, made. Photo: Yamashita, Prefectural Governor of Busan

The Joy of Living in Japan

A pro-Japanese White Russian family

By correspondent Takahashi

Mr. Baigudin Gusman (45), who has lived in Japan for 21 years and now runs a clothing business in Okura-machi 3-chome, Busan, has a very pro-Japanese family. He is a Turkish Tatar with the same red blood of the Orient running through his veins as ours. Mr. Gusman praised the greatness of Japan as follows.

"I think it is a natural judgment of God that the U.S. and Britain, which did not realize Japan's fundamental strength and underestimated its economic power, were defeated without a moment's hesitation and came ashore as pitiful prisoners of war. We are observing the one month Muslim fast since the eleventh day of this month in order to express our gratitude for the happiness of living peacefully and without inconvenience as residents under the grateful patronage of Japan. During this period, we will pray to God for the completion of the Greater East Asia War. On the day the fast ends, we will donate the living expenses we have saved during this period to the National Defense Fund and offer a small token of our gratitude". Photo: Mr. Gusman and his family

Mr. Bunkichi Sakata, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council

The destruction of the Anglo-Saxon race is a self-inflicted wound. In contrast to their misjudgment of Japan's capabilities before the war, our country is well aware of the other side and is steadily making giant strides in building a new world order. We the gun-toting people must strengthen our determination to work together and be ready for tomorrow.

Comments by Reverend Minister Elder Yang 

"In all my dealings with the British and the Americans over the past few decades, they have never expressed their own faults or regretted them. I think it is because of their greed and contempt for East Asians. That is why they pretend to be sheep on the surface, but when you look deeper, you see that they are always two sides of the same coin. Although they are people who believe in Jehovah God, they have been using the natural resources and man-made treasures given to them by God for the purpose of exploiting East Asia, hiding behind the name of religion. In the Bible, it is said that 'God opposes the proud'. The fact that they were defeated by the righteous advance of the Imperial Army and are now prisoners of war who have arrived in Korea, I believe that God has taken away their blessings".

Heaven's Punishment

Comments by Elder Seo

"It is a great joy to be able to use the British and American prisoners of war from the Greater East Asia War for the construction of East Asia in Korea. Of course, they should be defeated if they extend the evil hand of aggression in the name of religion. That is the punishment that Heaven has sent down. I can remember when I was in church and they were preaching the way of God with their mouths, but their attitude was always one of contempt. I have no doubt that we, the people of East Asia, should strive for the construction of Greater East Asia with a Japanized Christianity". (Photo: Elder Seo)

Now I know the sins of my ancestral country

Englishwoman Maria's Story of Repentance

By correspondents Suyama and Aoki

Maria Yarmouth Debritt (21), also known as Keiko Suzuki, whose parents are both British, has been living in Japan for over 20 years and is now making her own living running a coffee shop in Busan, in order to live strongly in accordance with her strange fate. When it was announced that the prisoners of war would arrive in Korea on the 24th, she told her defeated ancestral country about her joy of living in Japan.

"I was born in Kobe and grew up in Japan, and I imagined my ancestral country as though it was an illusion to me. But now, with this reality in front of my own eyes, I know East Asia more clearly, and I have come to know Japan as a country with a strong sense of justice. The sins of my ancestral country over the past several hundred years have been thrown off the face of the earth, along with their mask hiding their aggression in East Asia. I am determined to live my whole life in Japan, offering my gratitude for this great unfolding history, in which a brighter world will be built together with Japan". (Photo: Keiko speaking)

Very moved to contribute to this country

Consul Zhou of the Republic of China

"By welcoming the British prisoners of war, we can clearly understand how bravely our friends of the Japanese military fought for the construction of Greater East Asia. Witnessing the capture of the British prisoners of war has become a splendid teaching tool for those who have little awareness of war, teaching them that 'the war is something that should be won'. All the peoples of East Asia must cooperate with each other as much as the heroes on the front lines, and push forward to complete the objectives of the war with all the strength of our alliance. I am pleased to have the honor of expressing my feelings today in the same spirit as the Japanese people, who are my friends". (Photo: Mr. Zhou Jiren)

Industrialization of Logistics in the South Pacific

The peninsula is the best place

Remarks by Mr. Hoshihiyoshi Konishi on his visit to Seoul

Naval Captain Hoshihiyoshi Konishi (51), a former researcher at the Planning Institute and managing director of the South Pacific Economic Research Institute, a foundation famous for its research on the South Pacific, came to Seoul on the 21st as a member of the Colonial Management Committee.

He visited Governor Koiso, and held various discussions on the issue of corporatization of South Pacific resources on the peninsula. On the 23rd, he visited his nephew Ukita at his lodgings in 46 Kitayonekura-cho, and we asked him about his visit to Korea. (Photo: Mr. Konishi speaking)

"I have a deep connection with Korea. Around the time of the Sino-Japanese War in 1894, my father came to Korea to advocate for the spread of the Imperial Way, and his relatives have lived here since then. That's why this place is very nostalgic for me. I had visited here when I was in the naval academy and last June, but this time I wanted to do a field survey on the economic partnership between the peninsula and the South Pacific.

First of all, I think that the goods that Korea needs from the South Pacific are wood, rubber and iron. In particular, Korea has made great progress in the rubber industry, which is ideal. We should bring both wood and iron and industrialize them on a large scale. Also, I think it is urgent to send more and more settlers from Korea to the South Pacific, especially to Mindanao and New Guinea".

Reporting about the situation on the ground

Association President Hada

To the Imperial Cooperation Conference

How is the total power movement in Japan proper becoming more active? How should the general movement in Korea make great strides in the future? With such aspirations for the management of the Association in mind, Lieutenant General Hada left Seoul at 14:40 on the 23rd on the Akatsuki train accompanied by Mr. Akita, Chief of the General Affairs Division, to attend the Central Cooperation Conference of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association and the Third Liaison Conference for the Imperial Supporters' Movement for Japan and the Colonies to be held in Tokyo from the 26th to the 29th as a representative of Korea. Before his departure, the President said that he would bring back many gifts and that he had the following aspirations for his trip.

"The Central Cooperation Conference, which includes the principals of national schools and even the principals of girls' schools, is truly a general meeting of the people. For this reason, Japan proper is a step ahead of Korea in terms of the total power movement reporting the situation on the ground to the higher-ups, and there is much to be heard.

Fortunately, I will be there as a representative of Korea, but I would like to listen to this conference from a Korea-centered standpoint, asking myself 'How should I apply this?' I am sure I will bring back many gifts. Representatives from Taiwan, the South Seas, Sakhalin Island, Kwantung Leased Territory, and other areas will gather at the liaison conference on October 1, and three representatives from Korea are scheduled to attend. The liaison conference has not yet reached the point where the various regions can come up with a comprehensive agenda and make it a movement at once".

The president is scheduled to return to his post on October 5.

All the above photos have been censored and the articles have been approved by the Korean Army.

Source: https://archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-09-24

Reddit Link: In 1942 Busan, Korean pastors and foreign residents (Russian Tatar family, English woman, Chinese consul) praise Imperial Japan as British POWs captured in Malaysia start arriving in the city : korea (reddit.com)

(Transcription)

京城日報　昭和十七年九月二十四日

俘虜、半島に上陸を現地に聴く

【釜山にて大山（寅）須山両特派員発】

俘虜が来る、俘虜が来る、マレーの俘虜が大きな船で朝鮮にきた。一度は戦火の中に相見えた英兵ではあったが、皇軍の生々しい戦果を物語る俘虜〇〇〇〇が二十四日釜山に上陸するのだ。朝鮮軍の発表をきき、半島二千四百万は此の日此の時こそ皇国に生を享けた感謝と感激の深念にひたるのであった。崩潰してゆく大英帝国の敗残の姿を今此の眼で眺め、前車の覆えるをよき戒とし、大東亜戦完遂に邁進せんとする釜山府民二十八万の各層に今日発表せられた感謝を訊く。

”勝って驕るナ”

釜山府尹　山下真一

戦争には勝たねばならぬ。敗戦英国の俘虜も一応は祖国のために剣を執ったのであるが、最後の場合に身命を惜しんで生き恥を曝してしまった。武人に限らず人は最後の決心と態度が大切である。葉隠論語の”武士は死ぬこととみつけたり”ということは、いずれの場合においても真実であることをしみじみ感じた。戦前東亜をわがもの顔で歩き、不義非道を働いた彼等であると思うと当然な酬いを受けたとも思われる。如何なる国民と雖も決して思い上がってはいけない。勝って驕らざるは日本精神の真髄である。戦勝国日本はこれ等の俘虜の母国である英国のとったような轍を踏んではならないと深く府民と共に感ずる次第である。【写真＝山下釜山府尹】

日本に住む喜び

グ親日白系露人談

【高橋特派員発】

日本在住二十一年いまは釜山府大倉町三丁目で洋服商を営むバイグージン・グスマン氏（四五）は大の親日家庭だ。その血管には我等と同じ東洋の赤い血が脈々と流れるトルコタタールだ。そのグスマン氏は日本の偉大さを次の如く讃えるのであった。

日本の底力を悟らず経済力を軽視した米英が呆気なく敗退して哀れな俘虜の姿で上陸して来ることは当然な神のお裁きだと思います。私達在住者が不自由なく日本の有難い御庇護で安穏に生活し得る幸福を感謝するため、去る十一日から一か月間、モハメット教の断食を続けていますが、この期間中私達は大東亜戦争完遂を神に祈願し断食の終った日には、この間に節約し得た生活経費を国防献金して感謝の微衷を捧げたいと話し合っています。【写真＝グスマン氏一家】

慶南道会議員　坂田文吉氏談

アングロサクソン民族の滅亡は自業自得といわねばならない。彼等が戦前日本の実力を見ることを誤ったのに反し、わが日本がよく対局に刮眼し着々建設の巨歩を進めていることは世界新秩序既に成るの感が深いのである。われわれ銃後国民は一致協力不退転の決意をいよいよ強固にし、明日への備えを固めなければならない。

長老　粱聖奉氏談

過去数十年間に亘って英米人と交って来たが、彼等は自己の過失を絶対に表明せず、それを悔いようとせぬ。それは東洋人に対する侮蔑と貪欲からだと思う。それだけに表面羊の如く装うが、一歩踏み込んでみると何時も表裏不同である。彼等はエホバの神を信ずる国民であるに拘わらず、神より与えられた天然資源並びに人為的財宝をもって東洋搾取のために侵略政策を宗教の美名に隠れて敢行して来たのである。聖書に「高慢なる者は退けよ」といわれた。皇軍の正義進撃に連敗し、今や俘虜の身となって来鮮したことは、神が彼等から祝福を取り上げたものと思う。

天の刑罰
徐長老の談

大東亜戦争の戦果たる英米人の俘虜を朝鮮で東亜建設に使役することは何より嬉しいことです。宗教の名の下に侵略の魔の手を伸ばす彼等は当然敗れるべきだ。それは天が下した刑罰です。今に思い当るが、教会で口に神の道を説きながら、その態度たるや何時も侮蔑そのものであった。我等東洋人は日本化されたキリスト教によって大東亜建設に邁進すべきだと信じて疑いません。【写真＝徐長老】

今ぞ知る祖国の罪

英人マリヤさんの悔悟談

【須山、青木両特派員】

父母を英国人にもつマリヤ・ヤルモデブリートこお鈴木圭子さん（二一）は奇しき運命に強く生きるべく在日二十年の生活を経て、今は釜山府内の某喫茶店に自活の途を辿っている。二十四日朝鮮に俘虜来るとの発表の報に彼女は日本に生きる喜びを敗戦祖国に告げるのであった。

神戸で生れ日本で育った私には祖国の姿が一つの幻想でもあったのですが、今この現実の眼の前にして私ははっきりと東亜を知り、正義に強い日本を知り得ました。祖国がなした過去数百年来の罪は東亜侵略の仮面と共に地球の外になげ出され、明るい世界が日本と共に建設されてゆくこの大歴史に感謝を捧げ、一生を日本に生きる決心です。【写真＝語る圭子さん】

親邦へ献ぐ感激

周中華民国領事談

英兵俘虜を迎えて友邦日本軍が大東亜建設のため如何に勇敢に戦い抜いたかがはっきり理解されます。この俘虜を目撃して戦争に対する認識の乏しい人々に「戦争は勝つべきものだ」ということを教える立派な教材にもなり、全東亜民族が前線勇士に劣らぬ協力の下に盟邦の総力を挙げて戦争目的完遂に邁進せぬばなりません。自分は中旦如親邦日本国民と同じ心持で今日の感激を表明し得る光栄を喜ぶものであります。【写真＝周済人氏】

南方物資の工業化

半島こそ最適地

小西干比吉氏来城の弁

前企画院調査官で南洋通りとして著名な財団法人、南洋経済研究所、常務理事、海軍大佐小西干比吉（五一）は今回拓務省委員として二十一日来城。

小磯総督を訪れ、南方資源の半島での企業化問題について種々懇談を遂げたが、二十三日宿舎北米倉町四六の令甥右喜太氏方に訪れ来鮮の弁を訊いてみた。【写真＝語る小西氏】

私は朝鮮とは深い因縁がある。明治二十七年ごろ日清戦争当時、父は皇道普及を提唱して来鮮したことがあり、その後身内もこちらに在住している。そんなわけで非常に懐かしい土地だ。それに海軍兵学校時代と去年六月に訪れたわけだが、今回は半島と南方の経済的提携に就いて現地調査をしたいと思い来たわけだ。

まず朝鮮へ南方から求める物資は木材とゴム、鉄等であると思う。殊に朝鮮はゴム工業では長足の進歩をしていることはうってつけだ。木材も鉄も持って来て大規模な工業化することにならう。それから朝鮮から今後どしどし南方、特にミンダナオ島やニューギニヤ地方に開拓民を送ることが急務だと思う。

下情上通を聞きに

波田聯盟総長

翼賛協力会議へ

内地の総力運動はどのように挺身しつつあるか。朝鮮の総力運動は今後どのように躍進するべきか、と聯盟運営の新抱負を胸に秘めて総長波田中将は来る二十六日から二十九日まで東京に開かれる大政翼賛会中央協力会議及び第三回内外地翼賛運動連絡会議に朝鮮代表として出席するため、飽田庶務課長を帯同二十三日十四時四十分京城発”あかつき”で東上することとなった。出発前に総長は沢山土産を持って帰るぞと東上の抱負を次のごとく語った。

”中央協力会議は国民学校の校長や女学校の校長までを網羅して真に国民総常会の観がある。それだけに総力運動としての下情上通には朝鮮よりも一歩前進したものがあり、聴くべきものも多いだろう。

幸いに私は朝鮮代表として臨席するが””如何に参考すべきか”という朝鮮の主体的地位からこれを聴きたいと思っている。きっと沢山な土産が持って帰れるだろう。十月一日に開かれる内外地連絡会議には台湾、南洋、樺太、関東州、その他の代表が集るが、朝鮮からは三名出席の予定だ。連絡会議はまだ各地が綜合的議題を出して一斉にこれを運動化するというころまでは行っていない。

なお総長は十月五日帰任の予定。

【以上何れも写真は釜要検閲済、記事ー朝鮮軍許可済】