On August 5, 1942, severe flooding hit all of Korea but especially Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, at least 13 people died, and water overflowed Cheonggyecheon River and flooded Gwanghwamun Street (news coverage published on August 7, 1942)

My condolences to the residents of Seoul who lost their lives in the flooding yesterday. I read a tip from someone on Twitter who said that this was the worst flooding in Seoul since August 5, 1942, so I did some searching in Keijo Nippo and found the relevant articles which describe the great flood that hit Seoul on that day. These articles will give you some historical perspective into the natural disaster which just befell Seoul. I hope you will find these helpful and useful.

(Translation)
Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) August 7, 1942
Heavenly Blessings Abound on the Breadbasket Peninsula
Five Days of Obon Festival Rains Enveloped All of Seoul

It rained. Water was poured into the mouths of the rice paddy fields! It rained as though rice was going to be planted. The fierce rain that began on the morning of the 5th and enveloped all of Korea, both the northern and the southern parts, did not stop falling even in the afternoon, and in Pyeonganbuk-do, the rainfall exceeded 320 mm in total. Under the skies, where the breadbasket peninsula was joyfully fulfilling its mission, houses were collapsing but with minor damage to people and livestock. Against this backdrop, the Imperial farmers sprang forth into the rice paddies and the farm fields, and they are now hard at work holding their hoes. The following is a report on the amount of rainfall and damage to houses and livestock in each region that has guaranteed this year's rice crop.

Flooding in Central and Northern Korea
Information reported to the Defense Division
The following is the status of flood damage in Central and Northern Korea as reported to the Defense Division of the Police Department on August 6.
7 Gyeonggi residents were injured, 10 dead in Gyeonggi, 3 dead in Hamgyeongnam-do, 7 missing; 9 structures washed away in Gyeonggi, 10 structures washed away in Hamgyeongnam-do; 28 structures collapsed in Gyeonggi, 12 structures collapsed in Hamgyeongnam-do; 7988 structures flooded in Gyeonggi, 2906 structures flooded in Hamgyeongnam-do, 20 structures flooded in Pyeongannam-do, 2300 structures flooded in Pyeonganbuk-do; 169 mm rainfall in Gyeonggi, 142 mm rainfall in Hamgyeongnam-do, a large amount of rainfall in Pyeongannam-do, 323 mm of rainfall in Pyeonganbuk-do, 788 mm of rainfall in Yellow Sea; no rainfall in Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Gangwon-do; 5 to 13 mm of rainfall in Hamgyeongbuk-do, no rainfall in Chungcheongnam-do, 150-200 mm of rainfall in Jeollabuk-do.

Struggles of the Telecommunications Defense Corps
Working hard in the rain
The muddy water flowing into Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul overflowed Gwanghwamun Street and entered the basement of the Health Management Division of the Bureau of Telecommunications, and by 1 p.m. on the 5th, the water was pouring into the warehouse. The members of the special Defense team of the Bureau of Telecommunications rose to the occasion and took advantage of the occasional pauses in the downpour to remove safes and documents from the building. After the rain stopped, the team members worked tirelessly to drain the water, and on the 6th, from early in the morning, Health Supervision Section Chief Ogawa took the lead in encouraging the team members, who showed the results of their daily training by moving documents through a relay system and performing drainage work without regret.

Traffic is fine!
Trains were restored despite a 20% reduction in the number of trains
The Dongdaemun area, which is the transportation hub for the Seoul Train Depot, Gyeongchun Railway, Seoul Transportation Company, and Seoul Trolleys, was not affected at all by the flooding, as appropriate measures were taken. Seoul Railway's dispatch of train cars, which was to be reduced by 20% on the 6th, was restored without any inconvenience to the city residents.

Telephone lines in Seoul partially damaged, but steadily restored
The rains of the 5th caused partial damage to the telephone lines in Seoul, but by noon of the 6th, most of the lines had been restored thanks to the efforts of the Bureau of Telecommunications. The damage in Seoul included flooding of cables at the Yongsan Branch Office, and some malfunctions in the main branch office and outside lines, for which the restoration work is progressing extremely well with all the engineering staff mobilized, and there were no accidents on any of the city's outside lines.
Although there were some problems with the transport system, the results of the training the Bureau of Telecommunications had received in the past were put to good use, and the prompt emergency measures taken by the Bureau in the midst of Holy War ensured that the telecommunications team was not affected in the slightest.

Complete recovery this morning, Jongno Police Station reporting
The number of flooded houses in the jurisdiction of Jongno Police Station in Seoul was 2,439, of which 12 were destroyed, 5 were swept away, and 1 person was killed, but the damage was limited to the northern foot of the mountains and the Cheonggyecheon riverfront. The survivors were temporarily housed in the auditoriums of Sookmyung High School, Maedong National School, and other schools on the 5th, but thanks to the efforts of the defense brigade, everything was restored on the morning of the 6th.

Defense team in action, Honmachi Police Station reporting
In the Hommachi Precinct, damage was minimized to the extent that some houses slumped due to the relatively elevated conical shape of the hill, thanks to the efforts of all the members of the Defense Brigade and the Patriotic Groups.

Surprisingly minor damage, Seongdong Police Station Reporting
The flooding in the Seongdong district in the eastern part of Seoul was expected to cause considerable damage due to its low location, but the damage was less severe than expected, and all of the affected residents returned to their homes early in the morning of the 6th. They are now vigorously working to clean up their household goods and restore their fields.

Take Care of Sanitation
Director Amagishi of the Gyeonggi Provincial Sanitation Department speaks of the situation
Seoul was hit by torrential rains on the afternoon of the 5th, and an outbreak of epidemics is expected to occur soon due to the accumulation of contaminated materials everywhere. However, since the outbreak of infectious diseases in the normal year has been extremely low, the Gyeonggi Provincial Sanitation Department has decided to conduct a temporary post-rain cleanup in the near future to ensure epidemic prevention. On August 6, Director Amagishi of the province's Sanitation Department spoke as follows.
"We are happy that the heavy rains have washed away the dirt curtains on the mountain, but it is a problem that the sewage has flowed into the town, creating a convenient condition for the outbreak of infectious diseases. We are planning to conduct a temporary cleanup in the near future, but I would rather that the residents of the province themselves take care of their own sanitation. In addition to disinfecting wells and cleaning houses, the best way to practice simple hygiene is to wash your hands first. If possible, wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet. Shigella bacteria can pass through about 30 sheets of paper with no problem, so not washing your hands is the most dangerous thing you can do.
In addition, children, in particular, should not neglect to wash their hands because many parasites can be found under their fingernails. The statistics often prove that washing hands is effective to some extent in preventing disease. In addition, I think we must also encourage people to get vaccination shots and take preventive medication, which is something we must all keep in mind as we have more opportunities to eat out."

[Photo: Mr. Amagishi, Director of the Department]

A hundred yen for the victims
One gentleman deposited the money at a police stall
On the morning of the 6th, a gentleman visited the police stall in Naeja-dong, Seoul, and offered 100 yen, saying, "Please spend it for the victims of the flood", and left without leaving his name. Upon investigation by the Jongno Police Department, they found out that this exceptional gentleman was Kim Sun-heung (김순흥/金淳興), who lives at 167 Naeja-dong.

No damage to the county (gun)
According to the Director Miwa of the Provincial Defense Division
Director Miwa of Gyeonggi Province's Defense Division described the flood damage as follows [Photo: Director Miwa of Defense Division].
The flooding on the morning of the 5th was only a minor flood compared to the great floods of 1940. The fact that the damage was centered in the urban center and did not extend into the county areas was due to the fact that this was a developed city, and the other regions were probably rather happy to receive the rain.
The fact that we have not heard of any damage in other regions so far is also evidence that there has been no major damage. The cause of the flooding was that the Cheonggyecheon and other rivers that flowed through Seoul overflowed due to the heavy rainfall in a short period of time, and the water flowed into the city center.
The main areas affected were the riverfronts and the low-lying areas of Donam-dong, Samcheong-dong, and Seongdong-dong, but the rest of the city was not affected in any way different from normal. The provincial authorities need to consider future civil engineering measures based on this experience, and I hope that the people of the province will learn from this flood disaster and study the drainage outlets carefully and think about how to deflect nature's fury so that both the public and private sectors can avoid further damage to infrastructure in the home front.

[Photo: Director Miwa of Defense Division]

A splendid story of police officers which unfolded in the torrential downpour
The heavy rains of the 5th showed the remarkable activities of the members of the National Disaster Prevention Team and the Youth Corps in all areas. The members of the Dongdaemun Police Brigade No. 2, both the defense and the poison prevention sections, were led by Captains Kunimoto and Tanari to follow drainage work in Chungsin-dong until 1:00 a.m. on June 6. Ōyama Hitoto, a member of the same defense and poison prevention sections, and Tano Osamu, a member of the rescue section, heard the news that their houses were being flooded every minute, but together with Deputy Commander Matsumoto, they remained at the headquarters in Jongno 5-chōme as liaison officers until the end, demonstrating their splendid defense spirit.

Relief Fund from Donors
Hamamura Tamanosuke of 33 Hap-dong, who has long served as the third ward leader while providing aid to the needy, gave 100 yen as part of the relief fund to the more than 300 people who were affected by the torrential rain on the 5th, and delighted the recipients of the funds.
Mr. Mamiya Mitsuji, the leader of the 10th patriotic group of the second ward of the town council, also gave 100 yen to the victims.

Temporary cleanliness inspections of flooded houses
Conducted at Dongdaemun Police Station
In order to quickly curb the epidemic that would hit the city after the heavy rain, on the 6th, the Sanitation Section of the Dongdaemun Police Station immediately ordered each dispatch station in the district to conduct a survey of flooded houses and conduct temporary cleanliness inspections only in those areas. At the same time, all pharmacies in the area were ordered to prepare phenol and other disinfectants.
The inspections will be carried out within the next two to three days.

Hope for self-reliance
Provincial Governor Taka makes a request to the victims
Gyeonggi Province has been providing relief for the victims of the torrential rains that hit the Seoul area on the 5th by spending a considerable amount of money from the Seoul and provincial government's joint enhanced crop disaster emergency relief fund, and has placed the victims in six locations, including Sookmyung High School, Maedong National School and Donam Town Hall. In addition to providing shared meals, they have taken all possible measures, including lending clothes collected from each town council. The governor of Gyeonggi Province, Mr. Taka, made the following remarks on the 6th.
"This disaster is not even close to being classified as a flood disaster, but I sincerely regret that so many people have been affected. I am also grateful for the fact that the public and private sectors worked together to restore normalcy without any major problems as soon as the disaster occurred.
While the authorities are taking all possible measures to rescue the affected people, I sincerely hope that the victims themselves will not rely solely on the government's relief measures, but will exert a spirit of self-reliance to overcome this difficult situation."

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

(Transcription)
京城日報　1942年8月7日
天恵豊か穀倉半島
五日全鮮を包んだ覆盆の雨

雨が降った。がっくりと口を開けた水田に水を引けよ！稲を植えようと雨が降った。五日朝から全鮮をつつんで降りだした生拡敢闘の慈雨は、南鮮、北鮮とも午後に至ってもなお降り止まず、平北のごときは貫に三百二十ミリを突破する大雨量を示し、穀倉半島に使命完遂の喜びが谺する空の下では家屋の倒壊、人畜の軽微な被害を尻目に、臣民という農民は水田に飛び出し畑に飛び出し、いま懸命の鍬を振り出した。今年の米を保証づけてこれた各地の降雨量と、家屋、人畜の被害を拾っている。

中北鮮の水害
防護課への情報
六日警務局防護課に達した中北鮮の水害状況は次の通り。
負傷京畿七名▲死者京畿十名、咸南三名▲行方不明七名▲流失京畿九戸、咸南十戸▲倒潰京畿二十八戸、咸南十二戸▲浸水京畿七九八八戸、咸南二九〇六戸、平南二十戸、平北二三〇〇戸▲雨量（単位ミリ）京畿一六九、咸南一四二▲平南多量、平北三二三、黄海七八、全南、慶南、江原ナシ、咸北五～一三、忠南ナシ、全北一五〇～二〇〇

逓信防護団の奮闘
雨中に甲斐甲斐しい働き振り
京城府内清渓川に流れた濁水は光化門通に溢れ出て逓信局保健監理課の庁舎地下室に侵入、五日午後一時ごろには同室の倉庫までにも水がどんどんと滲みこんだ。ここに起ちあがった逓信局特設防護団員は折柄の豪雨を衝いて金庫、書類の持ち出し作業に出動。雨がやんでからは排水作業に甲斐甲斐しい働きを見せ、六日も早朝から小川保健監理課長が陣頭に立って団員を督励、リレー式による書類の整備や排水工事に職場防護団の威力を遺憾なく発揮して日頃の訓練の手並を見せた。

交通陣は大丈夫
電車二割減も復旧す
京電車庫、京春鉄道、京城交通会社、京城軌道等の交通起点を管内に置いている東大門方面は増水と共に適宜な措置をとったため、この方面の被害は全くなく、京電の六日における二割減見当ての配車も見事復旧して府民の足には何らの不便も感じさせなかった。

府内電話線一部に障害、着々復旧す
五日の雨で京城府内の電話線は一部の障害を起こしたが、逓信局の懸命の努力により六日正午には殆ど復旧をみた。被害状況は京城府内で先ず龍山分局のケーブルに浸水さらに本分局、外線に一部の故障があったのを工務課技術員が総動員で極めて順調に復旧工事が進んでいるが、市外線には一切事故がなかった。
なお逓送関係には、やや不円滑なものがあったが、逓信局が平素鍛えた訓練の成果をここに発揮敏速な非常措置によって聖戦下逓信陣は少しの揺らぎもない。
けさ全く復旧、鐘路署管内
京城鐘路署管内の浸水家屋は二、四三九戸、破壊十二戸、流失五戸、死者一名を出したが、被害は北部の山麓、清渓川沿岸が被っただけであとは格別のことなく、罹災者は五日淑明高女、梅洞国民学校をはじめ学校の講堂に一時収容したが、警防団の活躍により六日朝すでに悉く復旧した。

防護団活躍、本町署管内
本町署管内は比較的高台の錐形と防護団、愛国班員総動員の活躍によって、一部家屋が傾斜した程度で被害を最小限に食い止めた。

意外に軽微、城東署管内
京城の東部城東地区の水害は土地柄の低さから相当の被害が予想されていたが、思ったより少なく十六日早朝罹災民の全部は各自家庭に引き揚げて水害による家財の整理、田畑の手入りに復旧に雄々しく起ち上っている。

衛生に気をつけよ
天岸京畿道衛生課長は語る
五日午後豪雨に見舞われた京城は到る處、汚染物の集積で早くも悪疫の発生が予想されているが、平年度の伝染病発生状況が極めて低く良成績を納めているので、京畿道衛生課では近く雨後の臨時大清掃を施行して防疫に万全を期することとなった。六日道天岸衛生課長は右について次の通り語った。
この大雨で山の上の土幕がすっかり洗われたことは嬉しいが、その汚水が町に流れて伝染病の発生に都合のよい状態となったことは困りものだ。近く臨時大清掃をやるつもりだが、それよりも府民自身が衛生に留意して欲しい。井戸の消毒、家屋の清掃は勿論のこと、先ず簡易衛生としては手を洗うことが一番よい。できることなら用便のあとは石鹸で手を洗うことだ。赤痢菌は用紙三十枚位は平気で通るから手を洗わずにいるのは最も危険である。
また爪の中には沢山の寄生虫がひそんでいるから特に子供らには手を洗わせることを怠ってはならない。この手を洗うことである程度の防疫が可能であることは、よくその数字が証明している。その他、予防注射、予防薬服用の励行等は外部で食事を執る機会の多くなった昨今において、ぜひ共心得て置かねばならないことだと思う。
【写真＝天岸課長】

罹災者へ百円也
一紳士が交番へ寄託
六日朝京城内資町交番を訪れた一紳士が百円を差し出して『どうか水害の罹災民のためにお使い下さい』といい残したまま名もつけずに立ち去ったのを鐘路署で内査した結果、その奇特なる紳士は内資町一六七金淳興氏と判った。

郡部に被害なし
三輪道防護課長談
京畿道三輪防護課長は水害について左の如く語った【写真＝三輪防護課長】
五日朝の出水状況はさる昭和十五年の大水害に比べれば子供ほど差のある小水害に過ぎない。被害は都心地帯を中心として郡部に及ばなかったのも、完成した都市なるが故の水害であって、他地方ではむしろこの雨を喜んでいたぐらいだろう。
今のところ地方の損害を耳にしていないのも大した被害のない証拠だ。水害の原因は京城内を貫流する清渓川その他の河川が短時間に部厚く降り注いだ雨のために溢れて市街地に流れ出したが、現在京城府が施設している排水溝ではどうにもこの水が捌け切れず、一瞬に洪水の様相を呈したものだった。
被害地の主な所は、各河川の沿岸地、低地の敦岩町、三清町、城東方面が表面に現れているが、他は平生と異なることがなかった。道当局としてもこの経験に基いて今後の府土木対策に一検討を加える必要があるわけだが、今回の水害に懲りて府民もよく排水口の研究を行い自然の暴威を如何に外らすかを考えて、官民共に銃後資材に少しでも損害を深めぬよう緊張して貰いたいと思う。

天晴れ警防団員、豪雨中に咲いた佳話
五日の豪雨に各方面とも警防団員、青年隊員のめざましい活躍に頼もしい場面を見せたが、その中でも東大門警防団第二分団警護、防毒両部員は国本、田成両部長に引率されて六日午前一時まで忠信町方面の排水工事に従い、また同団防毒部員大山一青、同救護部員田能磨の両君は自宅が刻々浸水しつつある報を耳にしながら松本副団長とともに鐘路五丁目の分団本部に最後まで連絡員として踏み止まり天晴れ警防精神を発揮した。

篤志家から救護基金
蛤町三三浜村玉之助は同町会の第三区長をつとめながら再三窮細民に救済の手を差し伸べている陰の篤志家であるが、五日の豪雨によって被害を蒙った罹災民三百余名に対し救護基金の一部として金百円を贈り関係者を感激させた。
なお同町会第二区第十班長間宮光次氏も同じく金百円を贈り罹災者を見舞った。

浸水家屋の臨時清潔検査
東大門署で実施
大雨後の街を襲う悪疫に早くも締め出しを食わせるため東大門署衛生係では六日直ちに管内の各派出所に命じて浸水家屋の調査を行わせ、その部分だけに臨時清潔検査を施行することとなったが、同時に管内各薬店に対して石炭酸その他の消毒薬整備を命じた。
なお施行は二、三日中に行われる。

自力更生を望む
高知事罹災者に要望む
五日京城地方を襲った豪雨による罹災者救助に京畿道では京城府と協力道府強権凶歉救済費から相当額を支出して救護に当るとともに罹災者を淑明高女、梅洞国民学校、敦岩町会事務所など六ケ所に収容。共同炊事を行うほか近隣の各町会から衣類を借り集めて貸与するなど万全の対策を講じているが、右につき高京畿道知事は六日左の如く語る。
今回の災難は水害の部類にも入らないほどだが、罹災者の出たことには衷心遺憾に思う。また災害発生と同時に官民一致協力して別段大したことなく平常に復旧されたことは全く感謝のほかはない。
罹災民の救助については当局でも万全の対策を講じているが、罹災者自身もあまり官庁の救済策にのみ頼らず、自力更生の精神を発揮してこの難関を突破するよう邁進されんことを切望する。

自力更生を望む
高知事罹災者に要望む
五日京城地方を襲った豪雨による罹災者救助に京畿道では京城府と協力道府強権凶歉救済費から相当額を支出して救護に当るとともに罹災者を淑明高女、梅洞国民学校、敦岩町会事務所など六ケ所に収容。共同炊事を行うほか近隣の各町会から衣類を借り集めて貸与するなど万全の対策を講じているが、右につき高京畿道知事は六日左の如く語る。
今回の災難は水害の部類にも入らないほどだが、罹災者の出たことには衷心遺憾に思う。また災害発生と同時に官民一致協力して別段大したことなく平常に復旧されたことは全く感謝のほかはない。
罹災民の救助については当局でも万全の対策を講じているが、罹災者自身もあまり官庁の救済策にのみ頼らず、自力更生の精神を発揮してこの難関を突破するよう邁進されんことを切望する。

A splendid story of police officers which unfolded in the torrential downpour

Hope for self-reliance
Provincial Governor Taka makes a request to the victims

By December 1943, poultry was unavailable anywhere in Seoul, eggs were supposed to be priority-rationed to hospitalized war veterans and people with doctors' certificates (pregnant women and nursing mothers), but ordinary Koreans had to buy eggs on the black market at 30 sen (about $6 USD today) each

This article talks about the egg and poultry shortage that was rampant in Korea in December 1943, two years into an all-out war against the US. Eggs were all supposed to be sold by farmers to the colonial government at officially set prices, funneled into a centralized distribution point, and then distributed to stores and hospitals. Hospitals and war veteran patients had priority, followed by anyone who had doctors' certificates, who presumably included pregnant women and nursing mothers.

However, this rationing system apparently had problems, as farmers as well as retailers were incentivized to bypass official channels and sell eggs on the black market at higher prices, similarly to what happened in the Soviet command economy. 

Black market retailers charged 30 sen per egg (about $6 USD in 2022), and consumers could only buy two or three eggs at a time. Each morning edition of the Keijo Nippo of 1942 was priced at 6 sen. Today, each morning edition of Asahi Shimbun is priced at 160 yen. Using this conversion, 30 sen would be worth 800 yen today, which would be worth US $5.93 today.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) December 24, 1943

Tomorrow's posture to win through to victory

A Focus on Eating Habits (6)

Meat and Eggs

Eggs are luxury items!

Regulation demanded to reserve eggs for the sick

The distribution of meat, which is a fatty food and a source of caloric supply for the fighting residents of Seoul, has been going well so far, providing 50 momme (187.5 grams) for a family of up to four, 100 momme (375 grams) for a family of up to nine, and 10 momme (37.5 grams) for each additional family member for a family of 10 or more, according to the rotational purchase coupons for meat for household use. However, unregulated poultry has disappeared from Seoul due to officially set prices as well as issues with feed.　When supplies do not appear in the market, we may immediately imagine chicken being siphoned off or sold on the black market, but in fact, there is absolutely no poultry arriving at the Gyeonggi Provincial Livestock Products Sales Association at the moment.

In addition to poultry shortages, there is also a shortage of eggs, which have been kept away from the kitchens of the people of Seoul. Milk and eggs, the most essential source of nutrition for the sick, are not available in Seoul at all, but unlike the situation with poultry, the quantity of eggs received has been gradually improving in 1942 and 1943 since the lowest quantity of eggs was reached in 1941, and the egg supply is showing a steady increase.

Believing that egg supplies are at their lowest level ever, many consumers have already given up on eggs, thinking that they are the most difficult product to obtain. As for the actual situation with egg shipments, most of the eggs laid by poultry farmers in the province are delivered smoothly to Seoul because feed, which is the lifeblood of poultry farmers, is distributed through Gyeonggi Province, and the poultry farmers are forced to provide eggs in exchange for the feed.

The quantity of eggs laid has been significantly reduced due to the decline in the quality and quantity of feed, and the quantity of eggs received this year has dropped to about 30% of the peak level in 1940, when eggs were the most abundant in Seoul. Although 30% sounds like a good figure, the number of eggs that flowed into Seoul without passing through the Gyeonggi Provincial Egg Association at that time was almost double the number of eggs that passed through the Gyeonggi Provincial Egg Association and flowed into Seoul, so the actual figure is about 10% of the peak level in 1940.

At present, all eggs entering Seoul are centrally collected at the Gyeonggi Provincial Livestock Products Sales Processing Station, and from there they are distributed to hospitals and small retailers, with about 30% of the incoming eggs given priority for distribution to hospitals, and the remainder given to the 65 small egg cooperative retailers and 65 small food retailers in Seoul. As for the method of sale:

The eggs are ordered to be preferentially distributed as hospital food to those who have doctors' certificates. The average quantity of eggs received per day is approximately 100 kan (375 kg) per day, of which the quantity for general consumers is estimated to be over 60 kan (225 kg). If 7 eggs weigh an average of 100 momme (375 grams), that means that an average of 3,600 eggs come into the hands of small retailers.

In reality, however, there are no eggs whatsoever in the market. Although eggs are not distributed daily to the 130 egg distributors in Seoul due to a decrease in the number of eggs received, they are distributed wholesale once or twice a week, so to sum it up, eggs are definitely being allocated to the small retailers.

When we asked one retailer in Hanazono-chō (now Yegwan-dong), Seoul, about the actual situation of eggs being sold as a rationed food, he replied,

"We usually receive egg deliveries of about 3 to 5 kan (11.25 to 18.75 kg) once a week in general. When the eggs arrive at the store, we post a notice at the storefront saying that we will start selling eggs on what day and from what time, and those who bring a doctor's certificate are given priority. We sell a maximum of two or three eggs per customer," he disclosed. The current black market price for eggs is around 30 sen per egg, and it is said that consumers will never receive eggs except on the black market. The current situation is that eggs are actually not being sold at general grocery stores. We asked Mr. Satō, manager of the Gyeonggi Provincial Livestock Products Sales Association, about the actual situation of eggs being sold on the black market.

He replied, "The eggs that are now being sold on the black market seem to be brought in by farmers who keep chickens in the surrounding areas and do not receive feed from the Gyeonggi Provincial Agricultural Association. We have no choice but to wait for the authorities to take control of this situation, but depending on how the problem is handled in earnest, we may see a slight turnaround in the egg collection situation. I have heard that some small egg retailers are actually siphoning eggs, but I do not know for sure. In view of the current situation as we fight decisive battles, if the general public would refrain from consuming eggs, and reserve them mainly for the sick, then there would be enough eggs to go to families with sick people who really need them, but it is up to the retailers to be aware of the situation and the consumers to be self-aware.

Since the use of eggs as a general foodstuff is truly a luxury under the current circumstances, some kind of appropriate regulation is desirable for families that desperately need eggs as a special food for the sick.

The current dietary situation of the people of Seoul is far more plentiful than those of the rest of the world on the home front, but in order to make use of eggs as a much more active supply source for the war effort, the righteousness of the small retailers and the self-awareness of the consumers are strongly desired, and together with the urgent measures taken by the authorities, an advancing marching song can be played to provide direction for dietary habits going into the third year of the war. (End of this section) 

[Photo: Meat retailers showing a plentiful supply]

A beautiful, beautiful story

Mr. Kiyohiro Ōhara, a chair manufacturer in the 54th patriotic group, 6th Ward, Jugyo-dong, Jung-gu, won 1,000 yen in the October lottery from a 2-yen bullet stamp that he bought at a regular meeting. Since he received extra money in November, he donated four red and white curtains to the town council and 15 cushions for the regular meeting to the patriotic group, and again won 100 yen in the November lottery. Now that he will receive extra money this month, he is asking the town councilor for his wisdom on what to donate this time, which is an enviable beautiful story.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-12-24

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年12月24日

勝ち抜くあすの構え

食生活を衝く（６）

肉類・鶏卵

鶏卵は贅沢品だ

病人用食の統制を望む

脂肪性食品として戦う府民の熱量補給源たる肉類の末端配給は家庭用肉類輪番購入票により家族数四人迄は五十匁、九人迄は百匁、十人以上は一人増す毎に十匁を加えて順調な出回りを見せているが、此処で統制外の鶏肉は公定価格並びに飼料の関係から府内にさっぱりと姿を見せない。出回りが悪いと一般では直ちに闇や横流れを想像するが事実京畿道畜産物販売組合に入荷する鶏肉は現在の所皆無と云った状態である。

なお鶏肉に関連して府民のお台所を遠のいているものに鶏卵がある。牛乳その他の病人食として最も不可欠な栄養補給源である鶏卵も全然府内に入荷がないのであろうが、これは鶏肉に反して従前通り、否昭和十六年度の鶏卵の最も払底した時を基に十七年度、本年度と入荷数量は漸次好転し、順調な集荷状況を示している。

最も払底していると思われ既に一般消費者間には鶏卵の入手は最も困難なものとして時は諦めている向も多い。鶏卵の実際の入荷状況を見ると、先ず養鶏家に取って生命というべき飼料が京畿道を通じて配給されているため、それと引替に卵の供出が強要される所から道内養鶏家に産せられる大半の卵を順調に京城に入荷する。

数量的に見れば飼料の品質低下、品薄から産卵高は著しく減少されていて、最も順調で府内に卵の氾濫していた昭和十五年を基準として本年度の入荷数量は約三割に落ちている。三割という量は数字的に見れば良い方であるが、当時は京畿道鶏卵組合を経ずに横から府内に流れていた卵が約倍近くあり、実際的にはやはり当時の一割位ということになる。

所で現在京城府内に入る鶏卵は総て京畿道畜産物販売斡旋所に一元的に集卵され、此処から病院その他小売商に廻されているが、先ず入荷した卵はその三割程度を病院用として優先的に配給され、残りを府内六十五軒の鶏卵組合小売商と同じく六十五軒の食料品小売商の手に渡されていて、販売方法に就いては、

病院用食品として医師の診断書持参者には、これ又優先的に配給する様指示されている。大体現在の所、一日百貫平均の入荷状況であるが、この内一般消費者用として出回る数量約六十貫強と見て百匁七個平均では三千六百個の卵が一般小売商の手に入っている訳である。

所で現実の出回り状況は皆無といって良い状況である。府内百三十軒の鶏卵配給業者へは入荷数量の減少から毎日配給は行われていないが、一週間一回乃至二回の卸配給は行われているので、要約すれば鶏卵は小売商迄は確実に割り当てられているのである。

そこで末端配給として鶏卵の販売実状を小売組合商である府内花園町の一商店に訊ねると、

「一大体一週一回約三貫から五貫程度の配給を受けますが、入荷した際は店頭に何日何時から卵の販売を致しますと掲示を行い売っており、医者の証明書を持参された方には優先的に渡しています。一客二個三個を限度として販売しておりますが」、と中開きをした。卵の闇相場は現在一個三十銭前後で消費者には闇以外絶対に渡らないといわれている現状で、一般食料品店では卵の販売の実際は見当たらない現状である。ここで京畿道畜産物販売斡旋所佐藤主事に闇に横行する鶏卵の実状を訊ねる。

『現在闇に流れているという卵は京畿道農会から飼料の配給を受けていない近郊の鶏を飼っている農家から持ち込まれるように思います。之は当局の取締りを待つより外は有りませんが、本格の問題如何では今少し集荷の状況も好転するのではないでしょうか。鶏卵小売商では卵は情実流しをしているとの声もききますが、はっきりしたことは解りません。決戦下の時局に鑑み、卵は主として病人用として一般の方々が卵の消費を手控えてくれるなら、病人を抱えた本当に卵の必要な家庭へは応分に出回る位の出荷状況ですが、小売商の自覚と消費者の自省とに俟つよりは外ありません』

一般食料品として卵の使用はこの時局下正に贅沢品である以上切実に卵を求める家庭の病人特別食として何等かの適宜な統制が望まれる。

現在京城府民の食生活は全世界の戦う銃後にくらべてはるかに潤沢な出回りを見せているが、これをより一層活きた戦力の補給源として活用するには小売商の道義と消費者の自覚が強く望まれる所であり、当局の応急なる措置と相俟って、明朗なる決戦第三年への食生活の進撃譜が奏でられるのである（この項終り）【写真＝潤沢な出回りを見せる肉類販売店】

美しい美しい話

中区舟橋町第六区第五十四愛国班の椅子製造業大原清弘さんは常会で買った二円の弾丸切手が十月の抽籤で千円に当籤。十一月に割増金を貰ったので、紅白の幔幕四張を町会へ、常会用の座布団十五枚を愛国班へ寄付したところ、十一月の抽籤で又々百円に当籤。今月割増金を貰うことになったので、こんどは何処へ何を寄付しようかと町総代に智恵を借りているとは羨ましいような美しい話。

Minakai Department Store in Seoul featured a propaganda panoramic picture depicting New York City in flames from an Imperial Japanese air raid and President Roosevelt fainting out of panic, as part of a warplane donation campaign (September 1943)

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

In September 1943, at the Minakai Department Store in Seoul, a panoramic picture was displayed depicting New York City in flames from an Imperial Japanese air raid, the residents stunned with broken noses from the exploding bombs and President Roosevelt fainting out of panic. 

Many historical revisionists claim that Imperial Japan would have never killed civilians or conducted air raids on the U.S. mainland if it had won World War II, but bellicose news articles like this one prove otherwise. In any case, by September 1943, the dream of invading the U.S. mainland, let alone conducting an air raid on New York City, had become impossibly out of reach for Imperial Japan as the Allies continued their string of victories.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 21, 1943

Roosevelt Faints and Collapses from Air Raids by the Japanese Military

Korean Peninsula's Sincere Dedication of 296 Aircraft

'Reinforcement-Themed' Air Exhibition

The striking 'reinforcement-themed' venue of the Minakai Department Store featured a panorama which was assembled assuming the following scenario: "An air raid warning was issued for New York City. Just as the echoes of the sirens faded from their eardrums, a crimson flame first rose over the Empire State Building as well as the buildings of the twentieth century celebrating a materialistic civilization. The roar of the exploding bombs broke the nasal bridges of the Yankees and turned the entire city of New York into a hellish battlefield. Roosevelt, the protagonist of the White House, who did not know what to do in the face of this thunderous air raid, was so panicked that he fainted and collapsed. The wings with the bright Hinomaru red circle emblems that flew overhead were clearly visible to the nighttime eye with each dive, and the bombing continued at a leisurely pace and with precise targeting while giving a sidelong glance at the stunned Yankees."

The venue was decorated with the production expansion of fire-breathing munitions factories and the donation of airplanes by the sincerity of the people of the nation. The wheels of the plant, which is now operating at full capacity, continue to dash forward on the road to "More production! More production!"

Meanwhile, the following is a list of donations of patriotic planes from the Korean peninsula which provide side reinforcement.

(Since the Greater East Asia War started - up to the day before Aviation Memorial Day) a total of 296 aircraft were built. Of these, there were 12 aircraft donated by individuals, which is a little sad and regrettable, 97 aircraft donated by counties (gun) alone, and 6 aircraft donated by townships (myeon) alone, which is praiseworthy like gemstones, and other donations made by companies, provinces, prefectures, and other organizations. As an example of what happens when a little dust accumulates into a mountain, if the total population of the Korean peninsula is 26 million, and if everyone saved one sen every day, then in one year we could collect 94.9 million yen and build 943 fighter planes costing 100,000 yen each.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-09-21

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年9月21日

日本軍の空襲にルーズベルト卒倒

半島赤誠の献納二九六機

航空展”増強篇”

”ニューヨークに空襲警報発令さる、サイレンの余韻が鼓膜から消えるその瞬間エンパイアビルディング外二十世紀の物質文明を謳歌するビル街に先ず真紅の焔が立ち上がった。爆弾の炸裂する轟音がヤンキーの鼻柱を折ってニューヨーク全市は阿鼻地獄の阿修羅場と化した。雷撃的空襲に施す術も知らず白堊館のル主人公は狼狽の極に達し卒倒した。上空に飛来した双翼の真赤な日の丸の標識が急降下の度毎に夜目にも鮮やかに眼に映り爆撃はうろたえるヤンキー共を尻目に悠々と適確なる照準で続けられる”といった想定のもとに組み立てたパノラマが眼をひく三中井の増強篇会場だ。

この会場を飾るものは火を吐く軍需工場の生産増強と国民の赤誠からなる飛行機献納である。今や超完全操業に拍車を掛ける工場の車輪は増産！増産！また増産の一路をひたぶるに驀進し続ける。

一方これに側面的増強を加える半島の愛国機献納表を見れば、

（大東亜戦以降ー航空日前日まで）総計二九六機。この中個人献納が聊かさびしい憾みがあるが十二機、郡単独の分が九十七機、あっぱれ珠玉の如き面単独の献納が六機、このほか会社、道、府等団体による献納である。塵もつもれば山となるの実例として半島総人口を二千六百万人とすれば毎日一銭づつ貯金すれば一年に九千四百九十万、十万円の戦闘機が九百四十三台造れるのだ。

Propaganda 'feel good story' praises Korean grandfather for finally accepting his grandson's voluntary enlistment in the Imperial Japanese air force, as it was 'not easy to persuade' him due to his 'having lived through half a century of complicated historical changes' (Dongdaemun Seoul, 1943)

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

This is a propaganda story of a Korean grandfather who finally approves of his grandson voluntarily enlisting in the Imperial Japanese air force. The aviator's family members in this story all appear to have Japanese names except his mother Aji. We could surmise that their Korean surname was Kim, as their Japanese surname Kaneda contains the Hanja for Kim. 

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

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 18, 1943

His grandfather is now a big supporter

Kaneda's parents cheer on their aviator child

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

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

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

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

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

Airplane Donation Campaign

Aviation Memorial Day

Launched at Shimonoseki

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

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

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年9月18日

祖父、今じゃ大賛成

翼の子に歓声あがる金田君実家

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

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

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

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

翼献納の運動

航空記念日

下関に展開

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

Colonial authorities discussed how to reduce prenatal/infant mortality rates in the midst of severe 1943 wartime food shortages, declaring that the Korean children belong to Imperial Japan and not to the mother, who must raise them into future soldiers and leaders of the Co-prosperity Sphere

This is my translation and transcription of three news articles from Keijo Nippo, a propaganda newspaper and mouthpiece of the government of Japan-colonized Korea. They have never been republished or translated before, to the best of my knowledge. They provide a revealing glimpse into the desperate suffering of the nursing babies, infants, and mothers of Korea amid the tremendous stresses of World War II.

Over three days (three parts) in May 1943, the newspaper gathered together a panel of experts from the medical field, schools, social welfare departments, and the colonial government to discuss how to reduce prenatal and infant mortality rates. 

In the first part, they discussed ways to increase the population of Imperial Japan by reducing miscarriages, throwing around ideas like lowering the marriage age, prioritizing food rations for pregnant women, instituting maternal leave, promoting delivery in hospitals, and controlling tuberculosis.

In the second part, they discussed mothers and children suffering from food shortages (baby formula, eggs, dairy milk, fish, tofu, etc.), and prioritizing food rationing to expectant and nursing mothers with doctor's certificates, promoting breast milk, and teaching dental hygiene using salt or toothpaste to brush teeth, concluding with a declaration that infants are the property of the nation.

In the third part, more politically charged than the previous two parts, they discussed 'proper' child rearing practices and children's spiritual education, emphasizing that the mother should adopt a faithful devotion to all household as a form of devotion to the Emperor, that the 'previously prevailing individualistic and liberal attitude on children's education must be abandoned', and children must worship at the kamidana (small Shinto altar) every morning.

I have not done a thorough fact check of all the medical advice in these old articles, but needless to say that they should all be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism, as several pieces of advice already look pretty suspect first glance, especially their tips on raising children. 

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 1, 1943

Child Protection Roundtable Discussion (Sponsored by the newspaper head office) (Part 1 of 3)

Give birth to 100 million more people!

Pregnant women are not comfortable with queuing up to buy things

Participants:

• Dr. Hata (Department of Gynecology, Seoul University)
• Dr. Amano (Department of Law and Literature, Seoul University)
• Dr. Hironaka (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Medical Center)
• Dr. Yao (Seoul Dental College)
• Ms. Su'e Aiko (Green Banner League)
• Ms. Yajima Seiko (Seoul Friends Association)
• Ms. Kim Jin-jeong (김진정/金珎禎) (Patriotic Women's Association, Korea Headquarters)
• Ms. Dr. Tomura Kimiko (Medical doctor)
• Ms. Choi Yang-yo (최양요/崔良窯) (Gyeonggi Girls' High School)
• Mr. Nagai (Director of Social Affairs Division, Governor-General's Office)
• Mr. Iwasa (Social Affairs Division, Governor-General's Office)
• Mr. Ōtsuka (Director of the Korean Social Work Association)
• Mr. Kojima (Director, Welfare Department, Korean Federation of National Power)
• Mr. Jeong (Director of the Editorial Bureau for Mainichi Shimbun)
• Mr. Hong (Director of Social Affairs Department of Mainichi Shimbun)
• Mr. Mine (Director of Social Affairs Department, Keijo Nippo Head Office), Mr. Suzuki, (Director of Business Department, Keijo Nippo Head Office), and Mr. Kagawa (Reporter, Keijo Nippo Head Office)

This year, too, from the 1st to the 10th, the People's Health Campaign will be held simultaneously in all of Korea. The Korean Social Work Association, in cooperation with the Korean Federation of National Power and the Social Work Associations of the provinces, will launch the "Child Protection Campaign". To spearhead the campaign, the Keijo Nippo head office held a "Child Protection Roundtable Discussion" as follows, inviting authoritative figures from various fields on the issues of nursing babies, infants, and women.

Mr. Nagai: For ten days from May 1, the Healthy People Movement will be conducted through various organizations, and the results of the Healthy People/Healthy Troops Movement have been spectacularly achieved with the collective consensus of 100 million people fighting a decisive battle. This month, we would like to hear your opinions from all of you about protecting children. The moderator is Dr. Amano. Dr. Amano, your thoughts?

Dr. Amano: The situation of the Greater East Asia War is becoming increasingly serious, and we need to think more deeply about childbirth and child rearing. The first and foremost issue is to give birth to many strong children. Since this is the only way, I believe that providing guidance on how to protect pregnant and nursing mothers is the first issue to be considered when discussing wartime life. Let's start with Dr. Hata.

Dr. Hata: During the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Greater East Asia War, a large number of people were mobilized to the front lines, and in order to replenish this number, it is necessary to greatly increase the number of people behind the front lines. The reason why ancient Greece and Egypt were in such a state in the past is because of their excessive culture and misplaced population growth. What about the people of Japan? Japan is surrounded by the following countries. Across the Pacific Ocean is the United States with a population of 130 million. To the west is the Soviet Union, with a population of 170 million and the world's highest population growth rate. China has 400 million people. In order to establish an East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere in the midst of such a situation, Japan must further increase its population.

In January 1941, the government established the Outline for the Establishment of Population Policy, which stated that Japan must produce 100 million people by 1960, and that each family should have at least five children. In Japan, however, the birth rate was 36.2 per 1,000 in 1920, 30.6 per 1,000 in 1937, and 26.7 per 1,000 in 1938, but as a result of the cooperation of the government, doctors, and others, the rate has gradually improved. The situation has been improved by the people's awareness and the improvement of various institutions to prevent deaths, increase births, and prevent the transmission of tuberculosis to nursing babies and infants.

The age of marriage is being advanced to three years earlier within the next ten years, and in mainland Japan, the lending of marriage and childbirth funds is being discussed, and various facilities are being established to ensure healthy childbirths. According to an announcement by the Japan Gynecological Society in 1940, a survey of fetal deaths, assuming that the total number of conceptions in a year was 2 million, showed that there were 86,000 spontaneous abortions in the third month of pregnancy, which is four times the total number of births in Kyoto in a year, and over 50,000 stillbirths in the tenth month of pregnancy, which is the total number of births in Kyoto and Nagoya in a year. That means that 280,000 people are being lost between the first and tenth months of pregnancy, which is quite astonishing.

The high number of premature births, especially before delivery, is especially thought-provoking. We should use our efforts to prevent premature births, educate mothers about motherhood, and ensure the mental and physical health of mothers. In a nutshell, there is no other way to feed pregnant and nursing mothers than to prioritize them over healthier people by giving them more food rations.

Miscarriages can be caused by excessive labor, sexually transmitted diseases, endometritis, or a deficiency of progestin or vitamins, so it is essential to seek professional medical care at an early stage. Early treatment is essential to avoid miscarriage and to ensure a safe delivery.

Dr. Amano: Now that we have discussed the issue of overwork among women, I would like to hear your thoughts about this.

Dr. Hata: Statistics show that more than 50% of working women have irregular menstruation, and this is particularly high in printing factories, where 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriages. Of the 70% of pregnancies which end in delivery, 20% of the babies die due to weakness, which is a very serious problem, and it is necessary to protect working women and professional women. In mainland Japan, there are mandatory resting periods to provide adequate rest, and I think this is something that should be considered in the near future in Korea as well.

Dr. Amano: I guess shopping queues are not good for pregnant women these days.

Dr. Hata: They are not good at all. In mainland Japan, it seems that pregnant women are given priority in the distribution of food rations, and people are willing to give up their rights to each other in the queue.

Dr. Amano: Is it because of the lack of manpower? Something must be done about this. 

Dr. Hata: The winter months are worse than the summer months, and there have been cases of miscarriages due to the passage of several hours.

Dr. Amano: If women are in the workforce for a long period of time　as the war drags on, they will enter a wider range of men's professions. If employers do not pay enough attention to their health in consideration of their employment, they may miscarry after pregnancy, or die soon after birth. What is the situation in mainland Japan?

Dr. Hata: As a result of the January 1941 regulations, mandatory rest and dormitory facilities seem to be going relatively well.

Dr. Tomura: At any rate, housewives nowadays bear an excessive burden in terms of air defense, patriotic organization events, and other household chores. There is a lot to consider about pregnancy and child rearing after delivery. I believe there is room for further investigation into the relationship between food and nutrition.

Ms. Kim: I always think about professional women. Some of them have miscarriages because they push themselves too hard before giving birth, and some of them fall into unexpected serious conditions due to lack of medical care after childbirth, partly because they cannot receive adequate treatment at hospitals. Because the family's finances do not allow it, these failures are repeated, and precious human resources are lost.

Dr. Amano: In case of air raids, there is also the problem of how to treat pregnant women. How would you deal with such limitations?

Dr. Hata: I believe that it is better to evacuate the pregnant women until the seventh month, but not after that. The high rate of deliveries that take place at home instead of in hospitals is also a problem that should be given considerable thought. The number of deaths due to unexpected accidents and abnormal pregnancies during childbirth is over 100,000. At hospitals, the fetal death rate due to unexpected accidents is 0.6%, whereas it is 1.2% at home. At hospitals, the rate of breech births is 15%, whereas it is 30% at home. The rate of death is high due to inadequate treatment for neonatal asphyxia. Therefore, it is important that abnormal pregnancies be handled in hospitals and maternity hospitals as much as possible, from the standpoint of increasing the population. For this purpose, we need to build more maternity hospitals and other facilities that allow hospitalization at low cost. Otherwise, we will not be able to fully achieve our goal. 

[Photo: Roundtable discussion]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-05-01

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 2, 1943

Child Protection Roundtable Discussion (Sponsored by the newspaper head office) (Part 2 of 3)

Strong children come from healthy mothers

Weaning indigestion is frightening

Dr. Amano: What are your opinions on the protection of nursing babies and infants? What about artificial nutrition? What about the current food supply? Dr. Hironaka, your thoughts on this?

Dr. Hironaka: The infant mortality rate is high, especially for newborns. The death rate is particularly high for infants who are weak at birth, have weak vitality, or are born prematurely, so this has a close relationship with obstetrics and gynecology. As mentioned earlier, the nutritional condition of the pregnant woman is closely connected to vitamins and hormones, as well as genetics. You can say that, if the mother is strong, the child is also strong. Various postnatal disorders can be prevented to a great extent by the mother being attentive.

The main factor in preventing illness in infants is how to feed them, and formula feeding has a higher morbidity rate than breast milk. The first step is to feed the mother's milk. However, recently the use of formula feeding has increased dramatically. I don't know if it's because of the shortage of the mother's milk, but the use of powdered and blended milk substitutes has increased. Moreover, there is a shortage of these substitutes these days, which is a serious problem from a national perspective, and infants' food should be given more consideration than that of adults.

In addition, there seems to be a shortage of pacifiers, which also needs to be considered. Secondly, there is a high mortality rate among infants during the weaning period after they grow bigger. This is due to the way food is fed, and should be considered more seriously than the problem of artificial nutrition. Eating at this age is truly difficult. They easily have diarrhea. In addition, mothers are suffering from the lack of eggs, small fish, tofu, and other foods. If babies overdo it and suffer from indigestion, they can hardly survive these days. Even if they do survive, the effects will be felt later on when they are older. I would like you to consider this and give sufficient thought to the distribution of food rations.

Dr. Amano: It is very difficult to raise children these days, isn't it?

Mr. Nagai: It seems that there are no eggs or tofu. Milk, curd, and powdered milk are also limited these days because of the shortage, but we issue tickets in the cities, towns, and townships to those who need them who have a doctor's certificate, so please apply for them without delay. In addition, cotton cloths for expectant and nursing mothers are also preferentially distributed to those with a doctor's certificate.

Ms. Su'e: Speaking of breast milk, when my first child was born, I had a lot of breast milk, but with my second child, I was a little emotionally upset, so I had no breast milk at all. Perhaps there is a relationship with food and emotions?

Dr. Hata: At least half of the time, it has a great deal to do with mental effects. Also, when there is a shortage of breast milk, we try to give them dairy milk, but even then there may only be three gō (0.54 liters) or five gō (0.90 liters) of dairy milk to give them, the milk shipment may only come at 9 or 10, around 4 in the afternoon, or never. We are troubled by this, but we would like to get this done right somehow. There is also no bread, potato starch, etc. I would like to make a loud appeal on these points from the standpoint of child protection.

Dr. Amano: How is the growth of the fetus affected by meals?

Dr. Hata: According to last year's statistics, there does not seem to be much of a relationship. Even if you look at the pregnant women in the lower classes, there is no significant effect on the fetus.

Dr. Amano: Insufficient nutrition of the mother and fetus and inadequate food for the infant cause many difficulties, but what about the teeth of the mother and child? Dr. Yao, please go ahead.

Dr. Yao: In Germany, children born after the last World War had bad teeth due to the extreme shortage of food supplies, and this is a problem that we have to think carefully about. Since tooth decay causes various diseases and causes a high mortality rate, if the distribution system is not smooth like nowadays, this result will appear in a few years, even if this problem does not appear now. Then this would mean that Japan will be following in the footsteps of Germany, and we will need to conduct good research into how these problems will manifest themselves in the future. Baby teeth grow from six months to two years of age, and permanent teeth grow from six to eight years of age. Many people think that it does not matter how many decayed baby teeth there are, but this is a serious mistake. When baby teeth have cavities, the permanent teeth that come in later are weakened, causing irregular dentition. This can also lead to the inability to take in sufficient nutrition in the future. Therefore, in order to have healthy permanent teeth, it is important to take good care of the baby teeth.

Pregnant women should also take care to nourish their children and ensure that they have healthy teeth. As Dr. Hironaka mentioned earlier, breastfeeding is better than artificial nutrition, and this is also true from the standpoint of dentistry. This is why rubber nipples for artificial feeding are not a good idea. When a nursing baby feeds on breast milk, it makes a sweaty effort and the mouth and neck become filled with blood, which stimulates the development of the cervical bone, and the baby grows smoothly. In this sense, breastfeeding is the best.

Dr. Amano: I see. That means that baby teeth are not to be treated as a trivial matter.

Dr. Yao: That's right. There is no better way to treat cavities in baby teeth than to treat them as soon as possible. If it is in the early stages of decay, it can be filled with cement, and the cost will be lower. As for the cost, as I mentioned earlier, there are many cases where the costs for pregnant and nursing mothers do not go so well due to hospitalization. The other day, I went back to my hometown (Okayama) for a short while, and there, the prefectural government provides health insurance and hospitalization at a very low cost. For example, when my father was hospitalized, the hospitalization fee was 50 yen and the food cost was 1.20 yen, so the hospital services were much appreciated and used by the villagers. I would like to see this expanded in Korea as well. Next to the basic prevention of cavities, if you follow the second preventive method of using a toothbrush to remove food debris, you can be sure that you will never get a cavity. However, it is necessary to use the toothbrush in the correct way. You must use the brush in the "vertical" position. It is a big mistake to say that you should brush in the morning but not at night, because doing it at night before going to bed is the most effective way to prevent cavities.

Dr. Tomura: What is the difference between using salt and using toothpaste?

Dr. Yao: There is not much of a difference.

Dr. Amano: What about the education of young children at Seoul Friends Association?

Ms. Yajima: Yes, we have a group called "Friends Association" for children who will go to the National School (elementary school) next year (Tuesday group) and those who will be 5 or 6 years old (Wednesday group). The children attend once a week at Mr. Kojima's home. We also put a lot of effort into teaching them how to brush their teeth. At five or six years of age, children like to show themselves off to other people, so we take advantage of this psychology to have them do things together, so that it becomes a great encouragement for them. 

Dr. Amano: Ms. Choi, you seem to have raised many excellent children in spite of your busy schedule. Do you have any special methods to share?

Ms. Choi: In spite of my busy work at school (as a teacher), all three of my children have grown up to be strong and healthy. I am very careful when raising babies, but I think the most important thing is to feed them milk at the right time from the very beginning. Since it would inconvenience me at work when they sleep during the day and remain awake during the night, I asked my nanny to not let them sleep during the day as much as possible, to enforce the habit of sleeping well at night. I think that a well-regulated lifestyle is the special method for preventing illness.

Dr. Hironaka: That is a very good story.

Dr. Amano: So-called well-educated women do not always raise strong, good children, and there are a few examples of women who are not so well-educated but have done a great job of raising good children to bear the fruit of child protection. What kind of mother is considered a good mother? Dr. Hironaka, your thoughts?

Dr. Hironaka: In other words, children grow up well because they are raised well, and there are many women who do not understand this point very well. [laughter]

Mr. Nagai: There are also women who are self-centered in the way they soothe their babies. [laughter]

Ms. Kim: Since the mortality rate is high in Korea, I wish there were more nursing baby and infant care centers. I would like to see university hospitals and medical centers, including Asahi Medical Center, Japan Red Cross Hospital, and other hospitals, provide facilities for nursing babies and infants for thorough prevention and treatment, as well as attached maternity hospitals. The rise and fall of a nation depend on its infants, and even if they are born from the mother's bosom, they are not the property of the individual, but rather they are the property of the nation.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-05-02

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) May 3, 1943

Child Protection Roundtable Discussion (Sponsored by the newspaper head office) (Part 3 of 3)

Mothers, be strict with your children

Children should not be shy or timid

Mr. Iwasa: The Governor-General's Office has been distributing a child-rearing calendar since January of this year. It is extremely detailed so that even first-time mothers can understand tips for pregnant women, childbirth and child-rearing methods by month, early treatment for illness, etc.

Ms. Su'e: Every Tuesday, the Green Banner League holds a nursing baby and infant counseling session at Chōjiya Japanese restaurant, and it has been a success every time. As of December, a total of 554 children have been examined. The number of consultations was 306: 110 consultations on breastfeeding, 18 consultations on artificial nutrition, and 177 consultations on weaning. In addition to distributing this infant calendar, we are researching how to prepare food for weaning, how to use clothes, how to make underwear, and so on, since there are supply shortages.

Ms. Yajima: How to spend the winter season is also a major issue, and we are collecting statistics among our members on whether it is better to use a warm ondol room or a stove because of the fuel shortages. Among active measures, infant exercises are also good, and I think it is also good for mothers to help their children do these exercises.

Mr. Ōtsuka: Last year we held a "Mother and Child Exhibition" for one week and it was packed, and this year we will hold it again with different content at the Ikueikai Educational Society. This year, we will hold a new lecture on childcare, and on the 7th, there will be a lecture by Dr. Izumi from Seoul University, and a movie night at the Seoul Citizens Hall.

Dr. Amano: Now I would like to turn to the issue of spiritual education for children.

Mr. Mine (Director of Social Affairs Department): Today, the issue of nursing babies and infants must be considered not only from the perspective of humanity, but also from the perspective of the nation - that is, the nation as a whole. Children up to the age of six should not be spoiled, selfish, shy, or depressed. The child demanded by the nation must be a strong, cheerful child who is able to grow and develop. I believe that there is such a thing as a small child with beautiful behavior and a lovely heart. If not, it is the mother's fault. It can be said that the environment around them made them that way. For example, a child who breaks a shōji (paper sliding door) is a result of the mother's slovenliness. A child who is shy around others is also not healthy.

Dr. Amano: As you just said, a mother's attitude is certainly important. They are the children of the nation, so they need to be trained.

Ms. Su'e: A mother's faithful devotion to all household chores, from morning to night, means that she is dedicated to His Majesty. I believe that the Japanese way of discipline is to bow down to His Majesty's side.

Dr. Amano: I believe that there is a certain way to discipline children who are shy or timid, who will be of no use as the future leaders of the co-prosperity sphere. How do you deal with this at Seoul Friends Association?

Ms. Yajima: At Seoul Friends Association, we are often told that we do not scold our children enough, but our principle is that we want the children to notice us.

Dr. Amano: I believe that the previously prevailing individualistic and liberal attitude on children's education must be abandoned in favor of a more holistic and nationalistic approach. What kinds of opinions do Korean people have on this?

Ms. Kim: I have heard from women's groups from the provinces that, ever since the announcement of the conscription order, the basic ideas held by Korean children have completely changed, they have discovered a sense of purpose that they can become great soldiers of the Imperial Japanese military, and they are very happy about it. I would like to see the children thoroughly imbued with a sense of mission at this time.

Dr. Amano: Then there is the problem of children's toys. Due to the scarcity of materials, we seem to be seeing some very poor quality toys. What kind of toys do you recommend, Dr. Hironaka?

Dr. Hironaka: First of all, they should be injury-proof. Poor quality paint is also dangerous. Educational toys are also important.

Ms. Su'e: As for how to give toys to children, I think that if you give toys to children on a day of national significance, such as the Tenchō's Festival (the Emperor's Birthday) or New Year's Day, they will be more inclined to cherish the toys. There is a custom of giving toys as mere souvenirs, but I think this is the worst thing you can do.

Mr. Hong: I would like to see some kind of control over this practice, because inferior toys are made by merchants for their own profit. They cost two or three yen and break immediately. The psychological impact on a child's mind is so serious that I have decided not to buy such toys for the past several years.

Mr. Mine: I am glad to see that there is more ingenuity and structure in the world of children, as the little ones at my place have been cleverly combining building blocks and the Chinese Checkers board to play games consistent with the times, such as pretending to sink U.S. warships.

Ms. Yajima: If you put colored paper on an empty box or a honeycomb box, it can be used as a doll house or as a train, and it is very useful.

Ms. Choi: Recently at my house, we have stopped using dolls, and my children are holding pillows and calling them their babies. [laughter]

Ms. Kim: I hope there will be an institute for research and guidance on child psychology. There have been many cases where children have become delinquents because they were not given proper guidance. I hope that the Governor-General's Office will consider setting up an institute for this kind of psychological guidance in addition to the awards for excellent children.

Dr. Amano: In order to raise children to be physically strong and mentally strong, I think we should put more soul into their spiritual education. What is the best way to infuse strong spirituality into children?

How should we deal with children not only in national school education, but also at home? For example, we should lead a disciplined life by worshiping at the kamidana altar every morning, or we should naturally reflect this into our children by showing the strict attitude of parents who do not allow their spirit to be disturbed. If parents themselves maintain a winning attitude and strong spirit, their children will naturally follow them. According to the conventional school survey statistics in Japan, children from families that are financially very well off do not perform that well in school, while those from middle-class or lower-class families are actually more likely to produce upright individuals. I believe this is the result of parents who were not able to live up to their own expectations in their own lives, so they reflect a strict mentality onto their own children, wanting their children to live up to the parents' own expectations, and this propels their children forward. I think we have run out of time, so we will close this discussion.  =End=

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-05-03

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年5月1日

児童愛護座談会　本社主催　（上）

生み出せあと一億

妊婦に障ります”行列買い”

出席者：

秦博士（城大婦人科）

天野博士（城大法文学部）

弘中博士（京城医専小児科）

矢尾博士（京城歯科医専）

須江愛子女史（緑旗聯盟）

矢島セイ子女史（京城友の会）

金珎禎女史（日婦朝鮮本部）

戸村金子女史（女医）

崔良窯女史（京畿高女）

永井総督府社会課長

岩佐同圏

大塚朝鮮社会事業協会主事

児島朝鮮聯盟厚生部理事

鄭毎新編輯局長

洪同社会部長

本社側：嶺社会部長、鈴木事業部長、香川記者

今年も一日から十日まで全鮮一斉に健民運動が実施される。朝鮮社会事業協会では聯盟及び道社会事業協会と協力『児童愛護運動』を展開するが、本社では愛護運動の先鞭をつけ、乳幼児婦人問題の各界権威者の参集をもとめ、次のように『児童愛護座談会』を催した。

永井：五月一日から十日間に亘って健民運動が各機関を通じて実施され、決戦下一億国民の総意を盛って華々しい健民健兵の実が挙げられますが、本月はここに児童愛護について皆さんから御意見を拝聴いたしたく思います。司会は天野先生どうぞ。

天野博士：大東亜戦争の様相も漸時深刻になって例えば出産育児の方面でも間々深く考えなければならないと思います。何といっても先決問題は丈夫な子を沢山産む。これしかないのでして妊産婦の保護指導こそは戦時生活を語る上に最初の問題になると思います。先ず秦先生から。

秦博士：支那事変、大東亜戦を通じて前線には大量に動員をみており、これが補充を図るためには銃後に於いてはウンと人口増殖を図らねばなりません。昔ギリシャやエジプトが何故ああいう状態になったかといえば、行き過ぎた文化から人口増殖を誤った處に原因しています。では日本の人々はどうなっているか。それは太平洋の彼方には一億三千万の人口を有するアメリカがあり、西には一億七千万の人口を有し、人口増殖率世界一というソ連あり、支那四億という国々に囲繞されている。その真っ只中にあって日本は東亜共栄圏を確立するためには人口の増殖は一段と要請されなければならない。

昭和十六年一月政府の定めた人口政策確立要綱によって昭和三十五年までに一億の人口を作らねばならないし、一家族に五人以上の子女を持つようとのお達示です。ところが我が国では大正九年千人に付き三六・二人の出生率が昭和十二年には千人に対し三〇・六人、同十三年に千人に対し二六・七人という数字を示したが、政府と医者その他が協力した結果、現在では漸時良好となっています。死亡を防ぎ出産を増やし、乳幼児の結核伝染を防ぐ等民衆の自覚と諸機関の充実で面目を一新しています。

結婚年齢も十年以内に三年は早めさせる目標で進んでおり、内地では結婚資金、出産資金貸与の方法も講ぜられて、健康な出産を望む諸施設が設けられている。昭和十五年、日本婦人科学会の発表によると、一年受胎総数を二百万として胎児死亡数を調査したところ、妊娠三月での自然流産が八万六千人で、これは京都市の一年間の総出産数の四倍に相当し、妊娠十月の死産が五万余りで、これは京都市、名古屋市の一年の総出産数に相当する。妊娠一月から十月までの間に二十八万人失われることとなり、今更驚くべきものがあります。

特に出産前の早産の数の多いことは考えさせられるが、早産の予防、母性の教育に意を用い、母性の精神的肉体的の健全を計るべきです。妊産婦の食事を簡単に話すと丈夫な人を制して妊産婦に先に多く配給する以外にはない。

流産の原因には過度の労働や花柳病、内膜炎によるもの、黄体ホルモン、ビタミンの欠乏によるものなどもあり、早期に専門医の治療を受けることが肝要です。初期なれば流産しないで無事分娩まで導くことが出来ます。

天野博士：只今婦人の過労の問題が出ましたが、之について一つ。

秦博士：統計では職業婦人には月経不順が多く五〇％以上であり、印刷工場には特に多く、妊娠しても三〇％は流産するという統計が出ております。生れた七〇％の中二〇％が弱質のため死亡するといった状況で相当考えさせられる問題であり、労働婦人や職業婦人を愛護する必要があります。内地では充分な休養を与えるためには強制休養等もあり、朝鮮でも早晩考えられていい事だと思います。

天野博士：昨今買い物行列は妊婦などにもいけないでしょうね。

秦博士：全くよくないです。内地では妊婦には優先的に配給するとか行列の中でお互いが譲り合う事が巧く行っているようですが。

天野博士：人手が足りないためからでしょうか。何とかせねばならないことですね。

秦博士：夏分よりとくに冬期が悪く、数時間経った為に流産した例もあります。

天野博士：長期戦に亘るといきおい、職業婦人が男子の分野に進出する領域も広くなるわけですから、就職に当っても使用者の側で考慮して健康に充分注意せぬと妊娠しても流産したり、折角生れても直ぐ死亡するといったことになるのではありませんか。内地の方ではどうしていますか。

秦博士：昭和十六年一月の規定が設けられた結果、強制休養や寄宿舎の設備等割に良く行っているようです。

戸村女史：兎に角、昨今は家庭にあっても防空関係、愛国班行事その他家事一切主婦の負担は過重で、妊娠中も出産後の育児についても考えさせられることは多く、食べ物と栄養の関係に就いても何とか考究の余地があるように思います。

金女史：私は職業婦人について常に思うんですが、妊娠してお産の前に無理をしたため流産したり、出産後の養生不足から思わぬ重態に陥る者もあり、病院での治療が充分に受けられぬためもあるようです。家庭の経済が許さぬため、かかる失敗を繰り返して尊い人的資源を失います。

天野博士：空襲の場合、妊婦をどう処置するかといった問題もあり、その限度についておよそ如何に扱うかですが。

秦博士：七月位までは非難させた方がよいが、それ以後の者は非難させぬ方が良いと思います。それからお産が病院で出来ず自宅でやる率の多いことも相当考えさせられる問題で、分娩の際、突発事故や異常妊娠による死亡約十万以上にのぼり、突発事故による胎児死亡は病院では〇・六％、自宅では倍の一・二％、逆児分娩では病院分娩一五％自宅では倍の三〇％であります。之は仮死の手当不充分なため死亡する率が高いのであります。それで異常妊娠は出来るだけ病院や産院でなされることは人口増殖の立前から重要なことと思います。そのためには産院などを多く建て廉い費用で入院出来る設備がほしいものです。でないと目的が充分達せられません。【写真＝座談会】

京城日報　1943年5月2日

児童愛護座談会　本社後援　（中）

強い子は健母から

恐ろしいのは離乳期の消化不良

天野博士：乳幼児の育成保護について御意見をどうぞ。それに関連して人工栄養はどうか。現在の食糧はどうか、等に就いて弘中先生に一つ。

弘中博士：乳児時代は死亡率が高いんですが特に生れたてが高い。生れ乍らに体が弱いとか、生活力が微弱であるとか、早産児等がとくに死ぬわけで、これには産婦人科との関係が深い。妊婦の栄養の状態とか先程のお話にもありましたビタミン、ホルモンの関係とか、遺伝的関係も特に深いわけです。母が丈夫なら先ず大体子も丈夫といってよい。生後の色々な障害は母親の注意一つで相当防げるものと思います。

乳児の病気を防ぐには主に食物の与え方一つで人口補乳は母乳に比べると罹病率が高い。先ず母の乳を飲ませることです。處が近頃は人口栄養が非常に増えた。母乳の不足からか知らぬが代用粉乳、煉乳が多い。しかも昨今はこの代用品も品不足で国家的な見地から由々しき問題で、乳児の食物については大人の食物以上に考慮を払うべきです。

それから最近は『乳首』の品不足をみているようですが、これについても一考を要します。次に乳児が大きくなって離乳期の幼児の死亡率が高い。これは食物の『与え方』に依るもので、人工栄養の問題以上に深刻に考えて戴きたい。この頃の食事は真に難しい。すぐ腹をこわす。それに昨今は卵、魫、豆腐などがなくてお母さん方も苦しんでいます。無理をして消化不良を起こすと、この頃は殆ど助からぬ。助かっても後々大きくなってから影響が大きい。この辺を考慮し配給関係についても充分考えてほしいものです。

天野博士：成程昨今では子供を育てるのも大変ですね。

永井氏：卵、豆腐は無いようですね。牛乳や、煉乳、粉乳も昨今は品不足だから制限はしていますが、府邑面で切符を出し医者の証明で是非入要な向には町会を経て配給していますから手落なく申請して下さい。その他妊産婦用の綿布の如きも証明書で優先的に配給しています。

須江女史：母乳の話ですが、私は上の子が生れた際は乳も多かったんですが、次の時ちょっとした動揺を受けたらさっぱり出なくなった経験がございますが、食べ物や気分の関係があるんじゃないでしょうか。

秦博士：少なくとも半分位は精神作用が大いに影響します。また母乳不足の時牛乳を飲ませようとしても昨今は三合か五合、それも九時や十時に来たり午後四時頃届けたり、或いは全く無かったり等で弱ってるんですが、これは何とかキチンとやって貰いたいものです。それにパン、片栗等も無い。これらの点児童愛護の建前から声を大にして訴えたいのです。

天野博士：食事による胎児の発育状態は。

秦博士：昨年度の統計をみましても余り関係はないようです。下層階級の妊婦についてみても胎児に大して影響はないのです。

天野博士：母胎の栄養不充分とか幼児の食物不充分とかで色色と困難が伴いますが、産婦や子供の歯はどんなものでしょうか。矢尾先生どうぞ。

矢尾博士：独逸では前大戦後極端な物資不足から生れた子供の歯が悪かったのですが、これは我々としても相当考えさせられる問題だと思います。虫歯から色々な病気を引き起こし死亡率も高いものですから、昨今のように配給機構が不円滑ですと今は現れなくても数年後にこの結果が現れると、すると日本も独逸の轍を踏むことになるので、どういう状態で現れるかということをよく研究しなくてはなりません。乳歯は生後六ヶ月から二年まで生え永久歯は六歳から八歳までに生えるのですが、世間一般には乳歯の虫歯はいくらあっても構わんと考える向が多いのですが、これは大変な間違いで、乳歯がムシばまれると後に生える永久歯が弱くなり、不整歯列等の原因ともなり、将来充分な栄養も摂れぬ結果となります。ですから健康な永久歯を得るためには乳歯を大切にすることです。

又子供の為に妊婦は栄養を摂って健康な歯を作ることに心掛くべきで、このように前以て準備することが大切で後からではもう遅い。人工栄養より母乳によって育てよ、とは先程弘中先生からもお話がありましたが、歯科の方からもそれが言えるのでして、母体から乳を吸います為、努力を払い、頸の力を増してくる。人工栄養の際のゴムの乳首などは、こんな意味からむしろ良くありません。乳児の授乳の際は汗ばむ程の努力を払い、口や頸に充血しますが、これが刺激となって頸骨が発達し、順調に生え揃うわけです。そんな意味で先ず母乳が一番ですね。

天野博士：はあ、そうすると乳歯ぐらいと仲々馬鹿にならぬものですね。

矢尾博士：そうです。乳歯の虫歯は早く治療するに越したことはありません。ムシバの初期であればセメントで埋める程度で結構ですし、費用も安く上がるわけです。費用の点ですが、先程からお話に出ました妊産婦の問題でも入院の為に巧く行かぬ場合が多いんじゃないですか。先日郷里（岡山）へちょっと帰りましたが、向こうでは県の斡旋で健康保健が行き届いていて非常に安い費用で入院出来る。一例をあげると、私の父が入院の際入院料五十銭、食費一円二十銭といった具合で村人からも非常に喜ばれ、利用されているが、これは朝鮮にも拡めて貰いたいと思います。それからムシバの根本的予防についで、次に歯ブラシを使ってカスを除くこの第二の予防法を励行すれば絶対ムシバにならぬといってよいでしょう。もっとも之れには『正しいブラシの使い方』が必要になって来るんです。『タテ』に使うんですね。それから朝はやるが夜は面倒臭いというのは大へんな間違いで、夜寝る前にやるのが予防上効果が一番挙るわけです。

戸村女史：塩と歯磨き粉の相違はどんなものでしょう？

矢尾博士：大した違いはありません。

天野博士：では幼児の教育については『友の会』では？

矢島女史：はい、友の会幼児生活団というので火曜組来年国民学校に上る者、水曜組五、六歳で毎週一回児島さん宅で開いています。歯磨きの講習にも特別に力を入れていまして、五、六歳の子供の頃は他人へ見せびらかしの心理が働くので、これを利用して大勢でやりますと大へん励みになるのでございます。

天野博士：崔先生、あなたは多忙な中によく優秀な子さんを沢山お育てのようですが、何か秘訣でもお有りでしょうか。

崔女史：学校の仕事の多忙な中にもお蔭様で三人の子供はみな丈夫に育ちました。乳飲児を育てますには人一倍気を使いますが、何より初めから時間を正確に授乳することだと思いました。私の仕事の上からも昼寝て夜寝ないのは困りますので子守さんに頼んで極力昼は寝かさないよう夜はぐっすり寝る習慣をつけました。規則的な生活が病気させぬ秘訣のように思います。

弘中博士：本当に結構なお話ですね。

天野博士：いわゆる教養ある婦人必ずしも丈夫な良い子を育てず、そうでない婦人でも立派に児童愛護の実を挙げている実例も少ないのですが、どういう母が一体よい母ということになりましょうかね、弘中先生．．．

弘中博士：つまり子供はよく育てるからよく育つのであって、物分かりの悪い婦人も随分多いです（笑声）

永井氏：自分本位のあやし方をする婦人もありましてね（笑声）

金女史：朝鮮は死亡率が高いのですから、乳幼児の相談所の如きものはも少し沢山あって欲しいですね。大学病院、医専、旭医専、日赤その他に施療乳児院といったものを設けて戴いて予防や治療を徹底して戴き附設産院等も欲しいですね。国家の興亡は幼児からであり、母の懐から生れるものであっても幼児は各人のものでなく、国家のものであります。

京城日報　1943年5月3日

児童愛護座談会　本社後援　（下）

母よ子に厳しかれ

人みしり、物おじはよくない

岩佐氏：総督府では今年の一月から育児暦を配布しています。妊婦の心得や出産と月別育児法、疾病の早期手当等初めての母親でも分かるように詳細を極めています。

須江女史：毎週火曜丁子屋で開かれます緑旗聯盟主催の乳幼児相談所は回を重ねる毎に盛会です。十二月までに総計五百五十四名の子供の診察に応じました。相談件数は三〇六件、母乳について一一〇件、人工栄養について一八件、離乳期について一七七件でした。この乳児暦を配布するほか、資材難の折柄離乳期の食物の作り方、着物の利用法、肌着の作り方等種々研究しています。

矢島女史：冬季をどう過ごすかということも相当大きな問題ですし、燃料の関係から温突部屋とストーブとどちらが良いかなど会員間で統計をとっています。積極的には乳児体操なども良く、母親が助けてやらせることもよいと思います。

大塚氏：昨年は週間中『母と子の展覧会』を開いて満員でしたが、今年も育英会で内容を変えて開催致します。今年は育児講演会を新たに開き七日には府民館で城大泉先生の講演会と映画の夕が催されます。

天野博士：それでは子供の精神教育をどうするかという問題に入って戴きたいと思います。

嶺社会部長：今日では乳幼児の問題は唯単に人類的な立場からでなく、国家に通ずるもの、即ち国家的立場からすべてが考えられなくてはなりません。六歳位までの子供でも甘えたり我が儘だったり、人見しりしたり、沈鬱な子だったりではならない。国家が要求する子供は飽くまで明るく伸び伸びとした強い子でなければなりません。小さい子供で美しい動作、愛らしい心持の子供というものが存在するとおもいます。そうでない子供は結局母親が悪い。周囲の環境がそうさせたと云えると思います。例えば障子を破る子など母親がだらしないことに原因します。人みしりする子なども健全ではありませんね。

天野博士：只今の話のように母親の態度これは確かに重要ですね。国家の子供ですから錬成も必要です。

須江女史：母親は朝から晩までの家事一切を忠実に尽くすことが即ち大君に捧げまつることです。大君の辺にひれふす心が日本的躾だと思います。

天野博士：人みしりしたり物おじする様な子供は将来共栄圏の指導者として物の役に立たない子供の躾方には何とか要領があると思うんですが、友の会ではどんな風に？

矢島女史：友の会幼児生活団ではよく叱らな過ぎるといわれるんですが、私共では子供に気が付いて貰いたいのが主義です。

天野博士：子供の教育に当って個人主義的、自由主義的な従来の態度を一擲して全体的なるもの国家的なものに是正されなければならないと思いますが、この点半島の方の御意見はどんなものでしょうか。

金女史：地方からの婦人見学団なんかの話を聞いてみましても、徴兵令施行発表以来、半島児童の根本観念もすっかり変わって来て、自分達も立派な皇軍兵士になれるんだという目的意識を発見して喜び勇んでいるように聞いていますが、この際徹底的に児童の使命を吹き込んで貰いたいと思うんです。

天野博士：それから子供の玩具の問題がありますね。資材の少ない関係から随分粗悪なものを見受けるようです。どんな玩具が良いか、弘中さん一つ。

弘中博士：先ず怪我せぬようなもの。塗料の粗悪なものも危険です。教育的であること等が挙げられます。

須江女史：玩具の与え方なんですが、天長節とかお正月とか国家的な意義ある日に意味を含めて与えるようにすれば子供達は大事にする気になると思います。ちょっとした手土産風に持って行って与える風習があるが、あれば一番いけないことだと思います。

洪氏：粗悪玩具は商人が利益のために勝手に作るからでして、何とか統制して貰いたいものです。二、三円も出して直ぐ壊れて了う。これでは子供に満足感を与えた次の瞬間には失望を与えることとなり、その心理的に与える影響は由々しきものがあり、私などここ数年間買わぬことにしています。

嶺社会部長：私の處の小さい子供は積み木とダイアモンドゲームとを巧に組み合わせて米軍艦撃沈等の時局遊びを工夫していますが、子供の世界にも工夫や構成がなされることは喜ばしいことと思います。

矢島女子：空箱や蜜蜂箱に色紙を貼って使用すればママゴト遊びや汽車になったり随分重宝に使えます。

崔女史：宅では近頃人形を止めてマクラを赤ちゃんだと抱いています。（笑声）

金氏：児童心理の研究指導機関もあって欲しいと思います。幼児指導を過った為長じて不良化した事例も多いので、優良児童表彰の半面こういった心理の指導機関も総督府で考慮してほしいものです。

天野博士：子供は肉体的にも強いし精神的にもどこかしっかりした気魄のある者に育てるには精神教育に一段と魂を入れるべきだと思います。強い精神力を吹き込むには一体どうすればよいか。

国民学校教育においては勿論一般家庭においてもどんな風に扱うべきか。これについては例えば毎朝神棚を礼拝して規律正しい生活を送るとか、精神を乱すことを許さぬ親の厳格な態度を示すことによって自然に子供に反映させるとかですね。親自身が勝ち抜く態度と強い気魄を堅持すれば自然子供はついてゆくと思います。従来の日本の学校調査統計によってみても家庭の経済力の豊かな家の子供は成績が余り芳しくなく、中流又は下層家庭から返ってしっかりした者が出ている。これは親は自分の希望に及びつかなかったから、せめて子供には追いつついて貰いたいと云う精神の厳しさが子供に反映して常に後押しする結果だと思います。では時間も参りましたから、この辺で閉会致します。＝終＝