Governor Koiso told Korean conscripts in Imperial Army in 1944 address that the onus was on them to reduce anti-Korean discrimination by 'cleansing away' the 'vestiges of the Yi Dynasty within themselves' to become less dishonest, and be 'penetrated in the true meaning of national identity'

The following address is a remarkable admission by the Governor-General of Korea that Korean conscripts had filed complaints about being discriminated against. However, the Governor-General dismissed these complaints and reasoned that, if there was anti-Korean prejudice everywhere, then that must mean that the Koreans themselves were mostly responsible for the discrimination that they experienced. Sadly, this talking point is still widely used among the far-right in Japan today. 

However, what is definitely not embraced by the far-right in Japan today are the contrived talking points about the common origins of Japanese and Korean mythology which appear in this article, along with the rest of the propaganda lines about Japanese-Korean unity, unification, and common ancestry which the far-right in Japan would rather conveniently forget about.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 23, 1944

Take the initiative and set a good example

The Governor-General's instruction to the conscripted students

The third batch of conscripted students, who had undergone rigorous training for two weeks at the Army's First Volunteer Training Center and completed their training on February 17, returned home from mainland Japan under the special warm hospitality of Governor-General Koiso. Kneeling before the knees of their parents, they immediately pledged their firm determination to serve as industrial warriors, and they returned to the training center on the 22nd.

Governor-General Koiso addressing the Korean conscripts at their training center.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on the same day, Governor-General Koiso arrived at the training center accompanied by Secretary Kobayashi to give encouragement to the conscripted students. Director Kaida and his staff welcomed the Governor-General to the small auditorium, where he was bathed by the warm sunlight that shone brilliantly through the windows. He quietly took the podium in front of the students, all of whom were determined to be on the front lines of production warfare, with their faces tensed from the rigorous training they had undergone even during that short period of time. The Governor-General stared into each student's face with the warmth of a loving father. This was the third time that he had addressed the conscripts. Governor-General Koiso has fiercely instructed and encouraged the first, second, and third batches of students, one after the other, who left their nest like young sweetfish. The Governor-General suddenly spoke up.

"It is truly a joy to see the students who are about to rise to the forefront of increasing their war potential this autumn, in the face of an intense war situation, when we must establish a posture of victory and undefeatability that must definitely prevail. I would like to express my personal opinion to those students who are advancing to the forefront of society, as well as to those who should lead the front line of production reinforcement as bold individuals," he began.

"The current administration of Korea has been governed by successive Governors-General who have ruled with the same great benevolent spirit in accordance with the imperial decree given at the time of the annexation of Korea in 1910. Compared to those days, Korea has made remarkable progress and development. Furthermore, there are no traces of the past Goryeo and Yi dynasties. Now, even in mainland Japan, there are few people who have not developed their national spirit. Japan, having awakened from its dream of national isolation, rapidly adopted a material culture in response to the global situation.

If Japan had grasped its spiritual tone along with this development, it would have become even more robust. Regrettably, however, there were Japanese who preferred Western culture over their own, and there were many Westerners who wore masks pretending to be Japanese. We should not follow the example of these misguided Japanese. Human beings are the spiritual heads of all things. Humanity does not live within laws and regulations. Laws and regulations are things that were created by human beings, and human beings must live with inspiration.

However, there are some of you who boast that they have studied at a higher education institution, but this is wrong. There are some mainland Japanese people who mistakenly believe that Korea is a colony, but what about the colonial policies of Britain and the United States? They set up financial institutions in Burma, India, the Dutch East Indies, French Indochina, the Philippines, and even in China, which is not a colony, and the funds in these institutions did not come from the home countries.

The funds were extracted from the people of China. With this money, they built factories and companies in China and put coolies to work. All the profits were brought back to their home countries. The home countries exploit other peoples for their own pleasure. This is their colonial policy. If we follow such countries, the development of East Asia will be hindered.

Just as the East Asian peoples were about to wipe out these colonial policies and build a unified East Asian nation, an obstacle stood in their way. It was Confucianism. Confucianism in Korea is an admirable existence. However, the fault lies in the fact that the Koreans were enthralled by the superficial ideas of China and did not grasp the true essence of Confucianism.

Then Christianity entered the picture. The person calling himself a priest or an evangelist would hold the cross of love in his right hand. But behind the scenes, he would try to overturn the basis for the annexation of Korea because Britain's colonial policy would be doomed to failure if Korea were governed successfully under the great benevolent spirit."

Here, the Governor-General revealed the true nature of Dangun Joseon and Gija Joseon based on their histories, and asserted that Dangun was Susanoo-no-Mikoto or his son Isotakeru-no-Mikoto, and that there was no doubt that the Japanese and the Koreans have the same ancestors and roots. He then went on to say with increased emphasis that Japanese-Korean unity is so obvious that it is needless to mention it.

"History and tradition cannot be ignored. I feel sorry for the people of the Goryeo and Yi Dynasties. The traditional spirit that was nurtured in those times has not been successfully removed from Korea. You must have felt discriminated against when you went to mainland Japan. This is due to the lack of education among mainland Japanese people in the first place, but I have heard people in Manchuria and Northern China say that they are troubled by Koreans. They say that Koreans have no sense of responsibility, tell lies, have no patience, and so on. I partly agree with them, but I wonder who gave the Koreans such a spirit. It was ultimately due to the evil governance of the Yi Dynasty. In other words, it was due to the exploitative governance of the Yi Dynasty.

But that is not the true essence of the Korean people. In order to grasp the true essence, the Koreans must be thoroughly penetrated in the true meaning of national identity. Some people laughed at me when I first arrived at my post, saying that I was possessed by the gods, but it seems that they have now understood. You will understand why I, the Governor-General, call on our 24 million Korean compatriots to be thoroughly penetrated in the true meaning of national identity at every opportunity."

The Governor General's words were sharp and piercing. He promised the students, "Since we do not have time to discuss the true meaning of national identity here and now, I will give you an assignment to read carefully what I, the Governor-General, said in my speeches, which were published in Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) from the 16th."

He continued, "Some of you did not volunteer to become volunteer soldiers because I did not give you enough guidance. It is not your fault. I must again, give guidance to such people. That is why I made you stand on the front line of increasing the war potential. Life in the training camp holds a clue to grasping the true essence.

If any of you think that conscription is a punishment, then the spirit of the Yi Dynasty still remains within you. Some of you still have wrong ideas, as shown in your writings. That is not the way to go. Such an attitude will not allow you to succeed in any task that you undertake." The Governor-General's tone was fervent and intense as he repeatedly admonished them as if they were his own children who took the wrong path.

"The responsibility for this lies solely with me," he blamed himself. Finally, he lowered his tone and said,

"You are about to take the initiative as industrial warriors, and your words and actions must be a model for others. You must strive to remake yourselves as human beings. Do it in a manly manner, with a pure heart, as if you were mirrors to each other. We must cleanse away anyone who harbors vestiges of the Yi Dynasty within them. All of you must take the initiative in striving to reach a place where there is no discrimination between Koreans and Japanese, both mentally and materially. I want you all to take the initiative in taking the lead in this effort with the virtue of humility and with an awareness of the true essence of yourselves as spiritual beings, without being boastful about being graduates of higher education institutions."

He then looked around at everyone and said, "How about it? Will you work with us in that spirit? I'm counting on you". He then turned to Director Kaida and asked him with concern, "Are there any sick people here?" All the participants bowed to him, and he concluded his talk with some cheerful words, "Have a good day. Take care of yourselves." Then he left at 3:30 p.m.

[Photo: Governor-General Koiso giving his instructions to the conscripted students.]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-02-23

(Transcription)

京城日報　1944年2月23日

率先模範たれ

総督徴用学徒に訓示

陸軍第一志願兵訓練所で二週間に亘って厳正なる訓練を受けて去る十七日終了した第三次徴用学徒〇〇名は内地から真っすぐに入所したのを小磯総督の特別の温情で帰郷。直ちに産業戦士として挺身せんとする固き決意を父母の膝下で誓い、二十二日再び訓練所に戻った。

この日午後一時半過ぎ小磯総督は徴用学徒激励のため、小林秘書官を伴って来所。海田所長以下職員の出迎えを受けて小講堂に臨み、窓から燦々と射し込む四温日和の温かい陽光を一ぱいに受けて総督は、短期間と雖も厳格なる訓練に一だんと引きしまった面に生産戦の第一線に起たんとする決意を漂わせる学徒全員を前に静かに登壇。慈父の如き温容をもって一人一人の顔をじっと見つめる総督は徴用学徒に説くことこれで三度目なのだ。第一回徴用学徒から二回、三回と清新溌剌と若鮎の如く次に巣立ち行くこれら学徒に踵を接して烈々説き来り激励する小磯総督である。総督はおもむろに口を切る。

『苛烈なる戦局に直面し断じて勝たねばならぬ必勝不敗の態勢を確立する秋、その戦力増強の第一線に起って行かんとする諸子に接するは洵に欣快である。堂々たる一個の人間として生産増強の最前線に指導者たるべきと共に社会の陣頭に進む諸子に対して私見を述べたい』と冒頭して、

『朝鮮における現下の統治に就いては明治四十三年韓国併合に際して賜った詔により歴代の総督が一視同仁の大御心を体して統治し来ったのである。朝鮮はその当時に比して現今は格段の進歩発展を遂げている。さらに高麗、李朝時代から見ると全く昔の面影を留めていない。現在内地の人々でも精神の陶冶されていぬ人が少ない。鎖国の夢から醒めていた日本は、世界の情勢に目ざめて急激に物質文化を取り入れた。

この発展と共に精神的基調をしっかりと把握して行ったならば日本は更に剛健なるものとなっていたであろう。然し遺憾乍ら一にも西洋、二にも西洋と西洋かぶれになり、日本人の面を被った西洋人が多かったのである。これら誤れる日本人に見習えというのではない。人間は万物の霊長である。人類は法令の中に住むものではない。法令や規則は人間が作ったものであり、人間は感激をもって生きて行かねばならぬ。

然し諸子の中には自分は高等学府に学んだ者だという自慢を鼻にかけている者がいるが、そんなことでは駄目だ。内地人の中で朝鮮は植民地だと間違った観念を抱いている間違った者がいるが、ここで英米の植民政策は如何なるものか。ビルマ、印度、蘭印、仏印、比島を初め植民地でない支那に入って来てさえ金融機関を設け、この中にある資金は本国から持って来たのではない。

みな支那民衆から搾取したものだ。この金で支那に工場や会社を建てて苦力を使って働かせる。この利益はみな本国に持って行く。本国は享楽せんがために他民族から搾取するのである。これが彼等の植民地政策である。こんなものに追随していては東洋の発展は阻害される。

これを一掃して東洋民族が渾然一体となって建設しようという時に邪魔が入った。それは儒教である。朝鮮の儒教は立派な存在である。然し支那の表面的思想に憧憬してその儒教の真髄を把握しなかったところに欠点があるのだ。

そこに又キリスト教が入り込んで来た。神父とか伝道者と称して右手は愛の十字架を持ち、その裏面からは朝鮮において一視同仁の統治がうまく実行されたら英国の考える植民地政策が失敗に期するので韓国合併の根本を覆えさんとしたのである』

総督はここで檀君朝鮮と箕子朝鮮の歴史によってくるその本質を明かにして、檀君とは素戔嗚尊かまたはその御子五十猛神であり、内鮮の同祖同根に就いては疑いのないものであると喝破。今さら内鮮一体など言うまでもないことであると語を一だんと強めるのであった。

『歴史と伝統は蔑ろに出来ぬ。高麗、李朝時代の人達は気の毒であった。その時代に培われて来た伝統精神が今だに朝鮮から脱け切らぬのである。諸子は内地に行って恐らくは差別待遇を感じて来たことであろう。それはもとより内地人の教養が足らぬものであるが、満州、北支でも朝鮮人には困るという声を聞くのである。責任観念が無く、嘘を言い辛抱強くない等々である。私は一部において是認するが、誰がこのような精神を与えたか、それは結局李朝時代の悪政によるものである。搾取政治がそうさせたのである。

然し本質はそうではない。その本質を把握せんがためには国体の本義に透徹することだ。小磯は神がかりだと世間で笑うものが着任当初はいたが、今では分かってくれたらしい。諸子も総督が何故に機会ある毎国体本義の透徹を二千四百万同胞に呼ぶか分かるであろう』

総督の語気は鋭く肺腑を衝かんばかりだ。『今ここで国体本義を説く時間がないので総督が講話したものが去る十六日から京日に掲載されているから、それを熟読することを宿題する』と学徒と約束した。

さらに『諸子が志願兵へ志願しなかったことは小磯の指導が足らなかったのである。諸君が悪いのではない。小磯はそれ等の者を再び指導せねばならない。故に諸子を戦力増強の第一線に起たしめたのである。訓練所生活はその本質を提む糸口である。

諸子の中に徴用を懲罰だと思っている者があったならば未だ李朝時代の精神が残存するものである。諸子の感想文等に見ると一部の者は未だ間違った観念を持っている。そういうことでは駄目だ。そんな考えではどんな仕事をやっても成功はしない』と諄々道を踏み過った我が子を諭す総督の語調は熱を帯びて激しいが、

”その責任はみな私一身にある”と自己を責める小磯総督である。最後に口調を落として、

『諸子はこれから産業戦士の陣頭に起つのであるが、その言動は活模範たらねばならない。人間の再編成のために努力するのだ。お互いが鏡の如き清い気持ちで男らしくやれ。李朝時代の残滓が腹にあるものは一掃するのだ。精神的、物的にも内鮮無差別の所に到達するために諸子が陣頭に起って努力せねばならない。最高学府を出たということを鼻先にちらつかせることなく、謙譲の美徳を持ち、霊的存在である自己の本質を弁えて率先陣頭に起って貰いたい』と結びグッと一同を見廻して、

『どうだ。その積りで働いてくれるか。しっかり頼むぞ』と力強く激励して壇上を降りた総督は海田所長に向かって『この中に病人はいないか』と心配げに訊ねたのち、全員の敬礼をうけつつ”御気嫌よう。身体を大切に”明るい言葉を残して三時半引き揚げた。

【写真＝徴用学徒に訓示する小磯総督】

Educational supervisor declares that 'old ways of thought of the Korean women must first be corrected', and mocks Korean mothers for being worried for their conscripted sons' lives while they aren't afraid of death when it comes to shopping

This 1943 article describes 200 Korean women packed in an auditorium as Mr. Kondo the colonial educational supervisor delivers a speech full of insults calling them cowards and hypocrites who aren't afraid of death when it comes to shopping. He accuses them of putting the welfare of their own families (excessive filial piety) over loyalty to their nation. The goal of this speech was to convince them to persuade their sons to volunteer to serve in the Imperial Japanese military, but the tenor of the speech was so demeaning and condescending that it might have hurt morale instead. These criticisms of 'Korean Confucianism' and excessive filial piety are echoed in the round-table conference of party officials of November 8, 1943, who discuss how to re-educate the Korean people into loyal Imperial subjects.

On October 20, 1943, the government of Japan-occupied Korea selected certain groups of male students in Korea, like liberal arts college students, to be targets of recruitment into the Japanese military, and it gave these students one month to voluntarily enlist. One day before the deadline, 30% of those students still had not voluntarily enlisted, so an edict was subsequently published on November 19, 1943, to push the remaining students to enlist, threatening them with "special training" under punitive conscription, and spewing death cult propaganda calling on them not to want life and not to fear death, and to obey and martyr themselves for the Emperor. In September 1944, Japanese government did follow through on their threat to implement punitive conscription, but the war ended before these punitive conscripts had a chance to enter the battlefield.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) November 10, 1943

Mothers of the Korean Peninsula are also rising up supporting their beloved children

Strongly advance!

In view of the understanding that the first step in getting the students into the battle lines is to change the minds of their mothers, an executive round-table meeting of the Seoul branch of the Patriotic Women's Association was held at 2:00 p.m. on November 9th in the small auditorium of the Seoul Citizens Hall with Mr. Kuramo, Secretary General of the Patriotic Women's Association, Mr. Kondo, educational supervisor of the Ministry of Education, and Colonel Kawasaki in attendance, along with 200 Korean women.

Mr. Kondo the educational supervisor giving a speech to 200 Korean women.

Mr. Kuramo, Secretary General of the Patriotic Women's Association, gave an opening talk about the national State Shinto ceremonies, and then Mr. Kondo the educational supervisor took the podium:

"In order to make all the special volunteer soldiers rise up, the old ways of thought of the Korean women must first be corrected. For example, they need to eliminate the false belief that you will die if you go to war. You will not necessarily die if you go to the battlefield. Colonel Kawasaki stands here as proof of this. If you are afraid of dying, what is the matter with you that you all walk around shopping without a care, even though enemy planes might attack you right now at any moment?

On the Korean peninsula, Confucianism has placed too much emphasis on the path of 'filial piety'. In contrast, mainland Japanese women are devoted to 'loyalty' at all costs, so they are happy to dedicate their children to their country. If the Korean students do not rise up immediately, it will not only be a shame for their schools, but also a great disgrace and a matter of dishonor for the whole of Korea. If they do not rise up now, my 15 years of life dedicated to Korean education will lose all meaning, and I will only apologize for my crime by committing suicide by seppuku.

There are only ten days left until the deadline. Not even half of the Korean students have volunteered as of now, but I ask for the cooperation of Korean women at home to rise up so that all Korean students will volunteer to serve".

Colonel Kawasaki of the Military Press Department followed up with a prolonged explanation of the great value of a healthy military and a healthy people, saying, "If the mothers are strong, then the nation is strong," and gave encouragement saying "All Korean women, now is the time to rise up!" to start the round-table meeting, conduct a lively question-and-answer session, and end the meeting at 5:00 p.m.

[Photo: The round-table meeting of the Seoul Branch of the Patriotic Women's Association.]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-11-10

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年11月10日

半島の母も総蹶起

愛児の後楯だ、強く進め

学徒を戦列へ就かしむるには先ず母親の頭の切り替えからと半島婦人の総蹶起が望まれる秋、日婦京城府支部役員時局懇談会は九日午後二時から府民館小講堂に倉茂日婦事務局長、近藤視学官、川崎大佐を迎え半島婦人二百名参列して開催した。

国民儀礼について倉茂事務局長挨拶の後、近藤視学官登壇：

この度の特別志願兵に総蹶起させる為には先ず半島婦人の古い誤った考えを是正してほしい。手近な例では戦争に行けば死ぬ等の誤った考えは一掃してほしい。戦地へ行っても必ず死なない。その証拠にはここに川崎大佐殿もこうして居られるではないか。死ぬのが怖いのなら只今即刻でも敵機の襲来があるかも知れないのに皆平気でゾロゾロ買い物に歩いているのはどうしたことか。

半島では儒教の影響から『孝』の道に重きを置き過ぎた。内地婦人は何をおいても『忠』に徹しているので、わが子を喜んで御国へ捧げることが出来る。半島学生が只今即刻蹶起して貰わねば、ひとり学園の恥のみでなく、朝鮮全体の一大汚辱であり、名誉に関わる問題なのである。今蹶起して貰わねば私の朝鮮教育界十五年の生活も全く意義を失い、割腹して罪を謝するのみと思う。

締め切りまで後十日間です。現在まで半数に達していないが、家庭婦人の蹶起により是非とも全学徒が志願するよう協力ねがいたい。

と述べて続いて軍報道部川崎大佐は『母強ければ国強し』と健兵健民の妙譜を諄々と説き、『全半島婦人よ、今こそ蹶起すべし』と激励し終って懇談会に入り質疑応答に賑わいて同五時閉会した。

【写真＝日婦京城府支部時局懇談会】

Governor-General Koiso blamed excessive chili peppers for ‘stimulating’ Koreans and making them ‘mentally foggy’, and ordered Koreans to ‘improve’ their diets by eating more salt and less chili peppers in his desperate 1944 push to revitalize the war effort

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.

It is February 1944, over two years into total war against the United States and Britain, and it was not going so well for Imperial Japan. There were severe food shortages, and everyone in Korea was asked to consume less in general, but Governor-General Koiso apparently singled out chili peppers to disparage in this speech. Governor-General Koiso was the most powerful man in Korea at the time with near dictatorial powers, so his pronouncements would not have boded well for the average Korean's access to chili peppers in their food rations.

As a Japanese person, this article uncomfortably reawakened a childhood memory of mine, reminding me of the time my grandmother told me that Koreans were crazy or stupid from eating too much chili peppers. I was immediately skeptical, because my Korean classmate at the time was an overachiever, and my sister was receiving violin lessons from his father, who was a world-renowned violin prodigy from South Korea, so I pointed all of this out to her. My grandmother was 19 years old at the time this 1944 article was written, so unfortunately, she probably absorbed the propaganda of the Imperial Japanese government at the time as an impressionable young woman.

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

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 23, 1944

Immediate improvement of eating habits

The Korean Peninsula rallies to strengthen the war effort

Governor-General Koiso announced the following at a meeting of the bureau chiefs on the 22nd:

1. Intention to permeate the administrative apparatus at the lowest levels

2. Intention to improve civilian life

3. Intention to raise the will to fight decisive battles

In the face of the unprecedented urgency of the war situation, he emphasized the extremely important things that the 25 million hearts and souls of the people of the Korean peninsula should be immediately focused on in order to strengthen the war effort.

The permeation of the administrative apparatus at the lowest levels and the heightening of the war spirit are things that Governor Koiso has always emphasized at every opportunity. Among them, the focus on the improvement of civilian life encourages the Korean peninsula to live fighting decisive battles and stand up revitalized.

In other words, the diets of the Korean people do not contain enough salt, and they eat a lot of chili peppers. If they eat chili peppers indiscriminately, they are stimulated and become mentally foggy. The British, as part of a conspiratorial policy, forced black pepper on the Indians and did not provide them with salt. Even looking at this "black pepper policy" involving stimulants, it is clear as day that chili peppers dampen the activity of the human body. In order to live fighting decisive battles, we must immediately improve our diets first.

On the other hand, we should provide healthy recreation to the farming villages to reward their willingness to increase agricultural production.

When the walnut trees along the roadsides and on vacant lots are increased, the nuts become food and the wood can be used as gunstocks.

Next, we focus on the structures of homes. Ventilation and lighting will be studied and improved with simple plans. This is to create a healthy spirit in brightly lit homes. In the villages, shrines should be built to serve as centers of faith, and a forest should be established around the shrine to serve as a meeting place and the center of the farmers' faith.

In order to raise the war spirit, youth volunteer corps should be formed in each settlement, and they should be the leaders and motivating force of the farming villages and settlements. In addition, we need to rally the people to increase production with a spirit of renewal and daring. Furthermore, we need to establish and activate military labor support programs, and also encourage and comfort civilian industrial warriors. These decisive practices to increase the war potential, which the Governor-General had conceived even in minor details for the sake of victory and the 25 million people in the Korean peninsula, are to be put into action immediately by the Governor-General in conjunction with the Korean Federation of National Power. In response, all the people will be placed in battle positions.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-02-23

(Transcription)

京城日報　1944年2月23日

即刻、食生活の改善

戦力増強に半島総蹶起

小磯総督は二十二日の局長会議で、

一、末端行政の滲透に対する着意

二、民生改善への着意

三、決戦意欲昂揚の着意

など、戦局が未曾有の緊迫に直面して、戦力増強へいま、ただちに半島から二千五百万心魂を傾けるべき極めて重大なことがらを強調した。

末端行政の滲透、戦意昂揚は小磯総督がこれまで機会ある毎に喝破強調してやまなかったことであるが、その中、民生改善への着意は、半島の決戦生活と更生蹶起を促しているのである。

即ち半島人の食生活において塩分が足らず、唐辛子を沢山とっている。唐辛子を無暗にとると刺戟されて精神的にぼやけてくる。英国が謀略政策として胡椒を印度へ強制的に押しつけて、塩を与えなかった。刺戟剤によるこの”胡椒政策”をみても唐辛子は人体の活動力を鈍らせることは火を睹るより明かである。決戦生活において先ずこの食生活から直ちに改善して行かなければならぬ。

一方、農村には健全なる娯楽を与え、農業増産意欲に酬いようというのである。

街路樹に、また空地のクルミを増産すると、これの実は食用になり木は銃床ともなるのだ。

次は住宅の構造である。痛風、採光の改善を研究、簡単な企画をもって改良して行く。これは明るい住居によって健全な精神をつくるのである。部落には信仰の中心なるべき神祠をつくり、森を形成して農民の信仰と会合の中心たらしめるように着意することだ。

決戦意欲の向上めざして部落を単位に青少年の挺身隊を結成、農村部落の指導体とし推進的存在とする。そして清新敢為の気魄をもって増産へ蹶起、更に兵労援護事業を興して活発化させると共に民間にも産業戦士に対する激励慰問が必要であるのだ。勝ち抜くためにまた半島二千五百万の幸のために総督が些細な部面にまでに着想した戦力増強へのこれらの決戦実践は総督府が、国民総力朝鮮聯盟と表裏一体となり、早速実行への火蓋を切るはずで、これに呼応、全民衆は戦闘配置に就くのだ。

Propaganda article contrasting the 'Bad Korean Retailer' who is greedy, mean, dishonest, and lawless with the 'Good Korean Retailer' who is selfless, kind, honest, law-abiding, and committed to Japanese-Korean unification (Seoul, 1942)

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

This is a sort of 'Good Korean versus Bad Korean' kind of propaganda article, in which the stereotypically bad Korean (greedy, mean, dishonest, lawless) is contrasted with the stereotypically good, pro-Imperial Japan Korean (selfless, kind, honest, law-abiding). To make this point, the reporters go out of their way to smear Mr. Park Soo-bok, one Korean small business owner, on a newspaper read by the entire country.

But I believe there must be more to this story. Mr. Park ran his business at 1-135 Hangang-daero. 1 Hangang-daero corresponds to the First Area (漢江通一番地), which was closely associated with the Imperial Japanese military. My guess is that Mr. Park must have once collaborated closely with the Imperial Japanese military to have run a business inside a military area, but there must have been some sort of falling out in the relationship which led to this smear campaign against him.

The 'Good Korean' was Mr. Kim Dal-soo, who worked at the Kitagawa Grocery Store in the Yongsan neighborhood. As shown on the map, he was a close neighbor of Mr. Kaneko, a similarly pro-Imperial-Japan Korean sushi chef who ran Sakura Sushi restaurant, whom I introduced earlier in a previous post. Perhaps Mr. Kim Dal-soo provided Mr. Kaneko with the food supplies for his restaurant?

Below are annotated maps contrasting the locations of Kitagawa Grocery Store and Sakura Sushi Restaurant in Seoul between 1933 and today. The 1933 map of Seoul is available here.

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) July 10, 1942

A bright store of Japanese-Korean unification

Practicing the New Way of Business with kindness and honesty

There is nothing more frightening in the world than a merchant who is blinded by greed. In this day and age, merchants and customers alike must unite as one in a powerful unity, working together to complete the Holy War, throwing everything they have into the effort. If merchants lacking self-awareness handle all the necessities of life for the people only to aim for profit, then they must truly be one of the enemies who have the blood of Chiang Kai-shek in their veins, but there are many merchants entrenched in Seoul who have this kind of greed. Let us take a look at the behavior of a typical greedy merchant.

Park Soo-bok (박수복/朴守福) (48), a fruit and vegetable merchant at 1-135 Hangang-daero, was cited four times this spring by the Yongsan Police Department's Economic Affairs Section and punished for hoarding, not showing prices, and racketeering, etc. Each time, he said "I'm sorry, sir, but I will never do it again, so please forgive me..." He would sob with tears of repentance. However, once he was released, he would immediately do the same thing again with impunity. When the detective who had taken him in confronted him and said, "You did it again," he replied, "I don't mind being locked up, as long as I make a profit...." He said it like it was nothing. The officers in charge of the interrogation were always amazed at him.

But bad deeds do not last. Prices were high, the staff was unfriendly, and customers recently stopped coming due to behavior that went against the times and caused trouble with the police. This is a true testament to the fact that a merchant must be honest and kind to his customers in order to survive. We wonder if there are any other stores that are approaching the same fate as this one. We should reconsider the proverb, "bring a walking stick before you fall" [in English, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"].

On the other hand, there is a story of a reliable and cheerful merchant. The Kitagawa Shigekichi grocery store located in the Motomachi 2-chōme Public Market is an impressive store which has been practicing Japanese-Korean unification for ten years now. The owner, Shigekichi Kitagawa (62), who lives in 8 Ōshima-chō and owns the aforementioned store, hired a ruddy-faced boy named Kim Dal-soo (김달수/金達壽) (26) twelve years ago. Kim treats his bosses, Mr. and Mrs. Kitagawa, with the same respect as he shows towards his parents, and is very affectionate toward his customers.

Even when dealing with customers for as little as one sen [roughly 20-25 cents in USD today], Kim treats them with the utmost courtesy. In no time, Kitagawa Grocery Store became well known in the neighborhood. The customers were honest. Business was booming with crowds of customers elbow-to-elbow. Impressed by this, Mr. Kitagawa entrusted his entire current store to Kim. If the owner trusted him, Kim would be even more careful and would not make a single mistake even to a single sen or rin [10 rin = 1 sen] as he managed the store for the owners.

After the Incident, rationing of foodstuffs was implemented. However, Kim's merchant spirit, as solid as iron and as pure as a mirror, which he had developed over the past 12 years, shone even brighter. His customers were so amicably supplied with the scarce supply of products that it seemed that it was only for this day that he insisted on putting kindness and honesty first. His customers praised him saying 'What an admirable store!', and the Yongsan Police Department's Economic Affairs Section has also given its approval. As long as the merchants show kindness, darkness will never take hold.

Photo: Mr. Kitagawa, the owner of the "Bright Store", giving a warm welcome to customers.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-07-10

(Transcription)

京城日報　1942年7月10日

内鮮一体の明るい店

親切と正直で新商道実践

世の中で何か怖いといったって欲に目の眩んだ商人ほど始末におえぬものはない。殊に商人もお客も上下を打って一丸とする強力な団結のもとに聖戦完遂を目ざし、総力をぶちまけて進まねばならぬ今日。国民の生活必需品を一手に扱う商人が無自覚で利益ばかり狙っていたんでは、これは正に蒋逆の血をひいた敵の一人といわねばならぬところが、この種の利敵根性を持った商人が可成り府内にも蟠居している。では代表的な貪欲商人の行状を公開してみよう。

漢江通一ノ一三五青果商朴守福（四八）は所轄龍山署経済係に今春来前後四回も引致され商品の買占め、価格無表示、暴利行為等の罪名で処罰されたが、その度に『へい恐れ入ります。旦那決して二度と致しませんから、どうか御勘弁のほどを．．．』と悔悟の涙に咽ぶのである。ところが一旦放免されると早速また同じことを平気でやるといった有様だ。引致した係刑事が『またやったな』と突き込めば『あっしあ留置位平気さあ、儲かりさえすりゃいんで．．．』こともなげに云ってのける。こいつには取り調べの警官も舌を巻くのが常だった。

しかし悪運は続くものではない。品の値段は高いし不親切ではあり、警察には御厄介になり通しという時局に逆行する行状ぶりに最近ではバッタリと客足が絶えてしまい、開店休業が続いている。商人はどこまでもお客に正直で親切でなくちゃ立ってゆけぬことを如実に語っているわけだ。どこかにこの店と同じ運命を間近に控えている店はないか。『転ばぬ先の杖』の諺を再吟味しておくべきであろう。

これはまた頼もしく朗らかな商人の話。元町二丁目公設市場内北川重吉商店（食料品商）は内鮮一体を既に十年前から実施している感心な店で、経営者北川重吉さん（六二）は大島町八に住み、前記店舗を持っているが、今から十二年前紅顔の少年金達壽君（二六）を雇った。金君は主人北川さん夫妻を親の如く敬い、お客には全くほれぼれするほど愛想がよい。

仮令一銭の取り引きにも金君は実に丁寧にお客を扱う。たちまちの中に北川商店は附近の評判となった。お客は正直である。押すな押すなの盛況を呼んだ。これに感心した北川さんは今の店を金君に全部委せた。金君は主人が信用すれば一層自重して一銭一厘も間違えず店を切り盛って主家に尽くしている。

事変この方、食料品の統制に次ぐ配給制が実施された。しかし金君の十二年間に練りあげた鉄の如く固い、鏡の如く清い商人魂は一層光りを放って、この日のためにこそ親切と正直第一主義で通したと思えるほど、少ない商品を押し寄せる顧客に円満に配給して”感心な店じゃ”とお客たちから褒められ、所轄龍山署経済係からも太鼓判を押されている。商人に親切さえあれば決して闇は出来なかろう。

【写真＝『明るい店』の主人北川さんの応待振り】

Five Korean singers, including future pop stars of postwar South Korea, performed at a 1943 Imperial Japanese Army music party and sang a newly released song with lyrics 'the spirit of the Empire, which is a burning fire, we're at the Emperor's command, we're in awe, we of Japan harden our resolve'

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.

In October 1943, there was a music performance held in what is now the Former National Assembly Building in Seoul, in which the following five popular Korean singers at the time controversially sang an Imperial Japanese military song to commemorate the implementation of the conscription system in Korea (Kim Hae-song is not included among the four singers explicitly listed in the article, so it is unclear whether he actually sang the song, or merely present in another role).

• Kim Hae-song 金海松/김해송 (1911-1950)
• Park Hyang-rim 朴響林/박향림 (1921-1946)
• Nam In-soo 南仁樹/남인수 (1918-1962)
• Lee Nan-young 李蘭影/이난영 (1916-1965)
• Choi Byung-ho 崔丙浩/최병호 (1916-1994)

The lyrics of the Imperial Japanese military song that they performed were as follows.

Song of Healthy Soldiers in Training

We carry the honor of Japan

We, the young men of training

The spirit of the Empire, which is a burning fire

We carry it, we carry it, we must fulfill our mission

Our sincere hearts are like the scent of cherry blossoms

We are at the Emperor's command

We have been summoned, the Peninsula hardens its resolve

We are in awe, we are in awe, we are just in awe

Under the banner of Your Majesty's great authority

We are the brave warriors of the iron wall

We of Japan harden our resolve

We will show our military prowess ahead of others

健兵錬成の歌

日の本の誉れを担う

錬成の若人われら

火ともゆる皇国魂

引っさげて、引っさげて、使命果たさん

真心は桜と香れ

大君のみたてぞわれら

召されたり、半島断じ

かしこしや、かしこしや、何か畏れん

大御稜威、御旗のもとに

鉄壁の勇士ぞわれら

われこそは、日本断じ

先駆けて、先駆けて、武勲示さん

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

Not surprisingly, this has led to allegations that the five Korean artists were traitors. Looking up their names on the Encyclopedia of Pro-Japanese Collaborationists in Korea (친일인명사전) using the Android version with OCR software and machine translation, I found that only Kim Hae-song and Nam In-soo were listed. I'm sharing their Korean language entries at the bottom of this post.

The ones who survived went on to have thriving music careers in postwar South Korea. The five Korean singers still have a loyal online fanbase today. You can easily listen to their old recorded music if you search their names in Hanja or Hangul on Youtube. Kim Hae-song and Lee Nan-young were the parents of the Kim Sisters, arguably the first global Hallyu stars and the precursors of today's BTS. 

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) October 14, 1943

Go forward! Praise the conscription system!

A song launch party to be held October 17th for 'Song of Healthy Soldiers in Training'

Go forward! The entire people of the Patriotic Peninsula are playing a valiant training song with excitement about the implementation of the conscription system, and they are energized with the blood of martyrdom, saying, "We will go to the front as members of the Imperial Army!" To further inspire and encourage this energetic movement, the head office of this newspaper held a competition to perform a preliminary selection of qualifying songs, out of which Nobutsuna Sasaki, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Zenmaro Toki, Shirō Ozaki, and other prominent figures in the literary world carefully selected the winning song, "Song of Healthy Soldiers in Training", lyrics composed by Kōsei Kawahara. The head office of this newspaper immediately entrusted the music composition to the Army Toyama School. Although Mr. Tarō Tōkairin sang in the vinyl recording, the head office of this newspaper further decided to hold a special presentation of the "Song of Healthy Soldiers in Training" at 7:00 p.m. on October 17th in the Great Auditorium of the Seoul Citizens Hall to commemorate the implementation of the conscription system in Korea, featuring special performances by exclusive artists at Teichiku Records.

Admission on the night of the party will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The program will feature the winning song "Song of Healthy Soldiers in Training", which will be performed by Korean artists from Teichiku Records and sung at the top of their lungs by four exclusive singers at Okeh Records: Nam In-soo, Lee Nan-young, Park Hyang-rim, and Choi Byung-ho.

Songs: "The Excitement of Twenty-Five Million", "Choi Byung-ho's Popular Song Collection", "Park Hyang-rim's Popular Song Collection", "Nam In-soo's Popular Song Collection", and "Lee Nan-young's Popular Song Collection".

Orchestral Music: "Folk Songs" (lyrics by Ryōma Bin), "Send off the Brave Warriors of the Peninsula" (arranged by Kim Hae-song)

Orchestral Music: "Songs of Healthy Soldiers in Training" (accompanied by the Teichiku Records Orchestra)

Photo: From right to left: Kim Hae-song, Park Hyang-rim, Nam In-soo, Lee Nan-young, Choi Byung-ho

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1943-10-14

(Transcription)

京城日報　1943年10月14日

進め！讃えよ徴兵制

十七日健兵錬成の歌発表会開く

進め！健兵錬成へ、と徴兵制実施の感激を盛って愛国半島の津々浦々は逞しき錬成譜が奏でられ、われこそ皇軍の一員として前線へ征くのだ、と殉国の血潮を沸らせ躍動しているが、この躍動を更に鼓舞激励するため、本社で懸賞募集した当選歌”健兵錬成の歌”は本社で予選のうえ佐佐木信綱、菊池寛、土岐善麿、尾崎士郎氏等わが文壇の雄が選者となり慎重に厳選の結果、川原康聖氏作詞の”健兵錬成の歌”が見事栄冠をかち得たので本社は直ちに陸軍戸山学校へ作曲を委託。このほど完成、東海林太郎氏が吹き込み音盤に収まったが、更に本社ではテイチク専属芸術家の特別出演を得て十七日午後七時から府民館大講堂で半島徴兵制実施記念『健兵錬成の歌』発表会を開催することになった。

当夜は先着順に入場することになっており、番組は当選歌”健兵錬成の歌”をテイチク朝鮮芸術家、オーケー専属歌手南仁樹、李蘭影、朴響林、崔丙浩の四氏が声高らかに歌うことになっているほか、

▲歌謡曲：『二千五百万の感激』、『崔丙浩愛唱集』、『朴響林愛唱集』、『南仁樹愛唱集』、『李蘭影愛唱集』

▲管弦楽：『俗謡聯曲』瀧馬敏作詞、金海松作編曲『半島の勇士を送る』

▲管弦楽：『健兵錬成の歌』テイチク管弦楽団伴奏という豪華版である

【写真：右より金海松、朴響林、南仁樹、李蘭影、崔丙浩の各氏】

(Encyclopedia entry for Kim Hae-song)

김해송金海松|小林久男,1911~?

대중가요가수·대중음악작곡가

1911년에평안남도개전에서태어났다.본명은김송규(金松奎)지만주로김해송이라는예명을썼다.이외에도예명으로김수월(金水用)과일본이름인우미하라마쓰오(海原松男)를드물게사용했다.일본에서발매된음반에는마쓰미토시오(松海敏夫)로표기된경우도있다.1933년에평양광성(光成)고등보통학교를졸업했고,이후공주사범학교숭실전문학교일본조지(上智)대학을다녔다는설이있으나사실여부를확인할수는없다.음악을익힌경로는분명지않으나1935년조부터오케(Okeh)연주단에잠여해기타와하와이안기타를연주했다.1935년가을에정식으로오케레코드사에입사해자작곡〈항구의서정〉을발표하면서가수겸작곡가로활동하기시작했다.1936년12월에는오케레코드사에서같이활동하던가수이난영(李蘭影)과결혼했다.1938년에잠시빅타(Victor)레코드사로전속을옮겼다가,곧이어콜럼비아(Columbia)레코드사로다시옮겨1939년상반기까지활동했다.이후오케레코드사로복귀했고,복귀한뒤로는주로작곡가로활동했다.가수로서발표한대표적인작품은1936년〈우리둘은젊은이〉·〈첫사랑〉,1937년〈전리준색〉·〈라쿠카라자〉,1938년〈전화일기〉·〈내채찍에내가맞았소〉·〈명랑한양주〉·〈정준계급〉·〈개고기주사〉,1939년〈나무아미타불〉,1940년〈빛나는수평선〉등이있다.작곡가로서발표한대표적인작품은1936년〈첫사랑〉·〈알아달라우요〉,1937년〈연락선은떠난다〉·〈전리준색〉·〈고향은부른다〉·〈요핑계조핑계〉,1938년〈전화일기〉·〈내채찍에내가맞았소〉·〈명랑한양주〉·〈정준계급〉·〈선장에울러왔다〉·〈개고기주사〉·〈오빠는풍각쟁이〉,1939년〈나무아미타불〉·〈다방의푸른꿈〉·〈코스모스탄식〉·〈뒤져본사진접〉,1940년〈울어라문풍지〉·〈흘겨본과거몽〉·〈화류준몽〉·〈화륜선아가거라〉·〈불어라쌍고동〉·〈잘있거라단발령〉,1941년〈역마자〉·〈요즈음찻집〉·〈선장〉,1942년〈낙화삼전〉·〈경기나그네〉·〈목화를따며〉,1943년〈어머님안심하소서〉등이있다.가수로서는80곡이상,작곡가로서는190곡이상발표한것으로확인되며,그가운데1938년발표한〈전화일기〉·〈사나이걷는길〉·〈구곡간장〉은'지안방해'등의이유로판매금지와가두연주금지처분율받았다.음반을통해작품을발표하는동시에조선악극단(朝鮮樂劇團)소속으로무대공연에도활발하게참여해남성보컬팀아리랑보이즈의일원으로직접무대에서기도하고,악극을비롯한다양한공연에서작곡이나편곡을담당했다.1944년부터1945년까지는부인이난영등과함께약초(若草)가극단으로소속을옮겨활동했다.

김해송이작곡한군국가요로현재확인된것은1942년〈강남(江南)의나팔수(喇叭手)〉（조명암작사,남인수노래,음반번호오케31085)·〈그대와나〉(조명암작사,남인수장세정노래,음반번호오케31084)·〈신준엽서(新春葉書)〉（조명암작사,이난영노래,음반번호오케31085)·〈애국반(愛國班)〉（조명암작사,김정구노래,음반번호오케31092)·〈이몸이죽고죽어〉(조명암작사,백년설노래,음반번호오케31121)·〈종후(銃後)의자장가〉(조명암작사,박향림노래,음반번호오케31097),1943년〈망루(望樓)의밤〉(조명암작사,백년설노래,음반번호오케31145)·〈부모이별(父母離別)〉（조명암작사,백년설노래,음반번호오케31172)·〈이전오백만감격(二千五百萬感激)〉（조명암작사,남인수이난영노래,음반번호오케31193)등아홉곡이다.〈그대와나〉는1941년에조선군보도부(朝鮮軍報道部)에서내선일세와지원병선전을위해제작한영화〈그대와나〉(君と僕,감독허영)의주제가인데,영화는죄조의조선인지원병전사자인이인석(李仁錫)상등병의이야기에작안해만들어졌다.제목이상징하듯이그대인일본인과나인조선인사이의내선일제를주제로했다.

음반외에공연쪽으로는,1940년4월매일신보사베이징(北京)지국의조정으로반도애국호(半島愛國號)자금모집공연과북지황군(北支皇軍)위문율위해조선악극단원들과함께베이장톈진(天津)지난(濟南)쉬저우(徐州)등지를순회공연했다.1944년12월에는명지좌(明治座)에서조선흥행협회주죄로대동아전쟁제3주년을기념해열린조선악극단성보(城寶)악극단약조악극단등3대악극단의단결공연인헌익예능대회(獻翼藝能大會)’에서약조악극단이공연한음악극〈승리의노래〉(勝利の歌)의음악을담당했댜

해방직후인1945년8월에조선문화건설중앙협의회무대음악무용부(舞臺音樂舞踊部)집행위원으로활동했다.같은해12월에는직접케이피케이(K.P.K.）악단을조직해당시를대표하는독보적인악극단으로발전시켰다.케이피케이악단은1950년6·25전쟁직전까지1946년〈물레방아〉,1947년〈천국과지옥〉·〈남남북녀〉·〈이소랑전〉,1948년〈아라리아의노래〉,1949년〈육탄십용사〉·〈도란도도〉,1950년〈칼멘환상곡〉·〈로미오와줄리엣〉·〈자매와수병〉등대규모악극을공연했다.1947년8월에결성된대중음악협회회장에선출되었고,11월에결성된전국가극협회에서는작곡위원을맡았다.1947년8월이후음반생산이재개되자고려(高麗)레코드사·오케레코드사럭키(Lucky)레코드사아세아(Asia)레코드사등에서1947년〈흘러온남매〉,1948년〈울어라은방울〉,1949년〈백팔염주〉·〈선죽교〉·〈약산진달래〉,1950년〈저무는중무로〉등을작곡해발표했다.6·25전쟁때피난을가지않고있다가북한군에게제포되었고,이후북한군이서울에서퇴각할때북으로꼴려가는도중폭격을맞아사망한것으로전한다.북한에서는자진해서입북한뒤지병인페결핵에폭격으로인한부상이겹쳐사망했다고쓰고있으나,폐결핵을앓았다는기록은다른곳에서찾아볼수없다.

[잠고문헌]

《東亞日報》1935.2.24,1945.12.20,1947.8.20,1948.1.14;《每日新報》1943.9.13,1944.1.26,12.18,12.20,12.21,12.25,1945.8.24;《朝鮮日報》1947.11.16;《民主新報》1951.1.1;《四海公論》第2卷第5號(1936.5);《朝光》第4卷第7號(1938.7);《新時代》第7輯(1941.7);《大東亞》第14卷第5號(1942.7);《朝鮮의將來를決定하는各政黨各團體解説》(1945.10);《大韓民國人事錄(1950年版)》(1949);《光成百年史》(1995);《민족수난기의대중가요사》(1997.8);《유성기음반총람자료집》(2000.8);이준희,〈일제시대음반검열연구〉,《韓國文化》39(2007.6)

(Encyclopedia entry for Nam In-soo)

남인수南仁樹|1918-1962

대중가요가수

1918년10월18일경상남도진주에서태어났다.본명은강문수(姜文秀)로,원래최씨집안에서태어나저음이름도초1창수(崔昌洙)였는데어머니가강씨집안으로개가(改嫁)하면서강문수로호적에올랐다고한다.북한인민배우죄삼숙의아버지초1장도가친형이라고도한다.1932년에진주제이보통학교를졸업하고일본으로건너가공장에서일하면서나고야(名古屋)에있는도카이(東海)상업학교를다녔다고하는데,사실여부는확인할수없다.1935년무렵중국군관학교에갈목적으로중국어를학습했다는본인의회고가있지만1935년까지의행적은대제로불분명하다.1935년말또는1936년조에시에론(Chieron)레코드사를직접잦아가테스트를받고선발되어1936년2월에방송에줄연합으로써가수활동을시작했다.7월에데뷔곡인〈눈물의해협〉이실린음반이발매되었으나,다시오케(Okeh)레코드사로옮겨12월에첫작품〈돈도싫소사랑도싫소〉와〈범벅서울〉을발표했다.이때부터본명대신남인수라는예명을쓰기시작했다.이후1943년까지오케레코드사전속으로130여곡을발표했다.주요작풍으로는,1937년〈물방아사랑〉·〈인생극장〉,1938년〈애수의소야곡〉·〈꼬집힌풋사랑〉·〈청노새탄식〉·〈항구마다괄세더라〉·〈기로의황혼〉,1939년〈감격시대〉·〈안개낀상해〉,1940년〈울며혜진부산항〉·〈눈오는네온가〉《불어라쌍고동〉,1941년〈무정천리〉·〈집없는천사〉·〈인생출발〉·〈포구의인사〉,1942년〈낙화유수〉·〈남매〉·〈인생선〉·〈청년고향〉,1943년〈어머님안심하소서〉·〈남아일생〉·〈서귀포질십리〉등이있다.이가운데〈기로의황혼〉은지안방해'라는이유로가두연주가금지되는저분율받았다.음반을발표하는동시에오케레코드사관련공연단제인조선악극단(朝鮮樂劇團)·오케싱잉팁등에서도주역으로활동했고,음반제작이중단된1944년이후로는약초(若草)가극단남해(南海)이동연예대신협(新協)악극대등에소속되어무대에서공연했다.

남인수가녹음한군국가요로현재확인되는것은1942년〈강남(江南)의나팔수(喇叭手)〉（조명암작사,김해송작편곡,음반번호오케31085)·〈그대와나〉(조명암작사,김해송작편곡,음반번호오케31084)·〈남쪽으1달밤〉(조명암작사,박시준작·편곡,음반번호오케31122)·〈낭자일기(娘子日記)〉（조명암작사,박시준작편곡,음반번호오케3·1127)·〈병원선(病院船)〉（조명암작사,박시준작편곡,음반번호오케31097),1943년〈이전오백만감격(二千五百萬感激)〉(조명암작사,김해송작·편곡,음반번호오케31193)·〈혈서지원(血書志願)〉(조명암작사,박시준작편곡,음반번호오케31793)등일곱곡이다.〈그대와나〉는1941년에조선군보도부(朝鮮軍報道部)에서내선일제와지원병을선전하기위해제작한영화〈그대와나〉(君と僕,감독허영)의주제가로,영화는최초의조선인지원병전사자인이인석(李仁錫)상등병의이야기에작안해만들어졌다.제목이상징하듯이그대인일본인과나인조선인사이의내선일제를주제로했다.〈이천오백만감격〉과〈혈서지원〉은'조선징병제실시축하기념’으로만들어져,조선지원병실시기념음반에수록되었다.

공연쪽으로는,1944년9월부민관에서조선연극문화협회주최로열린〈성난아세아〉(怒りの亞細亞)에출연했다.〈성난아세아〉는'미영격멸(美英擊滅)의식을고쥐하기위해조선연예사가있은이래처음으로연극인들의역량을종집결한예능제(藝能祭)'였다.

해방이후에는한동안음반제작이제대로이루어지지않았기때문에무대공연중심으로활동했다.남인수는한단제에오래전속하기보다는특별줄연형식으로여러무대에셨는데1945년부터1950년까지백두(白頭)악극단,손목인(孫牧人)악단(조선음악구락부),악단제일선(第一線)』은방울쇼(은방울악극단),제7천국등의악극단(악단)에서활동했다.1947년부터음반제작이재개되자고려(高麗)레코드사오케레코드사등에서1947년〈흘러온남매〉,1948년〈가거라삼팔선〉·〈몽고의밤〉등을발표했다.1948년무렵에는직접아세아(Asia)레코드사를설립해1949년부터6·25전쟁직전까지음반을제작·발매했다.대표작으로꼽을수있는작품은1949년에발매된〈달도하나해도하나〉·〈여수야화〉등이다,.〈여수야화〉는여순사건을정부입장과다른시각으로묘사한탓에발매직후판매금지조지를당했다.6·25전쟁기간에는제주도로피난을가서군예대(軍藝隊)소속으로위문공연을했는데,이미1940년부터지병인폐결핵으로무대에서쓰러지는일까지있었기때문에이무렵부터활동과요양을반복하는일이잦았다.1953년이후오리엔트(Orient)레코드사유니온(Union)레코드사유니버살(Universal）레코드사미도파(美都波)레코드사빅토리(Victory)레코드사오아시스(Oasis)레코드사센쥬리(Century)레코드사킹스타(KingStar)레코드사·아세아(Asia)레코드사(남인수가직접설립한아세아레코드와는다릅)등여러음반회사를통해7953년〈향수〉·〈정준무성〉,1954년〈고향의그림자〉·〈고향은내사랑〉·〈이별의부산정거장〉·〈기다리겠어요〉,1955년〈정준고백〉,1956년〈나는사람이아니외다〉.〈주억의소야곡〉,1957년〈다정도병이런가〉·〈무정열자〉·〈산유화〉·〈작별〉·〈오이나라나이팅겔이효정님〉·〈어린결심〉,1960년〈사백환의인생비극〉·〈사월의깃발〉·〈무너진사랑탑〉·〈율리는경부선〉,1961년〈눈감아드리오리〉등을발표했다.1957년10월에대한레코드가수협회를창설해조대회장에쥐임하고,1960년7월에는'4·19혁명의노래전국보급주진위원회'부위원장을맡았다들1961년12월에는한국연예협회부이사장으로선출되었다.그밖에1960년에전국공연단세연합회회장,1961년에한국무대예술협의회이사등을맡은것으로도알려져있다.1957년가수인기투표에서3위로선정되는등사망직전까지가수로활동했다‘1962년6월26일사망했다.

[잠고문헌]

《東亞日報》1936.2.14,1946.2.24,1957.10.311961.1220;《朝鮮日報》1940.6.14,1960.7.9;《每日新報》11944.1.26,12.14,1945.1.5;《京鄕新間》1949.9.3;《韓國日報)）1979.9.2.1;《新時代》第4卷第11號(1944.11);《三千里》第2卷第10號(1957.10);《明朗》第3卷第3號(1958.3)，第5卷(通卷54號,1960.6);《野談과實話》第2卷第4號(1961.4);《韓國演藝大鑑》(1962.12),선박찬호(안동립옮김)J《한국가요사》(1992.2);죄창호,《민족수난기의대중가요사》(7997.8);김점도편저,《유성기음반종람자료집》(2000.8);이준희,〈일제시대음반검열연구〉,《韓國文化》39(2007.6)

Propaganda editorials about Shinto shrines built in every township in Korea so Koreans don't feel so 'lonely and empty in their hearts' and Korea can become a 'paradise truly in accordance with the Imperial Way' where every Korean is required to perform the Jingu Taima exorcism ceremony at home

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

It is April 1944, over two years into total war against the United States and Britain, and it is not going so well for Imperial Japan. Here, Governor-General Koiso's office announces plans to build Shinto shrines all over Korea in every eup (town) and myeon (township) that does not yet have one, and make every town leader and township leader compel the residents to worship their birth deities, all in spite of severe wartime material and labor shortages. It sounds crazy on many levels, but perhaps the superstitious war leaders thought that currying favor with the gods would somehow turn the tide in Imperial Japan's favor.

The issue of Shinto shrines is a particularly sensitive topic that can still evoke strong emotional reactions among both Japanese and Korean people. Many Japanese are still angry at the fact that the 1000+ Shinto shrines that were built in colonial Korea were all destroyed following the end of the war, starting with the Pyongyang shrine which was set on fire on August 15, 1945, the day Imperial Japan surrendered. Today, the only vestiges of the shrines in Korea are found in their ancillary structures, like the stairs. A statue of Kim Il-sung now stands on the former site of Pyongyang shrine.

However, it is also important to understand the context as to why this destruction occurred, and why the shrines were so universally hated all over Korea. We have to understand that, in Japan-colonized Korea, the Shinto religion (State Shintoism) was weaponized as a tool of oppression against the Korean people, starting with the administration of Governor-General Minami in 1937 and continuing under subsequent Governors, including Governor-General Koiso, who was a narcissist notable for putting young Korean girls into internment camps to turn into 'true Japanese' mothers, with the idea that this would have a multiplier effect as these Korean girls become mothers who raise Japanese children. But immediate wartime needs apparently turned this project into a more practical wartime work force program. 

There were loud sirens at 7 am and noon to perform Shinto prayers. The 7 am Kyūjō Yōhai ritual (宮城遥拝) involved bowing several times in the direction of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo while standing, almost reminiscent of the Muslim salah prayer in the qibla direction of Mecca. The noon prayer was a moment of silence in honor of the Imperial Japanese soldiers.

Koreans were also forced to attend compulsory worship services in person at Shinto shrines. Those who refused to attend would not receive their food rations. They were also forced to keep miniature Shinto shrines (kamidana) in their homes and perform a special Jingu Taima exorcism ceremony in front of them. 

Every Korean belonged to a patriotic neighborhood cell (aikoku-han or aeguk-ban, 愛国班) of the Federation of National Power (国民総力朝鮮連盟, 국민총력조선연맹), the single ruling party of Japan-colonized Korea. In 1943, the Secretary General was a Japanese named Mr. Hada, but by 1944 he had apparently been replaced by a Korean named Mr. Han. The cell system worked much like the present system in Cuba and North Korea, where each cell leader would make sure that all the cell members followed the rules, even to the point of prying into their private lives. Neighbors would report each other for infractions, perhaps for breaking rules like speaking Korean in public, sleeping in and not performing the 7 am prayers, or not looking reverent enough during worship services. Saying the wrong things, like wishing for independence, would have branded you 'an ideological criminal' and landed you in a reeducation center.

Understandably, such a prolonged stressful, oppressive experience must have inflicted a lasting psychic trauma on the Korean people, which is still straining relations between the Korean and Japanese people to this day.

In postwar Japan, the State Shintoism apparatus is officially dismantled, but Yasukuni shrine survives as the last remaining active State Shinto shrine. Even though Yasukuni is officially a nongovernmental religious entity with no official affiliations with the Japanese government, far-right Japanese politicians still visit and pay their respects to the war criminals enshrined as gods there as if it were a de facto state shrine, a sad reminder that the Imperial Way ideology of the past still lives on in the present Japanese government.

 (Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) April 11, 1944

Editorial: Life in Decisive Battle and the Way of Respect for the Gods

Since his appointment, Governor-General Koiso has been administering the affairs of the country with a reverent attitude as if he were entrusted with the baby of His Majesty the Emperor, and in the management of politics, he has been mindful to follow the will of the gods. All of us in the government, not to mention the 25 million people of Korea, are deeply moved to follow the cause of the Emperor and win the Greater East Asia War with a heart of respect for the gods and the forefathers, and to make the Korean peninsula a paradise truly in accordance with the Imperial Way. As one manifestation of this, every household in all of Korea has held a Jingu Taima exorcism ceremony without exceptions, and this time, reflecting the consensus of 25 million people, the construction of one shrine in each province, eup, and myeon has become a concrete reality as intended by the Governor-General. The fact that, on the 10th, Mr. Tanaka, Commissioner-General for Political Affairs, notified the governors of the provinces of the guidelines for implementation is, as the authorities say, the most opportune and most gratifying way to "establish the spiritual center of the people in the countryside and to make clear what the people's minds should be based on".

In mainland Japan, a village or a town is formed around a clan deity, a birth deity, or a guardian deity, and even when the village or town develops into a metropolis such as Tokyo, it does not lose its beauty. Everyday life itself is under the watchful gaze of the gods. The prosperity of the fatherland, and even the prosperity of the family, is due to divine will. The dignity of this divine nation has never been violated, because the gods are directly served in person. Ever since the foundation of our nation, our land has never been violated by foreign enemies, and we are now in the midst of an opportunity to manifest the great spirit of Hakko Ichiu to the whole world, and to make the great authority of the sovereign nation shine forth.

At this time, looking back at our Korean peninsula, it is regrettable that there are 1,392 eups and myeons that still do not have shrines onto which all the people of the region could rest their hearts, even though each household is performing the Jingu Taima exorcism ceremony, as I have mentioned before. The realization of the construction of the shrines should be regarded as an epoch-making event, and it should also be seen as the first step toward realizing eternal peace and harmony regardless of the fact that our Korean peninsula is at war.

Ever since the outbreak of the Greater East Asia War, the feeling of reverence towards the gods on the Korean peninsula has been growing strong, as is clearly shown by the fact that the number of worshipers to the Chosun Shrine has been increasing day by day and month by month. Thus, it is only fitting that the local people should overcome the current material difficulties, newly erect shrines in 1,392 eups and myeons, and dedicate them to the spirits of the gods. It is clear that the people of these localities are determined to create a pure and noble life of gratitude and divine unity between god and man. They believe that it is through the blessings of the gods that human nature is good from the start, that life is preserved, that families enjoy peace and harmony, that children prosper, and that a good harvest is always blessed. When houses are built, they are prayed to, when seeds are sown and rice paddies planted, they are prayed to, and after the harvest, a festival of thanksgiving is held.

Therefore, it can be imagined that the people of the myeons and eups who do not have shrines to perform these events must feel lonely and empty in their hearts. I have no doubt that the mere fact that these shrines were provided to them today will have a great effect in making them pledge their support to Governor-General Koiso.

However, starting with the eup and myeon leaders, the peoples of the eups and myeons of the localities who serve at the shrines must fully understand that we have not completed our entire objective just because the shrines have been erected. We have seen the dedication of Shinto shrines at county offices and at eup and myeon offices all over Korea, but this did not extend beyond mere formalities, which is not only against the will of the gods, but also against the will of Governor-General Koiso, who is a pious man of respect. Unless the eup and myeon leaders take the lead in paying respect and serving the shrines, the attitude of the people will also end up not extending beyond mere formalities. To put it more directly, if the people at the periphery of the administrative apparatus try to lead the people to the faith without understanding the true intentions of the Governor-General, they may just readily follow whatever he says and try to achieve results without much effort. If they take advantage of the shrine policy in this way, then this will be something that must be strictly prohibited.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-04-11

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) April 11, 1944

Establish shrines in all areas

Establish spiritual centers for the local people

The implementation of the conscription system and other epoch-making measures of the Korean Government have triggered a rising demand for the establishment of shrines in every region of the Korean peninsula as spiritual centers for the 25 million people of the Korean peninsula, but there are still 1,392 eups and myeons where no shrine has yet been established. The Governor-General has decided on a policy of one shrine in each province, eup, and myeon. In response to the general demand, shrines are to be established in all areas despite the shortage of materials, and those existing miniature shrines that meet certain standards are to be classified as full-fledged shrines to deepen respect for the gods and ancestors, to increase faith in the birth deities, and to solidify their spiritual homes. On the 10th, the Director of the Regional Division of the Governor-General's Office, the Deputy Director of the Korean Headquarters of the Greater Japan Shinto Priesthood Association, and the General Secretary of the Korean Federation of National Power issued the following statements on this matter.

Mr. Ōkubo, Director of the Regional Division of the Governor-General's Office:

At the Governor-General's Office, we have long since decided on the policy of one shrine in each province, eup, and myeon, which we have been making efforts to realize. Due to various reasons, there are still 1,392 eups and myeons where shrines have not yet been established. However, the development of the general administrative apparatus on the Korean peninsula has been remarkable. Now, in view of the current situation on the Korean peninsula, we feel that it is imperative to take revolutionary measures akin to the introduction of the conscription system, such as establishing the spiritual centers of the local people, clarifying where the people's hearts should be based, embodying the spiritual place of gratitude along with a paradise of divine unity between god and man, and solidifying the spiritual home of the people by shifting their faith into their Japanese-style birth deities. In spite of the current shortage of materials, we have decided to fully establish miniature Shinto shrines, and those existing miniature Shinto shrines that meet certain standards will be classified as full-fledged Shinto shrines in order to promote the growth of this way of life. These implementation guidelines have been sent in a letter by the Political Affairs Director General to the governors of each province. I am sure that these measures will be implemented as soon as possible, and I hope that all of you government officials will understand the intention of the Governor-General's Office to carry out these measures, especially in this time of emergency, and I hope that you will actively and vigorously support and cooperate with us towards the realization of these measures.

Mr. Han, Secretary General of the Korean Federation of National Power:

In the autumn of last year, we saw the implementation of landmark measures such as the implementation of the conscription system and compulsory education system. Korean compatriots are already going to battle in the name of the celebrated gods who founded Japan, and the number of people who offer morning and evening prayers to the gods of heaven and earth at shrines is increasing every month. There is a growing demand for the establishment of miniature kamidana Shinto altars in the homes and full-fledged Shinto shrines in the countryside. In view of the urgent need to cultivate faith in the Emperor and the reverence for the gods on a peninsula that lacks faith in loyalty and unity, the Governor-General's Office announced policies and measures with the goal of one shrine in each province, eup, and myeon. It is truly a timely and groundbreaking plan, and we cannot help but rejoice at its rapid realization. 

With the realization of the establishment of the shrines, the training of shrine priests is currently being prepared under the supervision of the Federation. These priests must not only perform their duties, but must also play a leading and enlightening role for the people of the localities, and they must be consistent in their attitudes toward life by focusing on the deities in all their daily activities in the four seasons from birth to death.

Chief Priest Nukaga, Deputy Director of the Korean Headquarters of the Greater Japan Shinto Priesthood Association:

As a divine nation, Japan's spiritual strength is unique in the world. Needless to say, this is because we have had an Imperial family for ten thousand generations, and because we always closely worship and live our lives under the authority of the divine spirits of our gods and ancestors. Now that Korea is about to implement conscription and compulsory education, it is very discouraging that there are only sixty-nine shrines to protect our 25 million compatriots, and that the total number of miniature shrines that should become full-fledged shrines is still only about 900. In order to enjoy the favor of the gods and to uphold the spirit of sincere Imperial people, we cannot be satisfied with the current state of affairs. Therefore, first of all, the Governor-General's policy this time is to establish divine facilities, so that the spirit of the national people can receive the authority of the noble gods. That is, one shrine is to be established for each myeon. The fact that they have decided to take this step forward so quickly is especially significant in these times of extreme emergency.

Until today, our Korean compatriots have been unhappy, unable to understand the true meaning of the divine blessings that they have received. When we consider that they will soon be able to walk in step with the spirit of Imperial nation through the shrines of their birth deities, and make a grand start as supporters of Japan's rapid progress, we the priesthood truly believe that we are not the only ones who are pleased with these divine facilities.

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-04-11

(Transcription)

1944年4月11日　京城日報

社説：決戦生活と敬神の道

小磯総督はその赴任以来、畏くも陛下の赤子をあずかり奉るの敬虔なる態度を以て統理に当ると共に、政治の運営に関しても神意にもとらざるを只管念慮しているのに対し、下僚として官にある者は勿論、二千五百万民ひとしく感激し、尊皇の大義に従い、かつ敬神崇祖の心を以て大東亜戦争を勝ち抜き、半島をして真に皇道に則る楽土たらしめんとして居るが、その一つの現れとして全鮮各戸洩れなく大麻奉斎を行い、茲にまた二千五百万民の総意を反映して総督府の意図する一府、一邑面に一神社祠の建立が具体化をみるに至り、十日田中政務総監よりその実施要領を各道知事宛に通達することになったのは、当局もいうが如く”地方民の精神的中枢を確立し以て民心に拠るべきところを明かにする”上に於いて最も機宜に適し、また甚だ喜ぶべきところといわねばならない。

内地に於いては、氏神、産土神、鎮守神を中心にして一つの村落あるいは町が形成され、これは東京都の如き大都市と発展しても美風を失わず、日常生活それ自体が神々照覧の下にあり、祖国の興隆はもとより、一家の繁栄すら神意によるところとし、直に仕え奉り来ったが為に神国たるの威をけがさず、肇国以来いまだかつて外敵にその寸土をも冒されることなく、今やまさに八紘一宇の大精神を全世界に顕現し、大御稜威をあまねく光被せしめんとする機会に遭うて居るのである。

この時、翻ってわが半島を視るに、前にも述べた如く各戸は大麻を奉斎すると雖も各地方民全体が心の拠りどころとすべき神社祠の鎮座をみない邑面がなお千三百九十二に及ぶのは遺憾とされて居ただけに、この実現は画期的なものというべく、またわが半島が決戦下にも拘わらず既に永遠の和楽に入る第一歩を踏み出したものともみるべきである。

大東亜戦争勃発以来、わが半島においても敬神の念愈々加わるをみるのは、朝鮮神宮への参拝者が日に月に増加している実例がよく示す通りであるから、今日の資材難を敢えて克服し、新しく千三百九十二の邑面に神社あるいは神祠が建立され、神霊を奉祀するのに対し、その地方民が愈々報恩感謝神人合一の浄く高き生活を創造せんと誓い奉るのは明かである。人の性もとより善にして、その生命を保ち、一家和楽して子孫繁栄し、常に五穀豊穣に恵まるるは神の加護によるところと弁え、家を建てんとすれば斎い、種を蒔き田を植えんとするに際しては祈り、収穫の後に於いては奉謝の祭りを行い来った。

従ってそれらの行事をなすべきに際し神社祠を持たなかった地方の面邑民は、心に寂しさと物足らなさを感じていたと想像される。今日、これを与え得ただけでも小磯統理への翼賛を誓わしめる上に、大なる効果のあるのを信じて疑わない。

だた、神社祠を建立したことを以て、目的の全体が終ったのではないことを、邑面長をはじめ、指導者ならびに神社祠に奉仕する人々は充分心得て居なければならない。我等はかつて鮮内各地の郡庁、邑面事務等に於いて神棚の奉斎されるのを見たが、それは単なる形式に終り、むしろ神意にもとると共に敬神の念篤き小磯総督の意志にも反するものである。邑面長が先ず敬い、仕えまつるのでなければ、民衆の態度もまた形式に終るであろう。更に直言するならば、行政末端の人々が総督の真意を解せずして、信仰に民衆を導くならば、彼等が何事にも易々諾々として従い、労せずして成績をあげ得ると考え、その方策として神社祠を利用するが如きは厳に戒めねばならないところである。

1944年4月11日　京城日報

全面的に神祠設立

地方民の精神的中枢を確立

徴兵制実施等半島統理の画期的施策を契機として半島二千五百万民衆の精神的中枢として各地に神社神祠の設立要望の声が澎湃と擡頭しているが、未だ神社、神祠の設立を見ざる邑面は一千三百九十二に達する状況である。総督府は一府邑面一神社神祠の方針を決定。一般の要望に応え諸資材不足のときにも拘わらず全面に神祠を設立せしめると共に既設神祠中一定の規格に合するものは此際神社に列せしめ敬神崇祖の念を深め、産土神の信仰を高め心の故郷を固成することになった。右に関し十日、総督府地方課長、大日本神祇会朝鮮本部副本部長、国民総力朝鮮聯盟事務局総長の各談話を発表した。

大久保地方課長談：

本府に於いては夙く一府邑面一神社神祠の方針を決定し、この方針に基づいて、之が実現に付き努力し来ったのであるが、諸種の事情に依り現在の處、尚神社神祠の設立を見ざる邑面一三九二に達するの状況にある。然るに半島に於ける庶政の進展は著しく、今や徴兵制実施の如き画期的施策に当面致し地方民の精神的中枢を確立し、民心の拠るべき所を明かにし、報恩感謝、神人和楽の霊場を具現し、我が国風たる産土神の信仰を移して心の故郷を固成致すことは半島刻下の現状に見て其の要切なるものあるを感得致す次第である。時局下諸資材不足の折柄にも拘わらず今回全面的に神祠を設立せしめると共に既設神祠中一定の規格に合するものは此際神社に列せしめ彌彌斯道の興隆を図ることとし、之が実施要領を政務総監より各道知事宛通牒した。就いては早急活発に実行に移さるることと思うが、官民各位に於かれては非常時局下特にこれ等の施策を遂行せんとする本府の意図を諒得され、これが具現につき積極的且つ活発なる御支援御協力を願って止まない次第である。

韓聯盟事務局総長談：

徴兵制並に義務教育制実施等の画期的施策を見る秋、既に名誉ある肇国の祭神を出し又戦列に馳せ参じつつある半島同胞としては、神社、神祠を中心に拠り所として天神地祇に朝夕祈願を捧げる人々の数が月々増加しつつある現況であり、家庭にあっては神棚を奉安し郷土に在りては神社、神祠の設立を要望する声が澎湃として起りつつある。茲に忠帰一の信仰に乏しい半島に神祇崇敬と天皇帰一の信仰を啓培するの急務なる所以に鑑みて、今回本府に於いて一府邑面一神社、神祠を目標にその方針施措を発表せられ、之が急速なる実現を期せんとすることは実に時宜に適した企てであり、画期的のこととして喜びに堪えぬ次第である。

右の神祠設立の実現に伴い、神祠奉務者の養成に付いては、目下聯盟に於いて準備を進めている。而して、この奉務者は単なる奉務の域に止まらず、当該地方に於ける民衆の為の指導的啓蒙的役割を果たさしめねばならぬのであって、日常四季万般の行事を凡て神中心に営み生まれて死ぬる迄斯かる生活態度を一貫せしめんとするのである。

大日本神祇会朝鮮本部副本部長、額賀宮司談：

我が日本が神国として精神的の強靭さを有する事は世界に冠たるものであるが、これは言うまでもなく神代以来万世一系の皇室を戴き、その皇祖皇宗の神霊を常に目近く拝し奉ってその御稜威の下に生活を営むからであるといわねばならぬ。今や朝鮮は徴兵制が実施せられ、義務教育も近く実現せんとする時二千五百万の同胞御守護の神社が僅かに六十九社にすぎない事に余りにも心細い事であり、将に神社たるべき神祠を併せても尚且つ九百有余りにすぎないのであるから、神の恩頼を享受し奉り、誠の皇国民の精神を堅持せしめる為には、かかる現状に於いては到底満足する事は出来ない。しかるに今回総督府の方針を以て国民精神に尊き神の御稜威を頂かしむべく何は措ても先ずこの斎神の施設即ち一面一神祠の制を布かれ、早急にその歩武を進める事になったのは超非常時の今日だけに殊更にその意義の深さを感ぜしめられるのである。

不幸今日まで神の御蔭の何物たるかを解し得なかった朝鮮同胞も近き将来産土の杜より皇国民国精神の足並みを揃えて躍進日本の翼賛者としての衿を持して雄々しく出発し得るに至るかと思えば誠に今回の施設は私ども神職たるものの喜びばかりではないと思う。

Small community of ~100 Russian Tatars in Seoul featured in 1942-1944 propaganda articles: a young 19-year-old Tatar girl is praised for filling out immigration forms for her neighbors, a Tatar woman is commended for scolding her friends with red fingernails for wearing 'British-American' cosmetics

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

The following articles, spanning the period from 1942 to 1944, are about a very tiny (~100 member) Russian Tatar community which existed in Seoul during World War II. The Russian Tatars were refugees from the Russian Revolution who fled persecution in Russia. Many of the Russian Tatar refugees who arrived in Imperial Japan settled in mainland Japan, most notably in Kobe where the first mosque in Japan was built in 1935 (Kobe Masjid), but a few also settled in places like Japan-colonized Manchuria and Korea. The community in Seoul apparently engaged in trading mostly in clothing and miscellaneous goods in the Honmachi area, which is now the area just south of Myeongdong Cathedral. In 1943, about a block away from present-day Seoul City Hall on Mugyo-ro, they built their own elementary school called the Nugman Academy, where their children could learn the Tatar language and culture, including Islamic doctrine. 

Imperial Japan had a very complicated policy towards Muslims, as shown in this excellent academic article, but to ordinary Koreans who knew nothing about this, it must have seemed very unfair that this small community was given special privileges not given to the Koreans, who made up 97% of the population of Korea but were largely not allowed to teach their children Korean language and culture in schools by the 1942-1944 period.

Sorry if I have butchered some of the transcriptions of the Russian Tatar names, since Japanese kana transcriptions of foreign names confuse l and r, b and v, s and sh, etc. To those readers who are more familiar with Russian Tatar names, please let me know if you can suggest any corrections.

Martiya, the 19-year-old Tatar girl who helped fill out immigration forms for her neighbors, belonged to a local cell of the Korean Federation of National Power (国民総力朝鮮連盟, 국민총력조선연맹), the single ruling party of Japan-colonized Korea. The local neighborhood cells were known as 愛国班 (aikoku-han or aeguk-ban), which roughly translates to 'patriotic organization'. Members of the cells would report each other for infractions, perhaps for breaking rules like speaking Korean in public. They would organize 'patriotic' activities like defacing effigies of Roosevelt and Churchill, and also distribute food rations and other assistance. Similar local cell organizations still exist in countries like Cuba and North Korea.

See also the Russian Tatar family in Busan featured in this 1942 article: https://tpjv86b.blogspot.com/2021/12/in-1942-busan-korean-pastors-and.html

(Translation)

Gyeongseong Ilbo　(Keijo Nippo) February 28, 1942 

Thanksgiving Dedication to Victorious Japan

Refined Turkic Tatar Daughter

The Central Cultural Association of the Turkic Tatar Nation in Seoul, whose members number more than one hundred and are definitely ethnic Asians despite differences in appearances, are united in their gratitude for living in Japan during the Greater East Asia War. The temporary travel control regulations for foreigners came into effect on December 10 of last year, and all foreigners residing in Seoul were required to submit a notification form in the new format all at once. More than one hundred Tatar city residents prepared to complete the form, but filling out a two-page application form for each person proved to be a difficult task for those who were not literate in Japanese.

The one who took on the task of filling out the forms on behalf of the Tatar residents was Martiya (19), the second daughter of Mr. Waliullah Ibrahim of the Noor Trading Company at 20 Honmachi 3-chōme, Seoul. Knowing the confusion of her compatriots, she said, "Please let me do it. It is the greatest joy to be allowed to live in Victorious Japan as a member of the Asian race, and it is my duty to protect the homefront as one of the Imperial people." Every night, she would diligently write on behalf of her compatriots, and she has completed nearly three hundred pages of forms without delay.

As a member of local patriotic organization living the 'neighborhood cell' spirit, Martiya's actions were highly praised by Mr. Shimada, chief of foreign affairs at the Honmachi Police Station, who accepted the documents. On February 27th, he recounted the following about Martiya's actions:

"Martiya is the second daughter of Mr. Waliullah Ibrahim, the vice president of the Tatar Cultural Association. She is a warm and kind girl who graduated from Naniwa High School in Fengtian (present-day Shenyang). She alone worked at home taking care of the paperwork of more than a hundred people from the same ethnic group as their representative when the regulations came into effect and foreigners had to file notifications. Her recognition of the current situation and her initiative in cooperating with the authorities is admirable." [Photo: Martiya, the subject of this beautiful story]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1942-02-28

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) September 9, 1943 

Japanese Language School

Established by Turkic people in Seoul

The Holy War to establish the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere continues with extreme intensity to the south and the north, and all Asians in the Co-prosperity Sphere rose up in the autumn to "stand with Japan". The Turkic Tatar group living in Seoul was grateful for the Imperial Army's struggle and wished to establish an educational institution for their own people to become a fully Asian people. On the Day of the Imperial Rescript on September 8th, a new private school, "Nugman Academy," was established to provide Japanese-style education. There are currently 72 Turkic Tatars in 21 households in Seoul, mainly centered in the Honmachi precinct, who are engaged in the clothing and ready-made goods trade. All of them came to Japan after the Russian Revolution and are spending their days living comfortably in Japan, but they have not been blessed with educational institutions. With the donation of 50,000 yen from Ms. Shamshinoor Nugmanov (45), who lives at 366 Sindang-dong in Seoul, a two-story building was purchased for 39,000 yen at 31 Mugyo-ro in Seoul, and the "Nugman Academy" was established. The founder, Mr. Kabdullah Hakimov (52), who lives at 3-28 Namdaemun Avenue in Seoul, applied for approval from the Seoul Provincial General. The school is to open at the beginning of October, and the first class of 20 boys and girls is to be admitted. The school is to emphasize the Japanese character of the school by teaching the Tatar language, Islamic doctrine, and National Education mainly in Japanese. [Photo: Ms. Shamshinoor Nugmanov]

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

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 2, 1944

Consoling the Heroes in White with the Tatar Dance

The billion people of the Co-prosperity Sphere stood together in solidarity and vowed to unite as Asian peoples holding each other's hands. A group of Turkic Tatars living in Seoul could not contain their emotions: "Let us offer our sincere thanks to the heroes of the Imperial Army," said 12 lovely students of Nugman Elementary School in Mugyo-ro, Central District, whose school had recently opened. They will hold a performance to comfort the heroes in white at the Army Hospital on the occasion of the auspicious occasion of the Anniversary of the Founding of Japan. The 19th performance of the classical "Tatar Dance" by Saniya and three other children will be a flower bouquet of consolation filled with sincerity, and is expected to be applauded by the heroes. [Photo: Tatar Dance]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-02-02

Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijo Nippo) February 20, 1944 

"No Red Fingernails!", scolded the Turkic woman

On February 11th, during the festival of the Founding of Japan, Erestan Tarpishov and 12 other lovely Turkic Tatar children from Nugman Elementary School in Mugyo-ro, Seoul held a performance to comfort the heroes in white, and they had a thrilling day. One of the ladies who accompanied the children, Salima, saw that many of her friends had painted their fingernails red. The comfort visit ended as Salima asked the young women, "What is the matter with you inappropriately showing red fingernails to the Japanese soldiers? Let's put a stop to all these British-American cosmetics..." This extraordinary act by Ms. Salima Battersen was brought to the attention of Mr. Masaoka, Director of Gyeonggi Provincial High School, who recently visited the provincial government office and praised her for her Japanese spirit. [Photo: Ms. Salima Battersen]

Source: https://www.archive.org/details/kjnp-1944-02-20

(Transcription)

1942年2月28日　京城日報

”戦捷日本”へ捧げる感謝

床しいトルコ・タタールの娘さん

容貌こそ異なれ亜細亜民族に違いなく大東亜戦争下の日本に住まう有難さに結束して起つ在城トルコ・タタール民族中央文化協会に属する会員は百名からある。昨年十二月十日から外国人臨時旅行取締規則が施行されて京城在住の外国人は一斉に新様式の届け出を為すこととなったが、百名を超ゆる在城のタタール人居住者は夫々手続き準備を進めたものの、一人頭二枚宛の願書は文字を知らぬこれ等の人々にとって困難な仕事であった。

同胞の困惑を知って「私にさせて下さいな」と代書を一手に引き受けたのは京城本町三丁目二〇ヌル商会ワリウラ・イブラヒム氏次女マルチヤさん（一九）で『私共亜細亜人種として戦勝国日本に住まわせて戴くことは、この上ない喜びであり、国民の一人として銃後を守ることは当然の務めです』と毎夜代書に精出し三百枚近い同族間の届け出を滞りなく済ませたのであった。

”隣組精神”に生きぬく愛国班員としてマルチヤさんの行為は書類を受け付けた本町署島田外事主任も激賞しているが、二十七日マルチヤさんの人為を次の如く語った。

マルチヤさんはタタール文化協会副会長ワリウラ・イブラヒム氏の次女で奉天の浪花高女出身の温順で感心な娘さんです。規則施行に伴う外国人届け出に際し百人余りの同族間の書類を一人で引き受け自宅で代表役を勤めたのです。時局を認識して率先協力するマルチヤさんの行為は見上げたものです。【写真＝美談の主マルチヤさん】

1943年9月9日　京城日報

日本語学校

在城トルコ人設立

大東亜共栄圏確立の聖戦は南に北に極度の激烈さで続けられ、”日本と共に起て”と共栄圏の全亜細亜人は総起ちの秋、京城在住のトルコタタール人団体では皇軍の格闘に感謝すると共に、完全なる亜細亜人に成り切る為の同族間の教育機関設立を願望していたが、八日大詔奉戴日を期し日本的教育に新発足の私設学校『ヌグマン学院』の開設をみることとなった。本町署管内を中心に現在府内で洋服既製品商を営むトルコタタール人は二十一戸の七十二名があり、何れも帝政露西亜革命後日本に渡り安居楽業感謝の日を送っているが、教育機関に恵まれず現在に至ったが、府内新堂町三六六シャムシノール・ヌグマノフ女史（四五）の寄付金五万円をもって学校開設をみることとなり、府内武橋町三一に二階建て一棟を三万九千円で買受け、『ヌグマン学院』を開設することとなり、設立者府内南大門通り三ノ二八カブドラ・ハキモ氏（五二）は京城府尹に認可申請を行った。十月初旬開校をまって第一回男女二十名を入学せしめ日本語を主体にタタール語、マホメット教義その他国民教育一般を教育し、日本的性格を強調することとなった。【写真＝シャムシノール・ヌグマノフ女史】

1944年2月2日　京城日報

タタール踊りで

白衣勇士慰問

亜細亜人は亜細亜人の手でと、十億の共栄圏民族は団結の誓いも固く総蹶起した。府内に住むトルコタタール人の一団も感激の情抑え難く、『皇軍の勇士へ感謝の誠を捧げましょう』と新しく開設をみた中区武橋町ヌグマン小学院の可愛い生徒さん十二名は紀元の佳節を期して陸軍病院に白衣の勇士を慰問の演芸会を催します。サニヤ嬢ほか三名の古典舞踊”タタールの踊り”第十九種目は何れも児童の赤誠こもる慰問の花束で勇士にヤンヤの喝采が期待されます。【写真＝タタールの踊り】

1944年2月20日　京城日報

赤い爪は駄目

叱るトルコ娘

去る紀元節の十一日府内武橋町ヌグマン小学院の生徒エレスタン・タルピーショフ他十二名のトルコタタールの可愛い児童が白衣の勇士慰問の演芸会を催して感激の一日を送りました。そのとき付き添いの婦人の一人サリマさんは友人の多くが指の爪を赤く染めているのを見て『苟も日本の兵隊さんにお見せするのに赤い爪とは何事ですか。米英的な粉飾は一切止めましょう．．．』と若い娘さんの間を説いて廻って慰問を終えました。この奇特なサリマ・バテルセン嬢の行為は正岡京畿道高等課長の知るところとなり、この程道庁に出頭してその日本精神をいたく賞讃されました。【写真＝サリマ・バテルセン嬢】