Month: April 2023

Military

Korean director of Straits of Chosun (1943) muted the war propaganda of this Imperial Japanese film to make it a humanistic story about young Korean man from wealthy family who enlists with a heavy heart to win his father’s acceptance of his lower-class wife, rather than from blind patriotism

2023-04-24

121

The following is my thorough transcription, translation, and in-depth analysis/review of an intriguing piece of classic Korean cinematography, which is

Food Shortages

Rationing sugar and sweets in 1943 Seoul: lucky families got coveted ration books issued by snack retailers, while others received nothing, one mother collapsed in line waiting to buy one cookie for her infant, so Patriotic Groups intervened to prioritize rationing to children and the military

2023-04-15

115

This article from 1943 Seoul discusses the rationing of sugar and sweet snacks that was instituted due to the shortage

Korean Workers

Tourist groups visiting the historical sites of Buyeo (부여, 夫餘) had to perform 3 hours community service (road repair, water pipes, tree planting) under Imperial Army command and indoctrinated in ‘Japanese-Korean Unification’ propaganda with mandatory Shinto worship, no individual tourists allowed (1943)

2023-04-09

141

This article is the last one in a series of three educational articles published by the colonial regime to promote

Imperial Way

Buyeo, former capital of Baekje, was used by the colonial regime to showcase a Korean nation which ‘remained completely faithful to Japan’ and sent its sons to Japan for training in the ‘Japanese spirit’, and taught that the 2nd king of Silla was the reincarnation of the Shinto god Susanoo (1943)

2023-04-02

153

These articles are the first two in a series of three educational articles published by the colonial regime to promote