In October 1943, Seoul high school girls make “comfort books” filled with pictures, poetry, songs, and cute dolls for Imperial Japanese soldiers fighting in the Pacific front
Gyeongseong Ilbo, October 29, 1943
Comfort books to the front line
New Opportunity for Seoul No. 2 High School Girls
“It is our duty as maidens behind the line of fire to comfort and encourage the loyal and brave soldiers who are serving day and night on the front lines to destroy the U.S. and Britain to the south and the north, cutting their flesh and breaking their bones. Of course, comfort letters and comfort bags are appropriate. But why not change our idea this time and try comfort books?”, thought the high school girls as they took a new opportunity in comforting the Imperial troops, and they made many comfort books filled with sincerity. These comfort books have already been tried among the girls high schools in Japan proper, and gained much acclaim on the front line. Initially, under the guidance of Instructor Suzuki, the girls divided into groups of ten and started making three comfort books and then 126 books. Turning over each page of the books in the style of an album, there were newspaper clippings reporting on the events behind the front lines, pictures of local scenery, poems and songs written from the heart by the maidens that would make the brave heroes smile, as well as handicrafts like cute little dolls, and many other things that the maidens had devised with much thought. On the 30th, the students, led by Instructor Suzuki, went door to door to visit the homes of the departed brave heroes and comforted their families, presenting the care packages to them saying, “These represent our heartfelt sincerity. Please send them to the front lines.”
(Transcription into modern Japanese orthography)
京城日報 昭和十八年十月二十九日
前線へ慰問帖
京城第二高女の新機軸
南に北に米英撃滅の戦線で肉を切らせて骨を断つ戦いに昼夜の別なく挺身する忠勇な兵隊さんを慰問激励することは銃後乙女のわたし達の務めです。慰問文、慰問袋もちろん結構でしょう。けれど今度は趣向を変えて慰問帖はいかがでしょう、と京城第二高女では皇軍慰問に新機軸をたてて数々の真心を籠めた慰問帖を作った。この慰問帖は内地の女学校では既に試みられて前線で大好評を博しているが、半島では同校が最初、鈴木教諭の指導の下に十人づつが一組に分かれてアルバム式に一頁一頁をめくると銃後の出来事を報じた新聞の切り抜きあり、郷土の風景を描いた画あり受け取った勇士が綻ばせる笑顔に乙女の胸に作った詩あり、歌あり、さては可愛いくりくりのお人形の手芸品ありで、その他乙女達が首をかしげて創案した数々のものを盛った各十頁ぐらいのものを先ず三始めに一二六冊。三十日生徒達は指導の鈴木教諭に引率され島内出征勇士の家を一戸一戸訪れて遺家族を慰問しがてら『私達の真心です。どうぞ前線へ送って下さい』と贈呈する。
Gyeongseong Ilbo, May 1, 1943
Comfort Bags and Soldiers
The gratitude for the comfort bags sent with sincerity from behind the front lines struck the hearts of the brave men on the front lines, and they were moved to tears. There were soldiers who found their inner child holding children’s toys and were moved to tears, as well as those whose cheeks turned red at being encouraged by strangers. There were also crying soldiers who bowed countless times upon receiving precious ice sugar. The encouragement from receiving the comfort bags is a noble feeling that can only be experienced by those who are far away from home. (Photo: Soldiers rejoicing in anticipation of what they would receive, at the [redacted] front lines in the south = censored by the army)
(Transcription into modern Japanese orthography)
京城日報 昭和十八年五月一日
慰問袋と兵隊
銃後の真心をこめておくられた慰問袋の有難さは第一線にある勇士の心を強く打ち感激の涙にむせぼせる子供の玩具を持って童心にかえる兵隊さん見知らぬ人の激励に頬を紅潮させるものもあれば、或いは貴重な氷砂糖に三拝九拝して泣く兵隊さんもある。慰問袋の感激は内地を遠く離れたもののみ味わい得る尊い心境である。【写真＝何が出るかお楽しみだと喜ぶ兵隊さん、南方〇〇前線にて＝陸軍省検閲済】
