2017/12/22NEW

“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima – Conscription of Korean Workers and After”②

The wrapper of this book says “The history of misery of the Koreans who became victims of the war and the coal industry. 380 pictures collected over half a century and reportage reveal the truth of conscription”. The author is a nonfiction writer, Mr. Eidai Hayashi. Mr. Hayashi states about Hashima, “Shouldn’t we seriously think how many miners had to shed their blood here? We must not forget that the history of Hashima was founded on the sacrifice of Japanese, Koreans and Chinese. Hashima is not an island for tourism, but an island where we should mourn for the victims of mining, especially for Korean and Chinese workers.” Please take note of the reactions of the former Hashima Islanders to his reportage in listening to their testimonies.

 

CLAIM

"Photographic Record: Chikuho/Gunkanjima
- Chosenjin Kyosei Renko, Sonogo"
Photo/written by Eidai Hayashi
Published by Genshobo in 2010

Labor Division's office, so-called Gate of Hell, was up front. They said, "Once you went through it, you'd never get out."
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.158
Workers came by a company boat, Asagaomaru, accompanied by armed Omura troops.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.162
Chinese workers especially were treated badly. When Koreans talked to them, armed Labor Division's personnel stopped them, sometimes by punishing both parties.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.162
One carried a rifle under his arm, and the other a wooden sword on his hips.Their cap lamps beamed bouncing around.“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima 
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.187~188
A furious battle went on between workers and Omura troops that came to subdue a riot in Hashima Mine.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.162
Korean workers drove in their pickaxes on their knees in 1m-bedrock.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.192
Ryu was surprised that he had to mine with a short pickaxe in a 60cm-bedrock in lying position. The cord of his cap lamp wrapped around his neck and legs, while his head was bumping the ceiling bedrock. His lower body went numb in 10 minutes.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.192
Sharing common destiny, ties among Japanese workers got stronger, while their discrimination against Korean and Chinese workers got worse.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.162
Labor Division's personnel treated Koreans terribly. Taking them as the lowest animals, they always shouted orders, while hitting them for bad attitudes or languages.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.167
Especially when Koreans caught a cold, it wasn't admitted as sickness and they were thoroughly hit by Labor Division's personnel. They tied someone on the electric pole in the waiting area and made other miners hit him.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.166
All Labor Division's personnel were Koreans, and they were especially tough on their fellow Koreans. Their evaluation was based on the number of Korean workers they put into work, so they made them even go in by hitting them.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.195
Half of rations for Korean dorms was snatched by Labor Division's personnel. On top of severe working conditions, the food for Korean workers was stolen.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.169
At their first meal on the island, as soon as they put food in their mouths, they frowned. 80% of it was defatted soybeans, 20% brown rice, it smelled weird and was too flaky to pick up by chopsticks.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.192
May have been caused by the defatted soybeans, they had stomach aches, and it caused long lines for bathrooms.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.192
Unable to bear severe working conditions, escaping was the last resort. Some swam to Nobo Peninsula across the sea by holding pit props only to get drowned in furious currents or with fatigue,or to be caught by police or Labor Division's personnel and tortured as a warning to others. For Japanese, the highest cause of death was suicide (hanging), but for Koreans, it was drowning from escape attempt.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.174
It was a miracle to successfully escape. I've never heard that anyone succeeded. They tried, only to be caught, tortured by Labor Division's personnel, and thrown to the sea.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.185
The measure for escaping was thorough. A motor boat ran around the island, while search lights were lit on the breakwater at night without air raids.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.186
Coworkers died in an accident. As we cremated their bodies, Labor Division's personnel ordered us to scoop their ashes and throw in an abandoned shaft.
“<Photographic Record> Chikuho / Gunkanjima
– Conscription of Korean Workers and After” P.158

DISPROOF

Verification on
"Photographic Record: Chikuho/Gunkanjima
- Chosenjin Kyosei Renko, Sonogo"

Verification1 About a description, "Stuck here for life."
Verification2 About suppression and surveillance by armed guards
Verification3 About working conditions in the mine
Verification4 About discrimination against Korean workers
Verification5 About abuse of Korean workers
Verification6 About Korean Labor Division's personnel
Verification7 About food
Verification8 About escaping the island
Verification9 About funerals

Testimony: Hashima Islanders for Historical Truth
Tomohiro Tada,Hideo Kaji,Sakae Matsumoto
Hague Kobayashi,Kiyoko Adachi,Hiroyasu Honma
Mitsuoki Tsubouchi,Shoji Inoue,Isamu Sasayama,Yasuhiro Mori
Source: National Diet Library

Mr. Eidai Hayashi explained in the “postscript” of this book that his father, who was a Shinto priest, was tortured by the Special Higher Police for helping a Korean escapee; and died from the ordeal in 1943 when Eidai Hayashi was 11 years old. Later, when he tracked down and reproached the 90-year-old former Special Higher Police officer who tortured his father, the officer apologized and explained that those who helped Korean escapees were considered anti-national in WWII. Increasing coal production was the number one priority at a time when “A lump of coal is a bullet” was the slogan, and that he had to investigate the background. Mr. Hayashi said, “I’m proud of my father for what he did although he was treated as anti-national and unpatriotic then. As the son of the anti-national and unpatriotic, I came to realize that my mission is to mark in the history the legacy of life that my parents left to me.”