Collapse of the Japanese Empire and Repatriation (Japan’s Defeat in World War II and Repatriation of Overseas Japanese)

After the Meiji Restoration (1868), Japan continued to expand its territory in tandem with its efforts to promote national modernization. Japan occupied Taiwan and Southern Sakhalin, established a puppet regime in Northeast China (Manchuria), and annexed Korea. Moreover, several Pacific islands became Japan’s mandate territory as a result of its victory in World War I. During the early Showa Period (1926–1989), Japan began to expand its sphere of influence toward China, Southeast Asia, and Pacific islands, intending to build the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The Japanese Empire, comprising many overseas territories and colonies, however, was collapsed due to Japan’s defeat in World War II. As a result, an estimated 6.6 million Japanese military and civilian personnel in these territories and colonies (about 9% of the total population of Japan) were obliged to repatriate to their home country.

Social Situation during the Early Showa Period

During the 1920s, the Japanese economy experienced a slowdown. In this context, the bankruptcy of a financial institution triggered a panic in 1927 (the second year of the Showa Period). Moreover, impacted by the Great Depression of 1929, Japan’s exports sharply declined, resulting in the Showa Depression. The following two years saw the impoverishment of agricultural regions: in 1930, farmers’ incomes declined due to overproduction, and lean harvests in 1931 particularly impacted the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions. Due to the resulting famine, many farmers were obliged to sell their own daughters. As a means of resolving the problems of increasing population and shortage of food, many Japanese people began to expound the need to advance into overseas countries.

Manchukuo

In 1931, the Mukden Incident occurred, in which members of the Kwantung Army (the Japanese army stationed in northeast China) caused an explosion close to the track of the South Manchuria Railway. Announcing that the Chinese Army was responsible for the incident, the Kwantung Army began military operations in Manchuria to occupy the region. In 1932, Japan established its puppet state of Manchukuo. Since this action was not approved by the League of Nations, Japan withdrew from the League and promoted the emigration of its people to Manchuria under the slogans of Odo Rakudo (paradise under virtuous royal rule) and Gozoku Kyowa (five ethnic groups in harmony).

Japanese People in Manchuria

It is estimated that 1.55 million to 2 million Japanese people emigrated to Manchuria between the  establishment of Manchukuo (1931) and the end of World War II (1945). They were encouraged to settle in Manchuria as part of Japan’s national policy. Of this number, around 320,000 were farmers, 80,000 of whom were boys aged between 15 and 19 in the Volunteer Youth Army to Pioneer Manchuria and Mongolia. The majority of employees of Japanese companies in Manchuria and their families lived in large cities, such as Hsinking (now Changchun) and Mukden (now Shenyang).

Drafted Soldiers

Before World War II, military service was compulsory for all Japanese men aged 20 or older. After receiving a draft card, the recipient had to join the assigned unit within three to seven days. The families of such soldiers held send-off parties and made banners bearing the soldiers’ names. With the deterioration of the military situation, in October 1944, the national government lowered the draft age to 18.