The Kominhokokai Explained

The Kominhokokai, the Literary Public Service Association of Imperial Subjects, was an organization founded on April 19, 1941, for the Japanization, or Kōminka, movement in Taiwan during the Japanese rule. The association was aimed at all island residents^[1] and its purpose was to carry out the “Kōminka movement” under the slogans "Taiwanese and Japanese as One Family" and "Mainland Japan and Taiwan as One Family" in response to the urgent international situation.^[2] Its nature was similar to that of the Association for the Support of Imperial Rule in Japan (大政翼贊會).^[3] Scholar Hsu Hsueh-chi (許雪姬) speculated that the organization ended on June 17, 1945, leaving only the organization of the Volunteer Fighting Corps (later reorganized as the Volunteer Fighting Combat Teams).^[4]

In January 1941, the Taiwan Governor General's Office decided on the name of the organization and appointed military, official, and civilian representatives to serve as the Preparatory Committee for Kominhokokai. The founding ceremony was held at the Governor General's Office on April 19 of that year.^[5]

After World War II, the Taiwan Provincial Administrative Executive Office(also known as the Chief Executive's Office) was established. The office was led by Chen Yi (陳儀), who was responsible for taking over the administrative organizations and promoting reconstruction. The Chief Executive's Office considered any involvement with the Kominhokokai to be illegal. Those who held public office were dismissed if this past involvement was revealed. After the end of the February 28 Incident in 1947, Chen Yi repeatedly pointed out that members of the Kominhokokai were instigators behind the scenes. He cataloged and monitored individuals associated with the association, resulting in the exclusion of a large number of local talents in Taiwan from the public sector.^[6]

Categories of Kominhokokai work

1. From top to bottom, strengthening the transmission of official information and leadership, such as issuing official publications and sending supervisors to various places for advocacy.^[7]
2. Strengthening the promotion of donations needed for devotion, labor (including conscription), materials, and funds.
3. Establish new norms for the workplace in wartime to improve efficiency.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Hsu . Hsueh-Chi . 1999 . 皇民奉公會的研究——以林獻堂的參與為例 . The Kominhokokai in Taiwan during the Second World War: A Case Study of Lin Hsien-tang's Involvement . 近代史研究所集刊(Bulletin of the institute of modern history a cademia sicina) . 31 . 171.
2. Book: Sung, Chia-Lun . 內埔老街生活變遷之研究(1895~2015) . National Pingtung University of Science and Technology . 2016 . 33 . A study on the life changes of Neipu old street (1895~2015).
3. Hsu . Hsueh-Chi . 1999 . 皇民奉公會的研究——以林獻堂的參與為例 . The Kominhokokai in Taiwan during the Second World War: A Case Study of Lin Hsien-tang's Involvement . 近代史研究所集刊(Bulletin of the institute of modern history a cademia sicina) . 31 . 177–180.
4. Hsu . Hsueh-Chi . 1999 . 皇民奉公會的研究——以林獻堂的參與為例 . The Kominhokokai in Taiwan during the Second World War: A Case Study of Lin Hsien-tang's Involvement . 近代史研究所集刊(Bulletin of the institute of modern history a cademia sicina) . 31 . 181–183.
5. Book: Ishikawa, Kyoko . 周金波＜志願兵＞析論 . National Tsing Hua University . 2004 . 23 . An Analysis of Chou Chin-po's 'Volunteer Soldier.
6. Chen . Tsui-Lien . 2016 . 臺灣戰後初期的「歷史清算」（1945-1947） . The 'Historical Reckoning' in the Early Post-War Period in Taiwan (1945-1947) . 臺大歷史學報(Historical Inquiry) . 58 . 195–248.
7. Book: Ku, Hui-Hua . 日治後期臺灣皇民化運動中的圖像宣傳與戰時動員（1937-1945）—以漫畫和海報為中心 . National Taiwan Normal University . 2011 . 53–55 . Image Propaganda and Wartime Mobilization in the Later Period of Japanese occupation Rule in Taiwan (1937-1945) - Focusing on Comics and Posters.
8. Hsu . Hsueh-Chi . 皇民奉公會的研究——以林獻堂的參與為例 . The Kominhokokai in Taiwan during the Second World War: A Case Study of Lin Hsien-tang's Involvement . 近代史研究所集刊(Bulletin of the institute of modern history a cademia sicina) . 31 . 180–181.