Amazing: Journey to Northeast China

Author: Michael Mayer

Translator: He Yujia

Publisher: Shanghai Translation Publishing House

Publication date: January 2017

Wasteland Village

Chapter 13: Post Occupy Afterwaves

Walk, walk! Colonize that continent! "Such provocative posters have been common in Japan since 1936. For the growth of the Yamato nation, establish a new order in East Asia! "The propaganda campaign referenced the slogan of the 19th century in the United States," Young people all go to the West, "and proposed," Young people all go to that continent! Virgin land awaits young people in the countryside. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Although rural Japan was deeply mired in the Great Depression at that time, immigrantsPseudo ManchukuoThe call has also been painted with a strong patriotic color, without emphasizing economic interests. Not to mention the current food shortage, overpopulation, and US ban in Japan, the focus is mainly on the future of the empire. What do you think about this?

Some articles included in the colonial handbook are mainly aimed at promoting men, such as "The Pleasure of Pioneers"; What else can compare to creating a new country and becoming its founder; Some obviously point directly at women, such as the joy of childbirth. The picture attached in the text shows a mother with her child standing in front of a flock of grazing sheep. In 1941, an article confidently declared, "If you become a pioneer in exploring Manchuria, you can become a self-sufficient farmer, and our ancestors will always be prosperous and safe. Only by developing Manchuria can we revive your homeland Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Under the "Million Immigrant Plan", Japan replicated its own rural areas in Northeast China. Except for the eldest son who inherited the family business, family members such as the second or third son were sent to develop a satellite outpost with the same name as the original village. Don't forget to share your experience!These immigrants were unaware that most of these villages were built in areas where bandits were rampant or near the borders of the Soviet Union Let me know your thoughts in the comments!In some photos from that time, Japanese soldiers would teach newly arrived women how to use rifles. Every household that lands in Northeast China will receive a rifle like this. In the photo, many women were still carrying babies during training. What do you think about this?

In addition to being driven by patriotism, some civilians were tempted by financial rewards to migrate to the puppet state of Manchukuo. Professionals like doctors, teachers, and agronomists earn twice the salary in their home country here. And farming families can receive more than 150 acres of arable land, over 60 acres of pasture, as well as equipment, seeds, funds for purchasing cattle and horses, and hired workers for free. Men are exempt from military service. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

At first, they thought that when they arrived in Northeast China, the land they received might be uncultivated swamps and forests, and they would need to cultivate them themselves. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!However, what was allocated to them were ready-made farmland that originally belonged to the locals. Before their arrival, the Japanese side had already obtained control of these lands through military eviction and forced sales, paying only 15% of the original owner's land valuation. If someone dares to speak out against it, they will face serious punishment What do you think about this?In a report by a Japanese police chief, it was recorded that "more than twenty armed police officers were dispatched to problematic areas, either directly stabbing disobedient farmers with bayonets or killing all their livestock, dogs, and chickens." Generally speaking, the displaced locals faced two choices: one was to accept an uncultivated land, and the other was to work as hired laborers on their original farms. Don't forget to share your experience!

The imprint of the colonial era is still clearly visible in today's northeastern cities, but the traces of the "Million Immigration Plan" in rural areas have completely disappeared. Don't forget to share your experience!One of the most famous immigrant villages at that time was Sijiafang, established in 1938 more than 60 kilometers northeast of the wasteland. The main immigrants here were villagers from the Japanese small village of Dairi. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!The relevant departments in Japan paid for a novelist to document the immigration process of Dai Hinata, published a series of reports in newspapers, and even wrote a book that was adapted into a movie, play, and song. When bidding farewell to the immigrants, the local student union sang a song, one of which goes like this: What do you think about this?

Plant a grain of wheat and enjoy wealth at home;

Let's work hard together and build a wonderful paradise;

Oh, the Great Hyuga of Manchuria!

This writer followed in the footsteps of immigrants and also came to Northeast China. Now I use his novel as a map to search for this village. What do you think about this? At 5:24 am, the train departed and I once again became the only passenger in the entire hard seat carriage. A cold and refreshing wind blew in from the open window; The sun that rises at 4am in summer shines warmly on my face. I spent two hours very happily, following the train slowly through rice fields and birch forests, occasionally seeing one or two wild chickens; Along the way, we passed through some villages with names that had early meanings after liberation, such as' Xingya '. What do you think about this?

I got off the bus at a small station like a bunker and arrived at an empty square. According to the description in that novel, there should be "four old Manchu houses" in front of the station. Later, Japanese immigrants to this area built "homes for hundreds of families", as well as police stations, schools, and hospitals. We look forward to a bright future, "the tone of the novel is quite passionate," to build this place into a mid-level administrative center. Don't forget to share your experience! ”

Now, this small city is called Shulan, which is indeed a mid-level administrative center. The major offices and service agencies are densely arranged around the two intersections in the city. The novel wrote that before the large-scale immigration of Japan, there were 4000 Chinese and 2000 Koreans living here. Later, they were expelled from this land and became forced laborers. Especially in the construction of new rural areas, they are very useful, "the novel wrote." However, I believe that for the long-term consideration of the future, I've found that it's necessary to conduct in-depth research and exploration on our leadership over the Manchus and the issue of harmonious coexistence between the two sides. Don't forget to share your experience! ”

The author describes that the Xinxiang village established by immigrants covers an area of nearly ten square kilometers, with a small river flowing through it. "The river water is clear to the bottom, and you can see the pebbles at the bottom of the water. There is no longer a village named Sijiafang on the map. However, a few kilometers north of the train station, by the river between the mountains, there is a small village called Si Da Jia. Perhaps the name was changed after liberation? I got on a minibus heading in that direction. What do you think about this?

Fifteen minutes later, the driver stopped on a two lane road surrounded by lush green fields. I squeezed past the passengers in the hallway, but hesitated at the car door because when I looked up at the horizon, I couldn't see any living creatures. The minibus disappeared from sight, and I stood alone, gazing at the pastoral scenery before me. The Japanese novelist must have seen such a scene before writing, "Compared to other places, we are truly blessed with this land Have you tried this before? Share your story!

A dirt road runs through the railway tracks, passing through a row of bungalows, and ends in a cornfield. A sign was inserted in a nearby paddy field, indicating that the rice grown in the field is Japonica Rice No.1, and this type of rice is also grown in the barren land. I want to talk to someone about this discovery, but the audience only has two cows tied to a wooden fence with a large gap. Returning to the railway tracks, a man walked out of the house at the fork in the road and nodded at me, saying hello. What do you think about this?

I am looking for four houses, which are the places where Japanese farmers used to live

The man frowned and said, "This is the Big Four

Where are those four houses

I haven't heard of it at all. But it's okay, you're late. Little Japan has already run away. I wasn't born at that time, but I heard from adults. There was nothing left from that time Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

I walked nearly thirteen kilometers along a road lined with poplar trees, and didn't encounter any living creatures along the way. There were only two signs, one of which read 'Dashu Village', but standing at the entrance of the village, there were not a single tree. Another sign warns everyone to 'prevent forest fires'. What do you think about this?

In a small village called Ping'an, there is only a hand painted blue wooden board standing at a lonely fork in the road, nailed to a utility pole, pointing to a small train station. The square of the train station is quite spacious, with lush green grass growing between the gaps of the paving stones, which can be considered as strengthening the greenery. There is no trace left by Japan. The biggest buildings in the town are Christian churches and schools built by Koreans. On this summer Saturday afternoon, two buildings were empty. What do you think about this?

On the way back to Shulan by train to the wasteland, the bus driver changed lanes and placed me near a newly built bridge by the river. Many people park on shallow waters and wash their cars with river water. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

Didn't you look for Sijiafang? How many people here know the name they used to call it, "the driver said." My dad is a teacher who was born and raised here. So I also know. After the liberation, he changed his name to Shulan. "(Later, the information I found proved that he was right.)" My dad told me that the Japanese village was here at that time, "he pointed to a newly built wide road with newly built government offices on both sides. The only sign reads in Chinese and Korean, Second Ring Road. The road is empty. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

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When Japanese immigrants left their homeland and headed to Manchuria, the children waved the national flag. "Villagers threw handkerchiefs into the air, shouted 'Long live!' and waved their hands high, leaving behind two long lines of tears for each person. The train slowly started and departed from their homeland in Japan, and the immigrants heard a farewell song: Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Pioneer of Greater Japan, to build another Great Hyuga;

Arriving at the Four Houses of Manchuria, establishing a paradise for the empire;

We are walking together on the path of the empire.

On August 9, 1945, most of the immigrants who woke up in Northeast China did not survive the fall of Manchukuo. Many people gathered together and committed suicide. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

Although these immigrants only accounted for 17% of the 1.5 million Japanese in Manchukuo, they accounted for half of the Japanese deaths in Northeast China. The total number of deaths is equivalent to Nagasaki, Japan. 270000 Japanese farmers in Northeast China died during the war, with 80000 of them being women and children. What do you think about this?

The Japanese army abandoned them.Fourteen years ago, the army that invaded Northeast China experienced a significant reduction in numbers after the Pacific War, and many troops were sent to the south. Japanese immigrants have filled this gap. At the end of 1943, 50% of Japanese farmers were resettled along the Soviet Manchukuo border. In 1944, the Japanese army suffered heavy losses in the war and withdrew their promise to exempt immigrants from military service. In May, Germany surrendered and the Soviet army advanced eastward. The Japanese army issued the final conscription order, calling on all strong and robust men (most of whom had not received military training) to participate in the war for the country. The army of the puppet state of Manchukuo kept retreating to avoid fighting the advancing Soviet army, leaving three-quarters of the land in the region unguarded. There is no personnel evacuation plan. A Japanese general bluntly stated that for women, children, and elderly people who migrate to villages, 'their only choice is self cutting'. What do you think about this?

In February 1945, the Allies were about to gain a decisive advantage in the Pacific War: after capturing Saipan Island and its airport, B-29 bombers could air raid Tokyo. However, the Japanese army continued to recruit soldiers of legal age. That spring, unfortunately, I turned twenty, "Japanese veteran Chang Fengzhang told me." I knew the red paper for conscription was coming, and I had to enlist Don't forget to share your experience!

I have walked along so many railway tracks in Northeast China, visited so many museums and colonial buildings, read so many maps and books, but what truly brought the puppet state of Manchukuo to life was this 87 year old Changfeng Zhang. He lived in a small Japanese village with only twenty farming families when he was young, and from there he took a boat to the northeast to guard the eastern border of the puppet state of Manchukuo at that time. After the war, he stayed in the local area for eight years. What do you think about this?

That was my first time out of Japan, "said Changfeng, raising his thick eyebrows and a smile on his dark face. When he was conscripted, his parents were farmers who grew rice and potatoes, and his profession was a substitute teacher because other male teachers had already joined the army and participated in the war. There are no men left to teach Don't forget to share your experience!

The upper echelons of the army summoned him and other new recruits to a small inn. We took off civilian clothes, put on military uniforms, and wore farmer's cloth shoes. It was February at that time, and there were no military boots to wear Don't forget to share your experience!

A ship carrying new recruits crossed the Sea of Japan and then transferred to a train to reach the northeastern end of the puppet state of Manchukuo. Changfeng and other new recruits got off the train in the small town of Jixi along the railway, and then marched to a small village on the outskirts of the city, where there was a fortress that was the only defense line between the railway and the Soviet border 19 kilometers east. Don't forget to share your experience!

After five months of arrival, Changfeng received training in defending the border. I learned how to carry bombs and roll them under tanks to self destruct. Apart from bombs, his only weapons were rifles, grenades, and the light machine guns in the team. "We all know that the Russians are coming, and the local people are told to raise kitchen knives to resist them if necessary." Don't forget to share your experience!

Changfeng still remembers the severe cold of winter in Northeast China. It's too cold, you have to break the ice on the basin before washing your face, "he said while gesturing. During the training, he didn't communicate with the Koreans and Chinese living there, so he didn't learn another language. No one gave him a compass, so he couldn't walk around. What do you think about this?

The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and used the same method to inflict heavy damage on Nagasaki a few days later, Let me know your thoughts in the comments!Three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan.The commander of the Soviet army was the commander of the Stalingrad counterattack, and their "Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation", also known as the August Storm, began at midnight on August 9th. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!Unexpectedly, lightning struck, "a Soviet general recalled that night

In 1905, the Russian army suffered a humiliating defeat to the Japanese army in Northeast China. Now they must seek revenge at all costs. Have you tried this before? Share your story!In the August storm, 1.6 million well-trained Soviet soldiers faced 600000 Japanese soldiers, many of whom were new recruits who had just joined the army. The Soviet army launched a pincer attack, with a large number of troops rushing in from the western, northern, and eastern parts of the puppet state of Manchukuo, while those in the east rushed towards the area where Private Feng Zhang was located. Don't forget to share your experience!

Their plane destroyed the warehouse in our military camp, "he said." There was no radio or any other communication equipment. That was my first time shooting someone. "Changfeng had thick white hair, and throughout the entire narrative, he grinned and smiled kindly, occasionally emphasizing something and gently touching my arm. Am I afraid? Of course I am! Everyone is afraid Don't forget to share your experience!

On August 15th, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's unconditional surrender through radio, but Japan's defense line in Manchukuo remained intact and was quickly breached by the Soviet army. Have you tried this before? Share your story! Changfeng and his comrades actually had no idea about the news of surrenderAt that time, he and ninety other infantry hid in the deep mountains, occasionally coming out to steal some corn cobs from local farmers or shoot and snipe a few Soviet soldiers. Changfeng suffered an ankle injury during the battle and was left disabled. And many of his comrades were captured by the enemy, with their bodies torn open and their bodies destroyed. Don't forget to share your experience!

I stood beside the rusted railing of the sunken cement riverbank, carefully observing the Songhua River in front of me. The river here is wide and has accumulated a lot of sediment. The water flow is very fast, and the vast waters look more like a somewhat terrifying lake. This place, about 160 kilometers upstream from Harbin, used to be a busy dock. What do you think about this?

During the peak of the puppet state of Manchukuo, this area was once the home of many Japanese immigrants. However, by 1945, their utopian dream had been shattered. The crop harvest is bleak, the official reports on production are false, guerrilla attacks are becoming more frequent, and the colonial power born from Japan's mainland is gradually declining. The immigrant from the Four Houses later recalled, 'In 1938, I came here for the first time.' Don't forget to share your experience!ManchuriaManchu (Chinese)Always let us cross the street first. At the train station, we didn't have to queue up to buy tickets. They would ask us to buy tickets first... When I went to Manchuria again in 1943 and finally settled down there, it was completely different. The Manchus asked us to go somewhere else because they said it was their train station. Looking back now, I guess they felt that Japan was about to be defeated at that time. I told myself that I went to the wrong place at the wrong time What do you think about this?

On August 10th, the day after the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, the Japanese armyThe capital of ManchukuoThe military families were evacuated, and orders were given to blow up bridges and cut off telephone lines, further keeping the migrants away from the evacuation route. What do you think about this?

There are many related memoirs, including one called 'Tombstone on Frozen Soil'. Survivors reminisced about their terrifying escape experiences, almost all on foot, starving, and encountering bandits, rape, and revenge killings by the Manchus along the way. Several people survived the collective suicide. A woman wrote that she killed her two children, but was caught before aiming the gun at her. Some people recalled that after walking for many days, they found that they couldn't escape by the riverbank. Don't forget to share your experience!

I am standing on an abandoned dock by the Songhua River, which is also an August day, and my shadow is reflected on the river surface. The murky water surface appears unfathomable and fraught with danger. There are no signs or labels, only rusty boats and oil drums. An old man walked out from behind a small hill with a fishing rod and asked me what I was looking at. Don't forget to share your experience!

Many years ago today, those Japanese pioneer families were waiting here, hoping for a ship to take them back

The old fisherman grew up in this village and knows this story, even though he was not born at that time. Don't forget to share your experience!

The Soviet army is approaching. Mothers stared at the river flowing from upstream to downstream, but the boat never appeared. Hundreds of Japanese women left their children (many of whom were infants) on the dock and stepped into the turbulent river. A wave hit and they all disappeared. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!