Along the Archival Grain 
3 “Nippon” The Light of Asia, Protector of Asia, Leader of Asia: Unveil Agriculture Violences 3.4 Mass Mobilization Propaganda
3.4
Mass Mobilization Propaganda
To collect raw materials for war needs, the Japanese government organized people to join “struggles” and the “holy task” of helping Japan through the Neighborhood Association (Tonari Gumi 隣組), cooperative (Kumiai), and vacant land use for agriculture.
Efforts to organize the masses were made through religion, education, women’s school, and youth military organizations. Forced labor (romusha) was one of the mass mobilization efforts during Japan’s colonial era. In 1943, a large number of romusha were recruited, and amounted to 120,000 people by April 1944 (Wie 2013: 338).
References:Wie, Thee Kian. 2013. “THE INDONESIAN ECONOMY DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION” in Masyarakat Indonesia, Volume 39, No. 2, pp. 327 – 339
ARCHIVES
TONARI GUMI
I. “General meeting under a Djarak (castor) tree planted by Tonari Gumi”. Source: Djawa Baroe, 7th Edition, year 2604 (1944).COVER_Ed 7_2604.4.1.jpg
II. Tonari Gumi (隣組). Source: Djawa Baroe, 3rd Edition, year 2604 (1944). TONARIGUMI_UPAYA MELIPATGANDAKAN PANGAN_db 1944 ed 3.pdf (page 6 & 7)
III. Documentation of Tonari Gumi meetings. Source: Djawa Baroe, 3rd Edition year 2604 (1944). RT 4_db 3_2604_2.1..jpgRT 3_db 3_2604_2.1..jpg
IV. A short story about Tonari Gumi, which was later adapted as a film by Nippon Eiga Sha. Source: Djawa Baroe, 9th Edition, year 2604 (1944). Tonari Kumi_db 1944 (2604) Ed 9.pdf
V. An advertisement on labor force needs in factory and agriculture. Source: Djawa Baroe, 3rd Edition, year 2604 (1944). Tonarikumi Iklan_db 1944 (2604) Ed 9.pdf
PROPAGANDA PENINGKATAN PRODUKSI PANGAN LEWAT AGAMA
“Banyak kiai yang berkeliling di wilayah pedesaan atas permintaan pemerintah setempat, dalam upaya mendorong petani mencurahkan perhatian pada pekerjaan pertanian. Pada saat-saat seperti itu, kiai mengutip ayat-ayat alquran yang merujuk pada pentingnya arti produksi.
Kiai Muh. Sjakir dari Surakarta ingat ketika suatu hari ia dikunjungi seorang agen Bagian Intelijen Tentara Jepang dan diberitahu supaya bekerja sama dalam propaganda peningkatan produksi. Atas permintaan tersebut, ia mulai berkeliling ke desa-desa sekitar dan berkhotbah bahwa “Allah mengajarkan kepada kita supaya setiap orang berusaha sendiri. Jangan malas.” (Kurasawa 1993: 21)
“Many religious leaders were asked by the government to wander villages and preach to farmers to focus on their farm work. They would cite Quran (holy book) verses that underline the importance of food production.
Muh. Sjakir, a religious leader from Surakarta, was once visited by Japan’s Military Intelligence and was asked to join the propaganda to multiply food production. He then wandered nearby villages to preach that “Allah (God) teaches us to work hard. Do not be lazy.” (Kurasawa 1993: 21)
EDUCATION
Education played a vital role in organizing the masses. For instance, training activities in farmer training fields where students learn farming methods and moral doctrines to support Japan in war. Known as Nomin Dojo or Hyakusho Dojo in other regions, the schools are informal farmer boarding schools typically surrounded by vast farmland.
In 1942, the training field opened in Indramayu, Yogyakarta, and in Jakarta, where the national training center enrolled chosen farmers from all residences in Java. A Hyakusho Dojo opened in Pati the following year.
I. Japanese farmer training center in Pasar Minggu, Jakarta. Source: Djawa Baroe, 9th Edition, year 2603 (1943).https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eWvqIWTHi00QGBe05prZloVnN1Z2m1Sd/view?usp=sharing
db 1943 ed 9.pdfhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1ME9hWewwIPztAhsOb8VHIoA08HS-lcLX/view?usp=sharing
II. An article on house yard farming and farmer training in school. Source: Djawa Baroe, 9th Edition, year 2605 (1945).KEBUN PEKARANGAN_db 1945 ed 9.pdf
III. An article about a veterinary school in Bogor. Source: Djawa Baroe, 3rd Edition, year 2605 (1945).https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ME9hWewwIPztAhsOb8VHIoA08HS-lcLX/view?usp=sharing Copy of CARA MENANAK NASI_ TABIB HEWAN_db 1945 ed 3.pdf (Hlm 25)
IV. An article on how to plant yams with Japanese technique. Source: Djawa Baroe, 8th Edition, year 2605 (1945).https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PTBcELCOP-e7QC_lr2EkB2G-MET-UIw6/view?usp=sharing (page 24-25)
ORGANIZING WOMEN IN THE MISSION OF MULTIPLY RICE PRODUCTION
I. In Sekolah Guru Putri (School of Women Teacher), women learn about washing methods, air guard, Javanese dance, and gardening. Source: Djawa Baroe, 3rd Edition, year 2605 (1945).CARA MENANAK NASI_ TABIB HEWAN_db 1945 ed 3.pdf
II. “Farm owned by a female student” managed after school and every Sunday. Source: Djawa Baroe, 15th Edition, year 2603 (1943).PELAJAR BERKEBUN_db 1943 ed 15 .pdf
III. Vacant land use to boost food production during war. Source: Djawa Baroe, 14th Edition, year 2604 (1944).Pergunakan Tanah Kosong_db 1944 Ed 14.pdf
IV. “Students of Wakaba dutifully study home economics.”
Wakaba was a women’s school managed by the government to learn about home economics such as ikebana, ceremonies, room decoration, homemaking, etc. Source: Djawa Baroe, 3rd Edition, year 2603 (1943).db 1943 ed 3 (partial)_Kerumahtanggaan.pdf
V. Cooking courses for women. KURSUS MEMASAK NIPON_db 1943 ed 11.pdf
MASAK MASAKAN NIPON_Ed 13 2603.7.1.jpgMASAK-MASAKAN_Ed 16_2604.8.15.jpg
VI. A propaganda for women to tend household farms. Source: Djawa Baroe, 11th Edition, year 2605 (1945).PEREMPUAN BERTANI _ MEMASAK_db 1945 ed 11.pdf
