Life in Occupied Manchuria: A Legacy of Struggle and Resistance

by Ethan Julian Zamora

In the late nineteenth century, Japan began a period of intense modernization known as the Meiji Restoration, restoring imperial rule and radically transforming its society and military. This era set the stage for Japan's territorial ambitions, which would unfold dramatically in the first half of the twentieth century. While Japan did annex Korea in 1910, other nations like Thailand remained free from colonization, and the Philippines were under American control until after World War II. However, the invasion of China on September 18, 1931, marked a significant expansion of Japanese imperial activity, leading to the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo in the region known as Manchuria.

In Northeastern China, Manchuria was a rich and strategically vital region that Japan sought to control. Following the Mukden Incident—a staged explosion by the Imperial Japanese Army meant to justify their invasion—Japan swiftly moved to establish a puppet government in Manchuria by March 1932. Initially proclaimed a republic, Manchukuo was soon transformed into a monarchy aligned with Japan's imperial interests, setting the stage for widespread exploitation and suffering among the local populations.[1] Manchukuo was the site of countless atrocities against the local population for almost fifteen years.
The Japanese exploitation of Manchuria was multifaceted, focusing mainly on the region's abundant natural resources. Civilians were coerced into labor, often having to surrender their lands and work under harsh conditions in factories and infrastructure projects. These workers faced grueling work and severe shortages of food and basic necessities, further exacerbated by Japanese control over the economy. This control allowed Japanese landlords and business owners to impose exorbitant living costs on the already struggling local population, who saw little in return despite their forced contributions to the economy.[2]

In addition, the civilian population was forced to assimilate into Japanese culture, even though Manchukuo was often promoted as both a multicultural and multi-ethnic state.[3] This could be attributed to the fact that the region's demographic was divided into four main subgroups: native Koreans and Chinese, Manchus, Russian exiles, and Japanese colonizers. Among the four, only the Japanese thrived in Manchukuo during this time, given that the control and influence they held over the government allowed them to exploit other groups in the area. Even the Koreans, who were frequently favored over the Chinese in their conflicts by the Japanese and also maintained high positions in local politics (at times), fell victim to the exploitative nature of Manchukuo's economic system. They were also a part of militant movements, which led to some rebellions against the Korean population.[4]

Meanwhile, growing efforts by the Japanese to industrialize Manchukuo prompted many Chinese people to immigrate to the area, as the average wage for workers was higher. However, a majority of these workers were not paid on time, thus increasing poverty rates across the region. Since the Russians were anti-Soviet and, therefore, did not have an embassy in Manchukuo, they were rather easy targets for the Japanese to exploit and manipulate. As for the Manchus, most had left during the Qing dynasty, but those who remained were treated similarly to their Chinese counterparts. Interestingly, the exact number of Manchus that resided in Manchukuo during this time is largely unknown, given that Japanese officials did not count them.[5]

Since they were not Japanese, every other subgroup within the state was merely recognized as second-class citizens. As second-class citizens, they were expected to follow Japanese rules and traditions, which were implemented into governmental policies. These policies included the adoption of Japanese names and the abolition of cultural norms and values outside of Japan.[6]

As World War II intensified, the hardships faced by the non-Japanese residents of Manchukuo only worsened, with the Japanese military exerting even greater control over the region. The end of the war and the subsequent liberation of Manchuria did little to heal the deep wounds inflicted by years of occupation immediately. Today, the legacy of Japanese rule in Manchuria continues to impact Sino-Japanese relations, with historical grievances still a point of contention.
Understanding the full scope of life in occupied Manchuria underscores not only the harsh realities faced by those under Japanese rule but also the lasting implications of such historical events on regional dynamics in East Asia. By reflecting on these painful parts of our shared history, we can better appreciate the complexities of contemporary relationships and the need for a thoughtful engagement with the past.[7]


Sources:
1. Quinan Li, "Everyday life in the puppet state: A study of ordinary people's experiences in Manchukuo," The University of Sheffield: School of East Asian Studies, https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/161866808.pdf
2. Quinan Li, "Everyday life in the puppet state: A study of ordinary people's experiences in Manchukuo," The University of Sheffield: School of East Asian Studies, https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/161866808.pdf
3. Kate Kondayen, "Testament to Manchukuo," The Harvard Gazette, https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/09/testament-to-manchukuo-2/
4. Mark Driscoll, Absolute Erotic, Absolute Grotesque: The Living, The Dead, and Undead in Japan's Imperialism, 1895-1945, Duke University Press, 2010.
5. Mark Driscoll, Absolute Erotic, Absolute Grotesque: The Living, The Dead, and Undead in Japan's Imperialism, 1895-1945, Duke University Press, 2010.
6. Mark Driscoll, Absolute Erotic, Absolute Grotesque: The Living, The Dead, and Undead in Japan's Imperialism, 1895-1945, Duke University Press, 2010.
7. Mark Driscoll, Absolute Erotic, Absolute Grotesque: The Living, The Dead, and Undead in Japan's Imperialism, 1895-1945, Duke University Press, 2010.

Read more: