Senbu

The term senbu (宣撫) was used by the Imperial Japanese Army to refer to psychological warfare operations intended to pacify local populations and accelerate the process of Japanization.^[1]

Summary[edit]

The first senbu team was organized in 1932 by Yaginuma Takeshi [ja] (1895–1944), a civilian employed by the Kwantung Army, as part of the preparations for the Battle of Rehe.^{[citation needed]} The term comes from the xuanfushi [zh] (宣撫使) envoys dispatched in ancient times by Chinese states to maintain control over regions destabilized by war.

Remnants of defeated Chinese armies frequently broke apart into marauding gangs of honghuzi who terrorized the rural population. This, combined with reports of violence by Japanese forces as well as the destruction and chaos that followed the fires of war, contributed to civilian panic and brought about a general collapse of functioning society. According to the scorched earth policy (jianbi qingye, 堅壁清野) of the National Revolutionary Army, retreating Chinese forces routinely destroyed the homes, property, and food supplies of local people. It was not uncommon for Chinese soldiers to simply murder locals in order to prevent them from assisting the Japanese.^{[citation needed]}

In the aftermath of this, senbu teams following the main Japanese force would, through the distribution of humanitarian aid and the implementation of Japanese-funded social development projects, attempt to win the hearts and minds of the populace while also restoring the economic strength and social cohesion of society. By building a relationship of trust with the local people, the senbu projects also had the effect of gaining their voluntary cooperation, including the provision of labor and human intelligence. Continuing to fight a different kind of battle after the shooting had stopped, senbu operatives were praised as "warriors without weapons" (武器なき戦士).^[2] Athletic events were also organized to improve relations with locals.^[3]

According to senbu progenitor Yaginuma Takeshi, "[The principles of] senbu ought to apply also to our Imperial Army. We must reform our own soldiers who behave cruelly toward the Chinese before we can reform the Chinese themselves" (大日本軍宣撫官とは大日本軍に対する宣撫官という意味でもあるのだろう。我々は支那人自身を善導する前に、支那人に粗暴に振舞う日本の軍人をまず教育せねばならない).

The scope of senbu operations[edit]

The scope and objective of senbu operations were summarized as:

stabilization and reassurance of the public psyche
restoration and maintenance of social order
eradication of communist and anti-Japanese ideologies
supervision in the development of local industry, economy, transportation, and culture
cooperation with local authorities in the establishment of a "sound" (i.e. pro-Japanese) government in China

References[edit]

^ Esselstrom, Erik (2009). Crossing Empire's Edge: Foreign Ministry Police and Japanese Expansionism in Northeast Asia (1st ed.). United States: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824832315.
^ 平和の戦士宣撫班 Heiwa no senshi senbupan (in Japanese) (1st ed.). Japan: 財団法人社会教育協会 Zaidanhōjin shakai kyōiku kyōkai. 1939.
^ 支那事変画報第29集 Shina jihen gahō dai 29-shū (in Japanese) (1st ed.). Japan: 朝日新聞社 Asahi Shinbun. April 25, 1939.

Senbu

Summary[edit]

The scope of senbu operations[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]