The Record of 600 Days of Evacuated Pupils by the Picture Diary （by Ehe)

　
You can find the original site of this article, The record of 600 days of evacuated pupils by the picture diary ", in the links　of the Japanese site.
--- (Please enter the links from the menu on the left side of the Japanese site.) ---

My acquaintance went to an elementary school in Tokyo at the time of the war and had an experience of the group evacuation.
She published a book about memories of those days with her classmates.
She also made a home page as Heiwa Kinen project 21(pray for the peace project 21).

We are permitted to reprint this by the person in charge of the home page.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by Ehe

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About the group evacuation of schoolchildren　　　　The Editors

The schoolchildren evacuation means that the government forcedly moved schoolchildren of the national elementary schools in big cities temporarily to safer areas, so that they were beforehand prevented from the mainland bombing by the U.S. army during the last years of World War II.

At the beginning the personal relation evacuation was performed, in which schoolchildren were left to the cares of their relatives living in the country. Since June, 1944, the group evacuation became popular. Schoolchildren of from the 3rd to the 6th grade were forcedly evacuated in a group unit.

In the group evacuation, the schoolchildren suffered from the severe rule and the pecking order which were almost the same as those of the army, the discord, the bully, the flea and the louse concerning the food by being hungry and so on. In any case, their evacuation life left the scars which were not able to be erased on many young schoolchildren's mind.

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The picture diary　The first　ー　Before evacuation　ー

--- a note of the person in charge of the homepage ---

This picture diary must be unreadable, because of the time passed and the poor quality of the paper.
The picture diary becomes bigger when you click it, so that you can read a little easilier.
Also, to make it easy to read, we changed the old kana orthography into the new kana orthography, and correct hiragana letters to the kanji and have been extracted in the column on the right.
Because it is the record, the name of the author becomes a boy of ○ year and a girl of ○ year.

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The record of 600 days of evacuated pupils by the picture diary (1)

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The war began

1941 December 8th (Monday) sunshine　The girl of 1st grade

Around 7 o'clock in the morning, it said that the war began by news.
Sometimes we went out of the school to hear news.
Today, we kept the radio on throughout the day.

teachers comments

Follow the example of soldiers and be an honorable child.











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The first air raid

1942 April 18th (Saturday) cloudy　　The girl of 2nd grade

In the 1st class we did a little practice for the literary exercises and it began from the 2nd class.
Otani, Kume, Sugizaki and me four were in charge of punching the ticket.
Mr. Shiro Mori, third of 2 grade,spoke an opening speech.
Ms. Iwata Noriko, first of 2 grade, spoke a closing address.
〔omission from the middle of a quotation〕
The teacher praised for doing well the literary exercises.
When we were playing in the lunch break, the airplane of America came and dropped something.
After a while, an air-raid siren sounded.
While waiting in the classroom, we told a story each other.
〔omission from the middle of a quotation〕
The air-raid siren stopped around 4 o'clock and I was relieved.

Teachers comments
　
All is protecting you.
You must not be afraid or be hasty.
　











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The day of the departure for evacuation

1944 August 21st (Monday) sunshine　　The girl of 6th grade

I write a diary with a pencil from today.
Today, by the group evacuation, I finally leave a house
I went to see the neighborhoods association to say good-by.
I was sent by the neighborhoods association after I took a bath twice to purify.
After an opening ceremony and a send-off ceremony in the school, I marched into Takadanobaba and parted from my mother there.
Unpacking was hard for me, but I did my level best.
I stayed at Muranos house.
We had a little chat in the bed feeling strange and enjoyable but I seemed to have slept much earlier than all.
　







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The day of the departure for evacuation

1944 August 21st (Monday) sunshine　　　　The girl of 4th grade

Today is the day of the departure at last.
In the morning, I said good-by to all and left my home.
At the school, after an opening ceremony, we hold a send-off ceremony for the people who evacuated.
After that, we backed to class room once to have a break, and then we all marched to Takadanobaba. My mother went there　in advance with my luggage.
When I arrived, my mother was waiting for me having luggage and smiled.
I received my luggage and got on the train.
We had lunch immediately when we arrived at Kumegawa.
We were so hungry that the lunch was especially good.
We had dinner, too, on the grassland.
At the night, I slept with Ms. Toshima in the same bed.
　







Heiwa Kinen project 21

(To be continued)

　
The early stages of the evacuation life

Because we didnt have enough time to prepare, we had no choice of place to evacuate like the other schools pupils who were evacuated at temples or inn, so we had to spend all the day where no roof was except the time for bed. At night, we stayed separately some farmhouses near the farm (evacuation academy) in small group. Soon after we woke up, we walked to the farm (for some pupils who stayed far, it was about 20 minutes walking) and washed face there. Thats what we did everyday during our evacuation life.

We had all meals and studies outdoors.At the beginning of evacuation life, there were no tables and chairs even at meals and we had to sit on the ground directly.

It was unusually chilly the winter from 1944 to 45 and our foods were running short so it was hard especially for small children.
It was November that an air alert was announced frequently. So the contents of diaries are not so severe yet. The teachers and the boys of the upper grades dug five dugouts.



　Eating meals on the ground



　


　Our teacher serving at table





　Eating meals on the ground






　Eating meals on the ground




(To be continued)

　
The visiting day

We had the visiting day only once every two weeks. The first visiting was on August 27th and the parents of 3 and 5 graders came to see their children.
The second time was on September 3rd. which was for 4 and 6 graders.

Pupils of the other grades seemed to be very sad as they couldnt see their parents. Even those pupils who did meet their family seemed to be so upset after they were gone, so teachers tried to distracted them from loneliness by　doing a picture-story show.

Because the parents gave some foods, many children had stomachache and diarrhea from the night of visiting day to the next day.
Though teachers set a limit to the foods, parents still gave them hiding so it occurred continually.

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September 3rd( Sunday )　 The girl of 4th grade

Finally, today is my visiting day! I was waiting for my mother with my eyes wide open. After a while, my teacher Saito said First of 5 grader, Ms. Nagino so I went to see my mother and said welcome first, then we went to a wood to talk. She showed me a picture of my father.

She also showed me the tracing spatula which was given from Mrs. Tanaka and brought some cloths for spare. She came to my room and repair a mattress cover and we did various things till at half past one, when we talked all together. We talked a lot and say good-bye shaking hands. After she was gone, I felt a little lonely. 　

Teachers comment

It sounds to be a wonderful day. You must be impatient for the next visiting day.








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September 10th　( Sunday )　The sunshine　　The girl of 3rd grade

I am so happy because today is the visiting day. After a morning gathering, we, second of 3rd grade, wait for our parents on the straw mat. My mother was the first in my class. I recognized her by her green parasol, easily. I was so excited that I didnt know what to talk. First, we put cloths to wash into a small trunk my mother brought and put clean ones into my chest in exchange. We finished it soon and talked about many things relaxed. I was delighted to have lunch with my mother, I ate all very quickly. Moreover, they gave us one juicy pear to everybody.

After lunch, we saw three picture-story show titled Mothers wing, The fighting little nationals ａｎｄ Nanshin-maru(the name of ship) which all was good for us and enjoyable. Pupils sat in front and our families were behind.　After the show, it was almost 4 oclock　and my mother went back home.

reflections

1.I leaned on bedclothes that were piled up.
2.It wasnt good to play the baby to my mother so much.








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November 29th　( Sunday )　　　The girl of 6th grade

Today is the visiting day. All my family including father came to see me, which is very rare, and we spent a wonderful day till about 4 oclock when all gone.
Later on, I put some pieces of clothes in order. My teacher Abe took us to the back of the kitchen and scolded that we got a food from the family cruelly

Returning to my room, I couldnt stop running down the tears, thinking about my family and decided to refuse next time. The cold wind in the night touched my cheeks that were wet with tears. After going to bed, I still felt sorrow and missed home very much.

Being scolded, the night journey under the moon, Im missing home
(translated from a Japanese short poem, haiku)









(To be continued)

　
Pictures of visiting day

A guard's role was given to the pupils on the visiting day.
The guards went to headquarters to report meeting persons' names.
*Guards
Soldiers who arrange and patrol for defense and control.

In front of the signboard of the evacuation school
Guards are present.








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Children of the grade which did not hit the visiting day seemed to be very lonely, and as for the visiting day, the children seemed to be still sadder after their parents left them, then teachers played picture-story show, and tried to make children's mind indistinguishable.

Picture-story show by teachers








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The visiting day was decided and carried out two times per month, every grade per two weeks, then in two groups of 6th and 4th grades and 5th and 3rd grades. There was a rule such that foods cannot be brought in principle at the meeting. However, the parents would bring food to their child and make it eaten secretly, so most of the children suffered from diarrhea on the next day.

The teachers thought that it was enviably unfair that the children of a certain grade could eat and those of the other grade could not, so they had to keep the order by making such a rule. We can now understand it.

A parent of a certain grade considered a plan. He thought that it would probably fit the rule that he would bring a number of food which could be given to all the children of evacuation. The food ticket of bread was distributed as the system in those days.
Some parents collected necessary numbers of tickets (they gathered tickets from their relative or the neighborhood) They got a lot of bread and came to school carrying them with the rucksacks. However, the teachers refused it, saying that they could not receive them by any means. Parents brought bread home tearfully.

The evacuation was our generation's trauma as childhood experiences of hungry, want to return home, itchy (a flea and lice) and cold.

(To be continued)

　
The boy of 5th grade

I heard from Mr. Miyachi today after breakfast that Japan unconditionally surrendered to the United States and Britain at last. I was excited with much angriness. I cried. The teacher also cried and all of class also cried.

I swore firmly within myself, gazing at the blue sky. See soon ! I will certainly revenge myself on this. What an atomic-bomb is ! I will invent a bomb stronger than it, and make Japan a more splendid and stronger country than now, and make the heart of His Majesty the Emperor feel easier.

August 15, 1945 is so an important day that we cannot forget it in our lifetime.
I wrote, in the morning, the description of my impression for "the Imperial edict of the end of war."
In the afternoon I returned from the school to the dormitory, and read the magazine. I had a snack at 3 oclock. It was very delicious.

At night there was a talk from the teacher of What should we do in the future?













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The girl of 6th grade

I felt cooler than usual this morning but the sun came out around the time of breakfast as usual. We had information after breakfast. It was really a sad information which I had heard for the first time since I was born, as it had been rumored.

As for it, my Japan surrendered unconditionally to the United States, the Great Britain, China, and the Soviet Union. His Majesty the Emperor held the Imperial Council, and considered the end of Greater East Asia War. Then His Majesty the Emperor wrote the imperial edict of the end of the war and he told us with radio the end of war.
The enemy will come with an atomic bomb. They will attack us with a scientific warfare. From now on, we will do by our own hand. If the enemy comes with an atomic bomb, we also invent a death ray or anything on our side.

Mr. Miyachi's voice was trembling. We also cried. From now on, more stain than till now might come on us. However, we certainly reorganize Japan. We should not forget our deep emotion of the morning of this day, but we should do our best.

I wrote, in the morning, the description of my impression for "the Imperial edict of the end of war." Since the soldiers (they were collected for defense) went into the auditorium, we had to go to the direction of the playground.
We had a Japanese pumpkin boiled hard with soy source at lunch. It was very delicious. I wrote the diary and played cards in the afternoon. The chirring of cicadas was in chorus outside as the war were no concerns.
Mr. Teratani came at the time of supper, and seemed to be very fine.








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The girl of 5th grade

After breakfast, Mr. Miyachi, my teacher, told very sad information. Japan had to surrender unconditionally to the enemy U.S. and Britain. I heard that His Majesty the Emperor thought that he could continued the war no more, since people he had took care of would be killed with an atomic bomb etc. I could do nothing but cry, hearing it.
Mr. Miyachi also moved to tears. I cried further, when he said, "Today is the last day to inform you.

After finishing a meal we stood up and made a row somehow in the passage but no command was applied. I went out to the shade with Ms. Miyazaki after washing our tableware. The morning assembly was held outside. Even if Japan lost the war, our great Japan empire would continue for ever, I promised the heart.

After the meeting, only the fifth grader carried the firewood used for a bath, to the Maeda dormitory. I felt that more power came out than usual. When we returned to school, everybody put one sheet of paper on the desk, and was hearing Mr. Takadas talk. After the talk finished, the teacher said that the title was "Impression for the Imperial edict of the end war of Greater East Asia War", and wrote it on the blackboard. I wrote what I considered and what I wanted to write rapidly. At last I wrote my decision of the future.

In the lunch I had a very sweet Japanese pumpkin. I was happy I live in such a country. I returned to the dormitory in the afternoon. When pupils of the second and the third groups went to wash their hair, the teacher said, Stop the hair washing. Come upwards." The teacher said, "Ms. Yano" and called me. When I went there, the teacher said, "Please go downwards, borrow a kettle from the owner and put water in it." Although I was shameful, I borrowed a kettle. Then, we had iced water, a biscuit, and sweets which Sakomizu's father brought us. I felt very cold when ice was put in into my mouth. And I arranged the load, until turn of our washing hair would come.

I washed clothes this time, after I washed my hair. I went to the bath at last and I washed my body very cleanly with my relaxation. In a while it became around 4:30, and the time of preparation for start came.

We held the meeting of the song, after returning to the dormitory again. Ms. Yamazaki received a parcel, and then she was trying to open it eagerly. I sang a song which the elder brother taught me.

The teacher's comment: 18th,August

The world became upset for these four or five days. It was sad and regrettable.
However severe your pain might be, please do your best. I hope the flag of the Rising Sun would stand on Singapore or Manila once again. Now the true time which cannot be considered will come.













(To be continued)

　
We saw Americans for the first time

December 3rd (Monday), cloudy/rain The girl of 6th grade

Yesterday's cold was lost. It was fine today. Surrounding mountains were pure white. A morning light was reflected and it was very beautiful. It changed a wintry landscape within yesterday.

When I returned to the dormitory in the afternoon, the car which I had not seen before came. I saw Americans with blue eyes and a high nose in the car. I have supposed that Americans would be much worse than I saw. I saw them, and thought that they were not so bad.

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December 3rd (Monday) cloudy/rain The girl of 6th grade

It sleeted or snowed yesterday, but it was fine today. The snow on the mountains shined white and was very beautiful, on the day of winter. From today a new timetable started and we had a class of the 1st day today. In the class of our national history, we studied "the Imperial Principle of Five Articles (Emperor Meiji's "the Charter Oath "). Mr. Miyachi's national history was very interesting.

When returning to the dormitory in the afternoon, I saw a strange car which attached the white star in front. I noticed that Americans were in the car with had blue eyes and a high nose. I saw Americans for the first time, but it seemed to me that they were not so unpleasant.

We made various talks, entering into the kotatsu (warming apparatus in winter). A pleasant talk also came out and we all laughed heartily including the teacher.

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December 6th (Thursday) fine/cloudy The girl of 5th grade

We had a lesson of the 3rd day today. The language of the 1st hour was finished with the color of the persimmon today. Before the lesson of geography, I saw Americans in the hatch. When he took a funny cap sideways and looked at us from over there, I was surprised. About ten of Americans were standing by the side of the small car with smiling.















(The end)