Kyōwakai Membership Card
The Mutual Assistance Society (J: Kyōwakai) was an organization that affected all J-Koreans before liberation. It enforced things such as Japanese name changes, the wearing of Japanese clothes, praying at Japanese shrines, donations to national defense, volunteer work, and the learning of the Japanese language. There were branch offices in each prefecture and the office was located inside the Tokkō (Special Higher Police) division in charge of public security. Members were ordered to carry a membership booklet. Included in it were items such as an ID photo, original domicile, Japanese address, and occupation. It was a means of establishing identity. Also printed in the booklet was the “Kimigayo” (national anthem of Japan), “Oath of Subjects of the Imperial Nation,” and “Member Responsibilities.”
