In October 1945 (Republic of China year 34), the Republic of China began to handle various matters following Japan”s surrender after World War II. Japanese residents and company personnel, along with their families, who were stranded in China, were ordered by our government to carry simple luggage and proceed to designated assembly points, preparing for repatriation to Japan.
During this period, the Republic of China government used its military to protect the personal safety of Japanese residents, strictly prohibiting any retaliatory actions against them.
Yasuji Okamura, the former commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Force in China, was responsible for assisting in the repatriation of Japanese residents. In his later memoirs, he described the reactions of the Japanese residents during this period, vividly recording the actual situation, for example:
”…Chairman Chiang Kai-shek deployed General Hu Zongnan”s and General Tang Enbo”s elite units to Beiping (approx. 100,000 residents) and Shanghai (approx. 100,000 residents) where Japanese nationals were concentrated. Thus, in these areas, the aforementioned major policy was thoroughly implemented, ensuring the smooth execution of duties such as the reception and repatriation of Japanese personnel. Other regions also showed goodwill…”
”…A glimpse into the general situation of taking over civilian companies and military units can be gained from the following two or three examples: North China Telecommunications Company (Beiping) was taken over on October 11. The initial instructions from the receiving officer to our side (gist):”
“1. Chinese and Japanese staff should assist each other and serve. 2. Japanese personnel, grateful for Chairman Chiang”s grace, should remain at their posts. 3. All illegal activities should cease henceforth. 4. If Japanese staff are insulted by Chinese staff, report it to superiors for fair handling. The situation with North China Transportation Co., Ltd. (Beiping) was generally similar…”
”…Japanese expatriates suffered an immense blow from the unexpected defeat; however, their attitude after the war was generally composed, though some Japanese residents behaved improperly. Three to four weeks after the war ended, the following unpleasant incidents were heard:”
“(1) Three months” worth of rations and other supplies were issued to Japanese residents by the military. Many resold these to Chinese merchants, resulting in military and naval supplies being sold everywhere on the streets of the Hongkou district in Shanghai.”
“(2) A considerable number of Japanese still frequented first-class restaurants in Nanjing and Shanghai, singing drunkenly, drawing criticism from Chinese people.”
“(3) Zhou Shanpei, a pro-Japanese elder in Shanghai”s financial and economic circles, was visited by chairmen of Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises after the war, hoping to continue operating their companies under his name and share the profits. All requests were refused.”
“(4) In Beiping, many Japanese tried to lobby the Chongqing government”s advance staff, hoping to be “retained” for employment, and many specifically criticized and attacked the Japanese military”s actions to gain favor with the Chinese side.”
“(5) The Nanjing Japanese Residents” Office had a poor attitude towards selfish Japanese residents who cared nothing for losses, and was criticized by them for being too unfriendly and unenthusiastic.”
“(6) An employee of a certain airline”s Nanjing office, at the same time the war ended, used a large aircraft to transport his family and furniture back to Japan proper; he drank heavily and sang loudly on the last night before his repatriation. Japanese residents were extremely indignant.”
“(7) In view of the movement of Japanese residents to internment camps and their repatriation, most adopted a “selfish” attitude, lacking any sense of empathy for fellow sufferers.” These remarks reveal that even as a victorious nation, the Republic of China remained friendly towards the Japanese people.”
Japanese Trading Companies Still Held Privileges After Defeat
During the war, to cooperate with the Japanese Imperial Army”s encroachment on China, Japanese trading companies enjoyed immense and growing privileged status. The Japanese military controlled vast quantities of supplies, food distribution, procurement, and other major powers, and handed all opportunities to Japanese businesses and some merchants affiliated with the puppet government.
While Japanese businesses earned huge profits and wielded power in occupied territories, they also funneled profits back to Japanese military officials, much like the illicit and unspoken relationship between Schindler and high-ranking German officers in “Schindler”s List.”
The moment Japan surrendered, the wealth and status that Japanese businesses and residents in China had amassed through the Japanese military”s plundering immediately vanished. These individuals, who were arrogant in prosperity, fully exposed their selfish human nature in times of adversity.
Even the high-ranking Japanese military generals who had once incited Japanese youth to sacrifice themselves for the nation now flocked to flatter the Chinese government to ensure their own survival, completely disregarding their cherished Japanese dignity.
Okamura Yasuji”s memoirs describe this subtly, but the actual situation was far more chaotic. For instance, the Japanese employee of the airline in Nanjing mentioned by Okamura used his position to commandeer a large aircraft to transport his family and furniture back to Japan. He drank and sang joyfully on his last night before repatriation, which is understandable. Since there was no civilian airline at the time, it must have been a government-operated plane.
Given that items were being transported, why would it only be furniture? It must have been more valuable goods, as this was a one-time opportunity.
Finally, mobilizing a large aircraft to illicitly carry goods—how could it be the work of one person? It must have been a conspiracy between superiors and subordinates, jointly transporting their families, valuable items, and furniture to Japan. Upon arrival in Japan, they would then use their connections to quickly resell historical artifacts and art collections stolen from China, making another large profit. During that period when the Japanese government had collapsed and could not enforce control, not only merchants but also high-ranking officials in Tokyo found ways to extricate themselves from war crimes and engaged in similar activities to acquire wealth, completely unchecked in Japanese society at the time.
The book “Embracing Defeat” also mentions a kamikaze pilot who was originally sent to die for his country. Upon hearing of Japan”s surrender, he immediately loaded his fighter plane with as many stored supplies as possible and flew back to his rural hometown, showing none of the traditional samurai spirit that the Japanese are most proud of.
In fact, after these Japanese residents returned to Japan, various factions vied for resources, leading to social chaos such as black market dealings, which continued for several years.
Even today, the descendants of Japanese residents repatriated to Japan from China, including a group known as Japanese orphans, continue to live in the dark corners of Japan, becoming a hidden aspect that the Japanese government is unwilling to disclose to outsiders.