The purpose of this paper is to understand the context of the National Army Law(國兵法) in wartime Manchukuo(滿洲國) through propaganda policy.
With imminent outbreak of the Pacific War, an active mass mobilization movement began and established the wartime system in Manchukuo. From April 1939, the projects were discussed in name of People’s Compensation Act (人民總服役制度). As a result, the system of military service in Manchukuo was fundamentally changed from the volunteer system to the conscription system.
However, the reality of Manchukuo, which was as “a state without a member of the nation” differed fundamentally from government intentions of pursuing a conscription system, leading to a massive propaganda campaign. It was “Outline of National Instruction(國民指導要綱)” that the State published. This “outline” aimed at awakening nationality, which the general public needed as a means of promoting a Manchukuo identity. This was a basic precondition for the implementation of this system, whose establishment was difficult to solve.
In contrary of the National Army Law, the Administration strengthened the post-national movement, which was aimed at not only the young, but the families of them. In the process, mass media such as movies and newspapers played important roles in popular propaganda.
However, despite of the all-round propaganda campaign, overcoming the reality of Manchukuo, “a state without nation” was futile. In conclusion, the campaign failed, but not without historical significance. I argue that the National Army Law had a two-prong objective. The National Army Law of Manchukuo first aimed to mobilize, and second, to make nationalism or citizenship appealing to both youth and the general public. The significance of the implementation of the National Army Law is revealed in its propaganda work.