Postcard by Steamer Mail

Postcard by Steamer Mail

This is a formal business communication likely tied to shipping or travel between Japan and Japanese Colonial Korea (noted in the printed schedule). The sender, likely someone named 信宣 (Nobunori), is replying to Mr. Tanabe confirming receipt of instructions, acknowledging understanding, and indicating that further communication will be given in person when the ship departs and arrives.

The tone is very respectful, using older formal Japanese, common in Meiji-Taisho period business or official correspondence.

Written in September 1940 it is unclear how exactly these two men were involved in Japan's colonial occupation in Korea. This could be military or related to a commercial business enterprise.

Over five million Koreans were conscripted for labour beginning in 1939, and tens of thousands of men were forced into Japan's military. Nearly 400,000 Korean labourers died. Approximately 200,000 girls and women, mostly from China and Korea, were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military. Traditional Korean culture suffered heavy losses, as numerous Korean cultural artefacts were destroyed or taken to Japan. To this day, valuable Korean artefacts can often be found in Japanese museums or among private collections. One investigation by the South Korean government identified 75,311 cultural assets that were taken from Korea, 34,369 in Japan and 17,803 in the United States. However, experts estimate that over 100,000 artefacts actually remain in Japan.

There is also the possibility that one or both of the correspondents is actually Korean since during the Japanese annexation, the Korean language was suppressed in an effort to eradicate Korean national identity. Koreans were forced to take Japanese surnames, known as Sōshi-kaimei.

However, it is also possible that one or both of the correspondents are Japanese colonial settlers. There was significant emigration to the overseas territories of the Empire of Japan during the Japanese occupation period, including Korea. By the end of World War II, there were over 850,000 Japanese settlers in Korea. After World War II, most of these overseas Japanese repatriated to Japan. Migrants who remained squatted in informal settlements.

Front of Postcard:

Image Description (Bottom text under the ship):
Japanese (vertical, right to left):
關釜連絡汽船
関釜連絡汽船
(Kankō Renraku Kisen)
→ Kanpu Ferry Line

船名: 景福丸・九州丸・廣徳丸・八幡丸
→ Ship names: Keifuku-maru, Kyūshū-maru, Kōtoku-maru, Yahata-maru

速度: 20ノット (knots)
→ Speed: 20 knots

所要時間: 約六時間二十分
→ Required time: Approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes

Handwritten & Stamped Text (Right-hand side):

関釜 (Kampu) – Shimonoseki–Busan route

鈴木 (Suzuki)

黒田 (Kuroda)

桑野 (Kuwano)

桑井 (Kuwai)

吉田 (Yoshida)

豊田 (Toyoda)

天保 (Tenpō)

The stamps are Japanese "Chop Marks" from officials likely involved in processing, delivering, or screening the letter.

Back of Postcard:

きかは便郵 (Kikaha binyuu): "Postcard by steamer mail" (likely referring to a shipboard or naval mail service).

Recipient (Right side, written vertically):
This is the recipient's address and name, written in traditional Japanese order (right to left, top to bottom):

三重縣 津市 (Mie-ken Tsu-shi) – Tsu City, Mie Prefecture

西橋詰通 (Nishihashizume-dōri) – Nishihashizume Street

津協同会社 (Tsu Kyōdō Kaisha) – Tsu Cooperative Company

田辺康兵様 (Tanabe Kōhei-sama) – Mr. Tanabe Kōhei

This tells us that the postcard was intended for a man named Kōhei Tanabe, working or residing at the Tsu Cooperative Company in Mie Prefecture.

Bottom Chart:
This table details shipping schedules between Kanmon (Shimonoseki) and Pusan (Busan):

Departure from Shimonoseki Arrival at Pusan
10:30 AM and 11:00 PM 6:30 PM and 8:10 AM next day

Departure from Pusan Arrival at Shimonoseki
10:40 AM and 9:30 PM 6:30 PM and 7:00 AM next day

拝復
貴信之通り
了解致候
尤も當方出發之節
汽船着之節に於て
口頭申上候
先便申上度候
甚而不一筆申上候
下関信宣

Respectful reply,
In accordance with your esteemed message,
I fully understand.
At the time of our departure,
and upon the ship’s arrival,
I will report to you verbally.
I wished to inform you sooner,
but was unable to write until now.
With regards from Shimonoseki,
— Nobunori (信宣)

Purchased from Don Kochi and part of the Tom Long collection. Translation provided by Yuske Tamura and ChatGPT. Additional information taken from Wikipedia.

September 4, 1940