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The termsenbu (宣撫) was used by theImperial Japanese Army to refer topsychological warfare operations intended to pacify local populations and accelerate the process ofJapanization.[1]
The firstsenbu team was organized in 1932 byYaginuma Takeshi [ja] (1895–1944), a civilian employed by theKwantung Army, as part of the preparations for theBattle of Rehe.[citation needed] The term comes from thexuanfushi [zh] (宣撫使) envoys dispatched in ancient times by Chinese states to maintain control over regions destabilized by war.
Remnants of defeated Chinese armies frequently broke apart into marauding gangs ofhonghuzi who terrorized the rural population.[2] This, combined with reports ofviolence against civilians by Japanese forces as well as the general chaos that followed the fires of war, contributed to panic and brought about a collapse of functioning society as masses of civilians fled tourban areas where they could expect protection bygarrisoned Japanese troops.[2] According to thescorched earth policy (jianbi qingye, 堅壁清野) of theNational Revolutionary Army, retreating Chinese forces routinely destroyed the homes, property, and food supplies of local people. It was not uncommon for Chinese soldiers to simply murder locals in order to prevent them from assisting the Japanese.[citation needed]
In the aftermath of this,senbu teams following the main Japanese force would, through the distribution ofhumanitarian aid and the implementation of Japanese-funded social development projects, attempt towin the hearts and minds of the populace while also restoring the economic strength and social cohesion of society. By building a relationship of trust with the local people, thesenbu projects also had the effect of gaining their voluntary cooperation, including the provision of labor andhuman intelligence. Continuing to fight a different kind of battle after the shooting had stopped,senbu operatives were praised as "soldiers without weapons" (武器なき戦士).[3] Athletic events were also organized to improve relations with locals.[4]
By restoring the fabric of society, the self-defense ability of rural settlements from bandit raids would be improved. This allowed citizens to better protect themselves from loss of life or property, and at the same time cut the bandits off from their rapport with the apathetic and poorly-educated Chinese populace, who had long since become accustomed to their presence, and their supply of food, "thus bringing about [their] self-annihilation ...".[2]
Senbu operatives operated asforestry andlogging supervisors to ensure Chinese guerillas could not hide in densely forested areas.[2] Teams were also deployed to uncover and wipe outcells of Communists, arrestSoviet military spies, and infiltrate theChinese Communist Party in order to make arrests and assassinations.[2]
According tosenbu progenitor Yaginuma Takeshi, "[The principles of]senbu ought to apply also to our Imperial Army. We must reform our own soldiers who behave cruelly toward the Chinese before [it will be possible for us to] reform the Chinese themselves" (大日本軍宣撫官とは大日本軍に対する宣撫官という意味でもあるのだろう。我々は支那人自身を善導する前に、支那人に粗暴に振舞う日本の軍人をまず教育せねばならない).
Tōhikō (討匪行;Setting Out to Strike Down the Wicked), agunka describing asenbu team's exploits against Chinese communists in theKhingan Mountains, was commissioned by the Kwantung Army. The lyrics were written by Yaginuma Takeshi and it was recorded byFujiwara Yoshie.[citation needed]
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The scope and objective ofsenbu operations were summarized as: