Age of Japan's WWII "Draftees"

[Timothy.G.B.]

Hi Everyone:

I am not sure if this is the place to post this, but I couldn't think of another section that applied.

I am curious to know if anyone has any information as to the age of Japanese draftees during WWII. Particularly, at what age were Japanese soldiers either permitted to enter the Japanese army or required to enter the Japanese army?

I don't even know if there was such a thing as a "draft" in the North American sense or if military duty was required of all young men in Japan at the time.

If anyone has any info I would be grateful.

Best regards,
Tim

[P Goldsbury]

Moved to a more appropriate forum.

[Joseph Svinth]

Try

Soldier and Peasant in Japan: The Origins of Conscription
E. Herbert Norman
Pacific Affairs, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Mar., 1943), pp. 47-64

doi:10.2307/2752051
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=003...3E2.0.CO%3B2-P

There is a book, too, by the same author. http://www.amazon.com/Soldier-Peasan.../dp/0837195977

[Cady Goldfield]

Another book to recommend is Kamikaze Diaries: Reflections of Japanese Student Soldiers, by Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney (2006 University of Chicago Press).

It's a real eye-opener, and a tear-jerker, too.

[Joseph Svinth]

Universities and Students in Wartime Japan
Ben-Ami Shillony
The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 45, No. 4 (Aug., 1986), pp. 769-787
doi:10.2307/2056086


http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=002...3E2.0.CO%3B2-S

I don't have pay-per-view for this one, but the Google snippet states, "The draft age was never lowered to eighteen, despite the fact that eighteen was the usual age of conscription in Western countries." So, probably this meant that one was not conscripted prior to reaching adulthood, which in Japan was 20.

The Japanese draft appears to have been selectively applied, too, apparently to avoid causing problems in the apprentice system then in place. See, for example, http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbook...e/uu36je0g.htm

QUOTE

The time frame for skill training extended to the time of the physical examination for conscription, at age 20, by which time basic occupational training was expected to have been completed in the merchant and craft worlds. The establishment of the elementary school system, however, meant that, for some vocations, the training - which began upon graduation from elementary school - was interrupted by military service. Having formed part of the social change, the new technology, which was introduced selectively, filled the gap caused by this interruption (Yasuoka 1981).

END QUOTE

See also http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=002...3E2.0.CO%3B2-L , Standard of Living in Japan Before Industrialization: From what Level did Japan Begin? A Comment
Yasukichi Yasuba
The Journal of Economic History, Vol. 46, No. 1 (Mar., 1986), pp. 217-224 :

"Japanese stature at age 20 in 1883-1892, available from the measurement at the time of conscription, was 62 inches."

[Timothy.G.B.]

Hi Everyone:

Thanks so much for all of the info. I will be taking a look through all of the links that people have provided.

With appreciation,
Tim