Item number: M531

Year: AD 1935

Material: Nickel Alloy

Size: 39.5 x 24 x 2.0 mm

Weight: 8.05 g

Provenance: Private Collector, USA, 2026

This is a ‘census taker badge’ distributed by the Government-General of Korea to facilitate rapid identification during the implementation of the national census across the territory under its jurisdiction, as part of the wider census conducted throughout the Empire of Japan.

The obverse of the badge features a golden kite (kinshi) radiating light—a mythical bird that enabled Emperor Jimmu to achieve victory in legend, frequently serving as a symbol of Japan. Curving along the lower section are Chinese characters in seal script reading ‘Showa 10th Year / National Census’. The obverse is unrimmed.

The reverse bears a central vertical inscription reading ‘Government-General of Korea’, enclosed by a raised outer rim. Records indicate that this badge was originally supplied with a fitted presentation box (tomobako) from the ‘Naigai Badge Manufactory’ (Naigai Kishō Seisakusho). This merchant establishment, located in Kanda, Tokyo, was in operation from before AD 1927 and remained active until at least AD 1954, under successive proprietors Kiheiji Kobayashi and Hisayoshi Koyama; further historiographical investigation is required to ascertain precise details.

On 1 December AD 1902, Prime Minister Taro Katsura promulgated Law No. 49, which mandated that a national census (population census) be conducted every ten years, with the inaugural census scheduled to take place across the entire territory of the Empire in AD 1905. However, as the Russo-Japanese War (AD 1904–1905) escalated, Prime Minister Katsura issued Law No. 13 on 15 February AD 1905, postponing the initial census planned for that year. On 25 September AD 1918, the Emperor of Japan sanctioned the ‘National Census Enforcement Order’ (Imperial Edict No. 358), ordaining that the national census commence on 1 October Taisho 9 (AD 1920).

Although Korea was originally scheduled to conduct the census alongside the rest of the Empire in Taisho 9, the plan could not be carried out due to the ongoing unrest following the March First Independence Movement of AD 1919 and strong anti-colonial sentiment against Japanese rule; consequently, only simplified surveys were conducted in select regions. In AD 1922, the Imperial Diet passed an amendment to the National Census Law, stipulating that full national censuses be held every decade in years ending in 0, with simplified censuses taking place in years ending in 5. Thus, Showa 5 (AD 1930) marked the first large-scale census conducted in Korea. This circumstance likely accounts for why the badge for Korean census takers did not feature Mount Fuji, unlike those used in the Japanese mainland and the colony of Taiwan. The census proceeded as scheduled in Showa 10 (AD 1935).

To ensure smooth execution, the Government-General of Korea established a ‘Temporary National Census Section’ directly under the Secretariat of the Governor-General. At the local level, ‘Temporary National Census Departments’ were set up in each province. Civil servants, staff from public organisations, and other suitable individuals well-versed in local affairs were recommended by provincial governors and appointed as census takers by the Governor-General. According to regulations, census takers were required to wear their badges and carry the census taker handbook along with verification forms whilst performing their duties. Furthermore, they were strictly prohibited from inquiring into matters unnecessary to their official duties or disclosing any information obtained during the process. The badges could be retained as keepsakes after the census and were not required to be returned. However, following the end of the Second World War—when Japan surrendered and withdrew from Korea—many Koreans in possession of this badge discarded or destroyed it to avoid its being used as physical evidence to accuse them of being ‘pro-Japanese collaborators’.

物件編號: M531

年代: 公元 1935 年

材質: 鎳合金

尺寸: 39.5 x 24 x 2.0 mm

重量: 8.05 g

來源: 美國私人收藏 2026

這是一枚朝鮮總督府為於轄區內推進於大日本帝國全境進行的國勢調查，所分發的「調查員徽章」，以便於實行國勢調查時快速進行身分辨認。

章體正面有一金鵄（きんし）放射光芒，金鵄為傳說中使神武天皇獲勝的神鳥，經常作為日本的象徵。下方環列篆書漢字「昭和十年 / 國勢調查」。章緣無環。

背面中央銘文為豎列的「朝鮮總督府」。章緣有邊環。該章曾有共箱（附盒）的紀錄，來自「內外徽章製作所」，該商號自公元1927年前便已存在，位於東京神田，至少公元1954年仍在營運，先後有負責人為小林喜平次及小山久好，詳情則更待進一步考據。

公元1902年12月1日，日本內閣總理大臣桂太郎發布法律第49號，規定每10年舉行一次國勢調查（人口普查），且公元1905年在帝國全版圖內舉行第一回國勢調查。隨後，因日俄戰爭（公元1904-1905年）愈演愈烈，內閣總理大臣桂太郎於1905年2月15日發布法律第13號，將原訂當年舉行的第一回國勢調查暫緩。公元1918年9月25日，日本天皇裁可「國勢調查施行令」（敕令第358號），令國勢調查於大正九年（公元1920年）十月一日展開。

朝鮮原定應於大正九年一同展開國勢調查，但時逢公元1919年的三一獨立運動未霽，反抗日本殖民者的心態較為強烈，因此未未能執行，僅在部分地區執行簡易調查。公元1922年，日本國會通過國勢調查法修正案，規定往後每逢西元年尾數0舉辦國勢調查，每逢西元年尾數5舉辦簡易國勢調查。因此，昭和五年（公元1930年）為朝鮮首次進行大規模的普查。可能也因此，朝鮮國勢調查的調查員徽章並未如本土與臺灣殖民地一般採用富士山作為章圖。昭和十前（公元1935年）則照常進行。

為順利執行，朝鮮總督府設「臨時國勢調查課」，直屬總督官房；地方則於各道設置「臨時國勢調查部」，由道知事推薦精通調查區內事情之公務員、公共團體之職員及其他適當之人選，由總督任命之以擔任調查員。按規定，國勢調查員於執行職務之際，應佩帶徽章、攜帶國勢調查員必攜（手冊）及查照表。此外，就其執行職務無必要之事項，不得進行詢問，也不得洩漏於執行職務過程中所獲悉之事項。徽章於事後可留作紀念，無須收回。但第二次世界大戰戰後，日本投降並撤出朝鮮，許多持有此章的朝鮮人將其丟棄或銷毀，以免成為被指控為「親日派」的物證。