The Activities of the Chosun Rice Association in the 1920s-1940s : Social Conditions Surrounding the Sale of Chosun Rice in Japan

The Chosun Rice Association was established in December 1923 in the wake of the Great Kanto Earthquake. It was founded by the Japanese Government-General of Korea, the Oriental Development Company, and rice merchants. The association managed the trade of Chosun rice, with the expectation that this would expand its market and enhance its reputation. Later, the association set up its headquarters in Gyeongseong (Seoul), with branches in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. Due to the Great Kanto Earthquake, the market for Chosun rice rapidly extended in Japan. Notably, Chosun rice imported into Tokyo and Yokohama surged significantly through the association. As the import range into Japan of Chosun rice widened, the work of the association also expanded. However, during the Great Depression, the price of rice in Japan plummeted. Consequently, measures to restrict Chosun rice imports emerged as a major agricultural policy in Japan. In response, the association sought to raise its voice against these restrictions. The outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War marked a shift in Japan’s food policies in the 1930s. The wartime mobilization system heightened the importance of ensuring a stable food supply. This led to renewed focus on the value of Chosun rice, with the association playing a key role in securing markets for Chosun rice in Japan. But, as Japan moved towards nationalizing its rice distribution system, the Food Management Law was enacted, establishing the Food Public Corporation to oversee food distribution. In October 1943, the association was dissolved and merged into the Chosun Food Public Corporation.