Japanese Elite Education for Russian Emigrants in Manchukuo

Abstract

The Russian emigration in Manchuria at the beginning of the 20th century represents a very special history. The destinies of the Russian emigrants reflected the harsh circumstances of the civil war and collectivization, Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931, followed by the Japanese capitulation, which ended the WWII. The article is aimed on the analysis of the Russian emigrants societal position in Machukuo, specified for the Russian students of the Japanese university Kenkoku. The article highlights several waves of the Russian emigration to Manchukuo, each as distinctive by its reasons and social composition. Pursuing the multicultural composition of the new state Manchukuo, the Japanese policy was just loyal towards the Russian immigrants, which provided them the equal rights with the other nationalities at the access to higher education. The “National Building University” — Kenkoky, which was founded in 1938 and aimed on training the higher state administrative personnel, was open for the various nationalities, including Russians. The destinies of the Russian alumni of the Kenkoku university when they returned to the motherland after the Japanese capitulation was not an easy. Substantial reminiscences of the witnesses, Russian and non-Russian historic publications, personal archived documents are the basis for the given research. The Manchukuo short history in general and the history of the higher education there in particular have been occupying an increasing research interest all over the world. Distinctively, this issue remains unexplored in Russia. The article outcomes and materials are useful for the historians, engaged into the study of the Russian emigration to Manchuria and residence of the emigrants during the Manchukuo history. The multicultural principles of the Japanese university Kenkoku, applied for the Manchukuo diverse population represents an outstanding experience for the future generations as well.