"空襲は必至 防空へ邁進 - Air Raid Unavoidable, Go for Air Defense" (postcard issued by Air Defense Association and Ministry of Home Affairs in early 1940s)
The Great Japan Air Defense Association /Dainippon Air Defense Association/ was created on April 28, 1939 by Imperial Decree upon the recommendation of the Minister of Home Affairs with the concurrence of the army and the navy under an official charter granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The charter was twice amended, on 31 March 1941 and 1 July 1943 (when the membership fees were increased). The central office was located in Kojimachi Ward, Nagato District at No.17 in the first home.
Association was established to give prestige to the civilian air-defense program, to act as a sponsoring organization in respect to training and propaganda and to provide financial assistance to those volunteer civilian defense organizations that were unable to meet the cost of equipment and training.
Any contributor automatically became a member and like most sponsoring organizations, the association included many honorary offices and memberships to support its prestige and to appeal to the political and social ambitions of wealthy patrons. A member of the Imperial Household and the Minister of Home Affairs were honorary presidents (Sosai), leading government officials were chairmen (Kaicho) and deputy chairmen (Fuku Kaicho); there were also "directors" (Riji), "superintendents" (Kan ji), "permanent council members" (Jogi In), and "trustees" (Hyogi In).
Memberships included:
(1) "Special members" (Tokubetsu Yuko Kai- in).
(2) "Regular members" (Sci Kaiin).
(3) "Ordinary members" (Futsu Kaiin).
(4) "Honorary members" (Yuko Kaiin).
(5) "Patron members" (Sanjo Kaiin).
Central and Branch Association．
The chief director (Riji Cho) carried the actual operating responsibility and represented the central organization which was primarily concerned with planning and the allocation of appropriations. The active operating bodies were the branch associations, one being established in each of the prefectures. Each prefectural governor acted as chairman of the branch located in his prefecture. The local branch membership deteriorated as the demands of the army and navy for man power increased. Many of the more capable members were drafted, so that toward the end of the war the membership consisted largely of retired officials and the older members of the community.
Finances of the Association.
The funds for financing the activities of the association were received from three sources:
(1) Government subsidies.
(2) Subscriptions.
(3) Money received from branch organizations.
The branch organizations (one in each prefecture) varied considerably in respect to initiative and effectiveness. depending largely upon the interest of the prefectural governor. Money was collected from wealthy individuals, large companies, merchants and factories. Twenty percent of these funds was supposed to be turned in to the central headquarters of the association, but considerably less was actually contributed by the branches. A statement covering receipts and disbursements was made to the Minister of Home Affairs, being first subject to the approval of the Director of the Association.
Operations of the Association.
Expenditures were primarily for various types of air-defense equipment: gas masks, fire pumps, steel helmets, buckets, blackout curtains and emergency ambulances. Expenditures frequently took the form of subsidizing the efforts of a local defense organization which needed additional funds to carry through an air defense project. An estimate of the defense equipment provided by the association is shown in the following tables.
The Great Japan Air Defense Association /Dainippon Air Defense Association/ was created on April 28, 1939 by Imperial Decree upon the recommendation of the Minister of Home Affairs with the concurrence of the army and the navy under an official charter granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The charter was twice amended, on 31 March 1941 and 1 July 1943 (when the membership fees were increased). The central office was located in Kojimachi Ward, Nagato District at No.17 in the first home.
Association was established to give prestige to the civilian air-defense program, to act as a sponsoring organization in respect to training and propaganda and to provide financial assistance to those volunteer civilian defense organizations that were unable to meet the cost of equipment and training.
Any contributor automatically became a member and like most sponsoring organizations, the association included many honorary offices and memberships to support its prestige and to appeal to the political and social ambitions of wealthy patrons. A member of the Imperial Household and the Minister of Home Affairs were honorary presidents (Sosai), leading government officials were chairmen (Kaicho) and deputy chairmen (Fuku Kaicho); there were also "directors" (Riji), "superintendents" (Kan ji), "permanent council members" (Jogi In), and "trustees" (Hyogi In).
Memberships included:
(1) "Special members" (Tokubetsu Yuko Kai- in).
(2) "Regular members" (Sci Kaiin).
(3) "Ordinary members" (Futsu Kaiin).
(4) "Honorary members" (Yuko Kaiin).
(5) "Patron members" (Sanjo Kaiin).
Central and Branch Association．
The chief director (Riji Cho) carried the actual operating responsibility and represented the central organization which was primarily concerned with planning and the allocation of appropriations. The active operating bodies were the branch associations, one being established in each of the prefectures. Each prefectural governor acted as chairman of the branch located in his prefecture. The local branch membership deteriorated as the demands of the army and navy for man power increased. Many of the more capable members were drafted, so that toward the end of the war the membership consisted largely of retired officials and the older members of the community.
Finances of the Association.
The funds for financing the activities of the association were received from three sources:
(1) Government subsidies.
(2) Subscriptions.
(3) Money received from branch organizations.
The branch organizations (one in each prefecture) varied considerably in respect to initiative and effectiveness. depending largely upon the interest of the prefectural governor. Money was collected from wealthy individuals, large companies, merchants and factories. Twenty percent of these funds was supposed to be turned in to the central headquarters of the association, but considerably less was actually contributed by the branches. A statement covering receipts and disbursements was made to the Minister of Home Affairs, being first subject to the approval of the Director of the Association.
Operations of the Association.
Expenditures were primarily for various types of air-defense equipment: gas masks, fire pumps, steel helmets, buckets, blackout curtains and emergency ambulances. Expenditures frequently took the form of subsidizing the efforts of a local defense organization which needed additional funds to carry through an air defense project. An estimate of the defense equipment provided by the association is shown in the following tables.
The association also emphasized the need for air defense training and was an active agent in this field on the prefectural and local levels, including printing and distributing of pamphlets on the various aspects of air defense, sponsoring air defense schools and providing lecturers and experts for such instruction.
防空 -Air Defense