The Cukur Gundul Policy Of The Japanese Colonial Era

The barber during the Dutch and Japanese colonial period in Indonesia. (Nedelands Photo Museum)

JAKARTA - The Bumiputras had attracted the Japanese action to repulse the Dutch colonialists. Japan came like a savior. The narrative of the elderly was echoed. Those who think that the natives will deal with Japan.

The 'intimacy' did not last long. Colonials are still colonialists. Japan's bad character is starting to appear. Japanese arrogance is starting to appear. Japanese colonizers want to always be respected. Bumiputras are forced to join the Japanese disciplined style. Measles to braids, for example.

The arrival of Japanese soldiers was greeted with great fanfare. All because of the courage of the Japanese to repulse the Dutch colonialists. The white people who were afraid of running away. The Bumiputras also thought that Japan was a savior. Moreover, Japan claims to be an old brother.

All of this changed when Japan took control of Indonesia in 1942. Japan's treatment began to change. Their nature as invaders began to leave. Japan began to impose its will. The Nusantara side must comply with Japan.

The bumiputras were forced to sing the Japanese national anthem, Kimigayo. Even they must respect the Japanese flag, Hinomaru. The Bumiputras, who were initially sympathetic, began to be antipathy. The difficulty of living during the Dutch colonial period was repeated in Japanese time.

The arrogance of the Japanese colonialists is getting worse. The attitude of being arrogant spreads everywhere. From big to small matters. Anyone who doesn't want to perpetuate the seikeri (continuing the body as deeply as possible) when they meet Japanese soldiers will be swept away with violence.

This condition is not much different from the natives who reject Japanese orders. The hands and feet of the invaders could immediately float to the face and body of the bumiputras. This attitude is not only shown to the ordinary people. Those who perpetuate higher education are also affected.

This condition proves that there is nothing special in the eyes of the Japanese colonialists. The only thing Japan wants is to obey. Not a dissident.

"My case of being hit by a Japanese pasteng became a fresh and interesting chat material in the midst of the undefined situation and the continuation of studying at the Law College, Rechtshoogeschool te Batavia. In fact, there is no sign that college will reopen. We are unemployed, no work and friends come to the house. I discussed this with Darmawansyah and Borneo..

"Meanwhile, we heard about the development of the situation. That Dutch officials were arrested and detained everywhere, even though previously in Central Java they had carried out a scorched earth action to prevent Japan's forward movement and in order to evacuate to Australia via Cilacap," said Hoegeng Imam Santoso (then the 5th National Police Chief) as written by Abrar Yusra and Ramadhan KH in the book Hoegeng: Police Idaman and Reality (1993).

The arrogance of Japanese colonialists spread everywhere. They perpetuate many burdensome rules. Teachers and boys of boys have to cut their hair, for example. The rules are perpetuated from various levels of education. From elementary school to college.

Japanese colonizers understand very well the rules of shaving like soldiers as a form of discipline. The effort was perpetuated throughout the archipelago. Moreover, in schools run by the Japanese government. The policy of bullying was perpetuated by coercion.

Those who do not want to beHitted will be forcibly shaved by the invaders. The military was even involved. Violence has also become a 'gun' to enforce braided shaving discipline. Those who want to cut their hair mean they can go to school. While those who do not want to be barren have difficulty accessing education. Everything is because Japan often conducts raids.

Middle-level students consider the barber regulation painful. Many of them echoed the protests. However, for elementary school children, the rule is considered part of fun. The narrative is because the children do not understand what colonialism is and who is Japan.

Everything is accepted as a manifestation of the requirements for providing education. They must be disciplined so that education runs smoothly. Even though in the discipline enforcement, Japan often played hand in hand in disciplining school children.

For children my age, the experiences of the Japanese era were very beautiful. Understandably, we children, unlike our parents, don't know who and what Japan really is. What we understand is that all the discipline they teach feels good. No problem, we have to be bald, it's not a matter of taiso (six in the morning) we have to do it.

"It doesn't matter if our left cheek or right cheek get pasted if we are wrong in the rows. It's not a matter of our bodies being hit if we are wrong in the morning. Because, after all, this is nothing compared to the pleasure we got during such trainings," said Kris Biantoro in his book Manis Rejected: A Biography (2004).