This paper examined cholera epidemics and the structure and characteristics of the preventive measures in Beijing under Japanese occupation. As Japan established its puppet government in Beijing during the Sino-Japanese War (1937-45), it intensified public health work through the health bureau of Beijing municipality, which succeeded the Beiping municipality of the prior Nanjing decade.
After the cholera epidemic of 1938, the Japanese occupation authorities organized the Disinfection Committee of Beijing District(hereafter DCBD), which carried out new policies such as a house-to-house inspections, compulsory feces sampling, police inspection, detention, and monetary penalties to prevent cholera epidemic. To practice house-to-house inspections and compulsory feces sampling, disinfection agents like the sanitary police were required. The DCBD also focused on a fly extermination campaign (滅蠅運動) as a new program to prevent cholera epidemics. When the DCBD focused on the fly extermination campaign, it became a target of cholera disinfection rather than just propaganda.
The Japanese occupation authorities set up a civilian organization, the New People Association(hereafter NPA), to disseminate pro-Japanese ideological propaganda and keep the public order. The NPA had an interest in supporting people"s livelihood and health activity. After the cholera epidemic in 1938, the NPA organized disinfection units to prevent further outbreaks. This organization assisted in the health administration of Beijing municipality. As the epidemic became severe, the NPA’s role increased further.
Ultimately, cholera epidemics caused the DCBD and NPA to become involved in the health administration in Beijing, in addition to the health bureau. This was the characteristics of health administration under Japanese occupation. It was right and proper for the Japanese occupation authorities to invent new organizations and movements that would be suitable for occupation control. While the DCBD and sanitary police represented order from above, the NPA symbolized mobilization from below. The worst cases resulted in more compulsory measures and voluntary participation to prevent epidemics. Thus, despite the challenges posed by the cholera epidemic to the public health administration, the compulsory mobilization and measures against epidemics and contagious diseases overall maintained the status quo of health conditions in Beijing.