Keijo Hinode Elementary School : A case study of a \u22naichijin\u22 school in colonial Korea

Keijo Hinode Elementary School was founded in August, 1889, following the establishment of schools in Fuzan (K. Pusan: est. 1877), Genzan (K. Wonsan: est. 1884), and Jinsen (K. Inch\u27on: est. 1885). This article aims at clarifying how Hinode developed into the most eminent elementary school not only in Korea but in all Japanese colonial territories at that time. With its dignified building being the first western-style brick-edifice to be found in Chosen (colonial Korea), Hinode, often referred to as \u22Gakushuin of Chosen,\u22 functioned as the model of newly established elementary schools in Keijo (K. Kyongsong: present Seoul) and was a source of pride for its graduates. Closely located to the Government-General, the school had many students whose parents were Japanese high officials or Korean aristocrats. Hinode never failed to be on the lists of schools to be visited by Japanese royalty who came to Korea. This article puts special emphasis on Hinode\u27s personnel aspects and the courses taken by its graduates. For many Japanese principals, Hinode was the ultimate goal of their teaching careers, and its newly hired principals arrived at the school as veterans. For teachers Hinode was a gateway to the positions of principal or assistant-principal at other schools. On the other hand, the school also substantiated its prominence by producing graduates who were highly successful in the competitive entrance examination for middle schools