作為殖民地語言文化史的一環,日治時期日本人之客語學習與研究這一領域的研究,由於受限於日文資料零散各處以及研讀障礙,以致於研究成果寥寥可數,關於此一時期的資料蒐集、整理與研究,確實亟需加以填補及開拓。本稿將研究對象聚焦於『警友』雜誌,企圖透過分析其編纂的態度、目標、內容,理解『警友』中日本警察研究客家的目的、背景與時代意義。此外,分析統治者在客家文化研究上的特徴,提供殖民地語言政策研究之基礎資料,瞭解殖民地臺灣的多語言文化現象以及統治後期異文化衝突與融合的一面。 研究成果顯示,『警友』刊載的會話練習內容是極端實用主義與功利主義的,例如犯罪的防治與取締、公共衛生的維持或是全民保密防諜與節米報國等政令的宣傳,這些會話知識都是一種管理上的必要工具。警察正是用這些工具來瞭解、調查被殖民者,這些知識也產生了一套控制人身的方法。另外,由於警察經常在日常生活第一線與客家人民直接接觸,所以不得不從事於報導、収集、評論客家民俗文化。為了在現場維持法律和秩序,這種不能避免的現場存在,使他們成為了業餘的客家民俗文化研究與學習者。
The purpose of this paper is to take general on the ”Kei-Yu” of the study on Hakka at the ending of the Japanese colonial era, to examine the compilatory motive, purpose and background, and to show clearly how Japanese have grasped the Hakka folk cultures. Consequently, the contents of conversation practice on ”Kei-Yu” are extremely the pragmatism and the utilitarianism. The advertisement of the government ordinances, like as crime preventing and controlling with bans, the public health maintenance, counterintelligence, and so on. No matter the use is any, these conversation knowledge all are in one kind of management essential tool. Moreover, because the police frequently comes in contact with the Hakka people directly in the daily life, therefore the Hakka folk cultures should be reported, be collected, and be commented. To maintain the law and order on the site, the existence of site can not escape made the police to be the amateur's researcher of the Hakka folk cultures.