Kita Ikki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kita Ikki (北 一輝 Kita Ikki?) 3 April 1883 - 19 August 1937) was a Japanese author, intellectual and political philosopher who was active in the early Showa period Japan.
Born on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, Kita Ikki’s real name was Kita Terujiro. He attended Waseda University in Tokyo, and while a student was attracted to socialist ideas, meeting with many influential figures in the early socialist movement in Japan. He was also attracted to the cause of the Chinese Revolution of 1911, and became a member of the Tongmeng Hui (United League) led by Song Jiaoren. He traveled to China to assist in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty.
However, by the time he returned to Japan in 1919, he had become very disillusioned with the Chinese Revolution and with socialism. He joined Okawa Shumei and others to form the Yuzonsha, a ultranationalist organization, and devoted his time to writing and political activism. He gradually became the leading theorist and philosopher of the right-wing movement in pre-World War II Japan.
Kita Ikki first outlined his philosophy of state socialism in his book The Theory of Japan's National Polity and Pure Socialism (国体論及び純正社会主義 Kokutairon oyobi Junsei Syakaisyugi?), published in 1906, which still reflects his pro-Marxist bias at the time. His revised pro-fascist bias appears in his subsequent book An Outline Plan for the Reorganization of Japan (日本改造法案大綱 Nihon Kaizo Hoan Taiko?), published in 1923. The common theme to both works is his promotion of a national polity (Kokutai), through which Japan would lead a united and free Asia (pan-Asianism. Under his plan, a military coup d'état would usher in a totalitarian regime based on direct rule by the Emperor, who would suspend the Constitution, and radically reorganize the Diet to be free of corruption. The new ‘National Reorganization Diet’ would nationalize strategic industries, impose limits on individual wealth and private property, enact a land reform to benefit the farmers and thus strengthen Japan to enable it to liberate Asia from western imperialism.
Historians argue about what Kita's political stance was; taken at face value, he appears to have created a hybrid of fascism, Marxism, agrarianism and militarism. Although his writings call for Japan to liberate Asia, he also calls for Japan to embark on overseas expansion due to increasing population pressures.
"Japan's population has doubled in 50 years, and if expansion continues at this pace we will have to feed at least 250 million people a century from now on, which means that we will be forced to acquire more territory."
This blend of seemingly opposing philosophies and contradictory goals was reflected in various forms throughout early Showa period Japan, and is one of the reasons why it is next to impossible for historians to agree on Kita’s political stance.
Kita’s writings were a major influence on the Japanese military, especially the Imperial Japanese Army factions who participated in the failed coup of 1936 (the February 26 Incident). After the February 26 Incident, Kita was arrested by the Kempeitai for complicity, tried by a closed military court, and executed.
[edit] Bibliography
- Kita Ikki And the Making of Modern Japan: A Vision of Empire, Brij Tankha, University of Hawaii Press, 2006, ISBN 1-90190-399-0
- Radical Nationalist in Japan: Kita Ikki 1883-1937, George M. Wilson, Harvard University Press, 1969, ISBN 0-67474-590-6
- Was Kita Ikki a Socialist?, Nik Howard, 2004.
