Militarism-Socialism in Showa Japan

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Militarism-Socialism refers to a distinctive right-wing variant of socialist theories, of Japanese origin, developed mainly during the 1920s and Showa period. It mixed radical nationalist right-wing and militarist ideas with state socialism, and was proposed by a number of contemporary political philosophers and thinkers in Japan.

In other words this radical ideology was the final stage of local right-socialism, with roots in the socialism of the late Meiji period. That was derived from a blend of Western socialism introduced by Western Christian missionaries, certain proto-socialist precedents (the Minken movement), plus ancient militarist ideals (bushi-do code),Pan Asianism,radical Marxism,Christian socialism, populism, syndicalism and some radical anarchism, along with nationalist right-wing thinking. One certain possibly denomination for this right-wing strand of political thinking would be "Japanism" or the "Japanese right-socialist political way".

Two important ideas, at the level of slogans at least, were that of Showa nationalism or a Showa restoration, and that of a Military Shogunate (i.e. a return to military rule, but with policies better adapted to the external and internal, socio-economic challenges facing Japan).

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[edit] Origins

This political doctrine was an extreme development of Japanese state socialism, Kita Ikki's radical socialist thinking, and some militarist doctrines. Nakano Seigo is also frequently cited as a source.

It split into Japanese Navy and Japanese Armybranches. The latter had greater similarities with the radical fascist variant, German Nazism. It was the "core" Japanese nationalist thinking from the Showa period to 1945.

Kita, in his book Nihon kaizo hoan taiko (A General Plan for the National Reorganization of Japan), proposed a military coup d'état to promote the supposed true aims of the Meiji Restoration. This book was banned, but certain military circles read it in the early 1930s. Ingredients there included: Social Darwinism; German state socialism; and anarchism from Meiji times mixed with radical militarist and traditionalist ideas.

Kita's plan was phrased in terms of freeing the Emperor from weak and treasonous counsellors. After suspending the Constitution, and dissolving the Diet, the Emperor and his military defenders should work for a "collectivist direct voluntarism" to unify people and leaders. Harmony with the working classes would be sought by the abolition of the aristocracy and austerity for the Imperial House.

[edit] Political Purposes

Japanese Right-socialists looked to a new Shogunate system, in the form of a modern Military Shogunate. It should mix the Navy and Army clans, badly split at the time, under a supreme military dictator (a new shogun) leading a Militarist-Socialist State.

Originally such thinkers analyzed the question in why the Emperor debt to retaken political power with dictatorial attributes, along your divine symbolism. If the purposes of 2-26 Incident, the attempt to install the "Shōwa Restoration" if the similar sought in rest of next political attempts. Later same ideologist decided to taken directly the political power for media of your own doctrine the "Militarism-Socialism" and your proper movement, the "Imperial Way Faction"; why in effect taken the control of government in 1941 to rest the period until August 1945.

The Tenno would return to puppet status, for political or religious show, under control of militarists with added power. European fascist elements were added to the dictatorship concept. The leader might resemble a Führer or Duce. A political right-socialist movement could promote the national objectives: to defeat exterior enemy powers, and organize a controlled internal revolution. Decadent upper classes would have to give way to social justice and a populist reform.

This right-socialist line was a (contemporary alternative radical right-wing and nationalist) 'third way' of Asian origin. The distinctive entry of elements of European fascism made it the final stage of the development: in crude terms only, a Japanese fascist ideology.

[edit] Context of Military and Political Actions

The Japanese Navy was in general terms more traditionalist, in defending ancient values and the sacredness of the Emperor; the Japanese Army was more forward-looking, in the sense of valuing primarily strong leadership, as is evidenced by the use of the coup and direct action. The Navy typically preferred political methods. The Army, ultimately, was the vehicle for the anti-capitalists, hyper-nationalists, anticommunists, anti-parliamentarians, extreme Right-Socialists and Nationalist-Militarist ideas.

The Navy defended the sacredness of the Japanese emperor and stressed the importance of ancient political thinking, national religion and culture. The Army had innovative ideas : a powerful military or civil dictatorship, with a nationalist radical party to take power in elections, or by force.

The Japanese military were considered politically "clean" in terms of political corruption, and assumed responsibility for 'restoring' the security of the nation, too. The armed forces took up criticism of the traditional democratic parties and regular government for many reasons (low funds for the armed forces, compromised national security, weakness of the leaders). They were also, by their composition, closely aware of the effects of economic depression on the middle and lower classes, and the communist threat.

[edit] Military Industry

One very important area for these thinkers was the development of national armed forces and military industry and technology, in order to possess the most powerful Army in line with their national defense and overseas conquest plans. They proposed measures to compose some laws for national mobilization, rearming and militarization of the country in accord with overseas conquest operations. Along these measures the same ideologists analyzed the important question of military economy and finance to support their own war machine, together with their private zaibatsu and militarist followers.

The best representation of the blend of right-wing nationalist thinking with ancient military Bushi-do code and Samurai traditions used to fulfil military needs was in Admiral Takijiro Ohnishi's brainchild idea of Kamikaze defensive tactics.

[edit] Conquest Plans and Strategies

Overseas, Japan would free Asia of Western influence,(Pan-Asianism) uniting expansionist ideas with a national security strategy, against the Western and Soviet powers. Hachiro Arita,Kanji Ishiwara,Shumei Okawa amongst others, traced out the future Japanese conquests.

The economic doctrines of the "Yen block" were in 1941 transformed to the "Great Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" Plan, as a basis for the Japanese national finances, and conquest plans. There was a history of perhaps two decades behind these moves.

The Japanese theorists concerned with Mainland Asia knew the geopolitical theory of Halford Mackinder, expressed in the book Democratic Ideas and Reality. He discussed why the 'World Island' of Eurasia and Africa was dominant, and why the key to this was the 'Central Land' in Central Asia. This is protected from sea attack, by deserts and mountains, and is vulnerable only on its west side, and to advanced technology from Europe.

Both branches gained in power as they administered the exterior provinces and military preparations; the Japanese Army controlled specially northern and continental areas: Karafuto, Kuriles islands, Kwantung leased territories, Chosen, Hokkaido. In other hand Japanese Navy managed southern sea areas: Kyushu, Shikoku, Ryu-Kyu islands, Bonin, Minamitori Shima (Marcus) island, Iwo Jima, Taiwan, Nan-yo (South Pacific Mandate), Izo Sishito, Daito Islands, more later Hainan, Paracel islands, Crescend islands, Flat, Amboina, Danger, Low Tizard and Spratly islands. In both cases respective armed branches approved these lands in benefits of your influence sphere and future conquest plans.

These geopolitical ideas coincided with the theories of Lieutenant Colonel Kanji Ishiwara, sent in 1928 to Manchuria to spy. The Army adopted them, in some form. The Army theorists headquarters stay in Manchuria area.

The Navy, on the other hand, was interested in the southerly direction of expansion (see Strike South group) the ideological center of Navy theorists stay in Formosa. These differing ideas were partly rooted in the supposed ancestral origins of the Japanese Army and Navy: Chosu or Izumo for the former, Satsuma and Yamato for the latter. The zaibatsu monopolies, while not lining up with either, leaned to the Yamato clan, and economic interests.

An extended debate ensued, resolved in ensued, resolved in the end by the stern experience of Japan's armed conflicts with the Soviet Union in 1938–1939. This tipped the balance towards the 'South' plan, and the Pearl Harbor attack that precipitated the Pacific War in 1941.

[edit] The Development of Right-Socialist Thinking

These doctrines were developed by certain thinkers: Fumio Goto; Yoriyasu Arima, who read in some radical works of Karl Marx and Max Stirner; Fumimaro Konoye; and Fusanosuke Kuhara. Intended coups failed, but Hideki Tojo, Yosuke Matsuoka and Naoki Hoshino took on board the thinking.

Some ideologist how Kingoro Hashimoto, retaken the socialists justice ideas mixed with militarism, when proposed a Nationalist single party dictatorship, based on equal and popular socialism in benefit of low masses. The militarists had strong industrial support, but also socialist-nationalist sentiments on the part of radical officers, aware of poor farmers and workers who wanted social justice, think remembered for thinker previously mentioned.

Other important personages and nationalist thinkers such as Prince Chichibu, Yoshio Kodama Ryoichi Sasakawa or Kaya Okinori analyzed the nationalist question and sent their support too. Theirs and others are the some link with Yakuza and others delictive organizations.

[edit] The Secret Societies and Nationalist Groups

Secret societies and nationalist groups played an important support role. State support for Shinto encouraged a semi-religious belief in the mythological history of Japan (and thus to mysticism and cultural introversion). Some nationalist secret societies took up ultra-nationalism, Japan-centred radical ideas, and a new conception of State Socialism. They included: the Genyosha (Black Ocean Society, 1881), and Kokuryu-kai (Amur Society, or Black Dragon Society, 1901), movements dedicated to overseas Japanese expansion to the north; Nihon Kokusui Kai (Japanese Patriotic Society, 1919), founded by Tokoname Takejiro; Sekka Boshidan (Anti-Red League) founded at the same time as the Japanese Communist Party; and the Kokuhonsha (State Basis Society) founded in 1924 by Baron Hiranuma, for the preservation of the unique national character of Japan and its special mission in Asia.

Other nationalist-rightist groups in the 1920s were the Jinmu Kai (Jinmu Society), Tenketo Kai (Heaven Spade Party), Ketsumeidan (Blood Fraternity) and Sakura Kai (Cherry Blossum Society). This last was founded by Dr. Shumei Okawa, professor of the Colonization Academy, and radical defender of expansionism and military armed revolution at home. Amongst members were Army officers implicated in the Manchuria Incident, such as Kingoro Hashimoto, and Ishikawa Kanishi. Okawa served as a conduit by which Kita Ikki's ideas reached young nationalist officers.

[edit] Contexts of Economy, Culture and Education

These thinkers continued in these development and added other elements how the conformation of national government central syndicate, organization of national information entity, the national government young association reinforced national education (question analyzed by Sadao Araki when Education Minister) and National religion state policies, national doctrine ideological bases for armed forces (with link of Kempeitai ideological department, and other ideological work realizing by same thinker in contemporary adaptation of Bushi-do code in new military training doctrines for armed forces), reinforced of own State socialism nationalist ideology and added some fascist elements of managed the industry, commerce and local finances in benefits of military and your local industrialist zaibatsu followers how Ichizo Kobayashi and Chozo Murata.

The principal educational emphasis was on the great importance of traditional national political values, religion and morality. This prevailed from the Meiji period. The Japanese state modernized organizationally, but preserved its national idiosyncrasies. Japan was to be a powerful nation, equal at least to the Western powers, an attitude reinforced from 1905. During the Showa period the educational system was used for militarist radical ideologies, supporting the militarised state and preparing future soldiers. Native Japanese culture was highly promoted, and martial arts became pervasive. The "New Asia Day" celebration was to remember the sacred mission of extending influence to nearby Asian nations.

The official academic text was Kokutai no Hongi ("Japan's Fundamentals of National Policy"), presenting a view of Japan's history, and its mission to unite the East and West. The "moral national Bible" The Subject's Way presented an effective catechism on nation, religion, cultural, social and ideological topics. All citizens needed to have it.

Apart from regular nationalist education, children and school students received military training (on weapons, hand-to-hand combat, survival, first aid). These were taken further by the Imperial Japanese Young Federation or Imperial Young Corps (comparable to the Hitler Youth Association); led by Colonel Kingoro Hashimoto, its organizer, college students were trained, and some recruited for home defense and regular military units. Young women received First Aid training. Children and young people worked in weapons factories.

Those thinking later added other ideas how analysis of nationalism for implement in education, the racial purity and eugenics topic, a return to ancient values and own culture, the return to ancient military costumes and codes to express collectivization and nationalization.

[edit] Doctrines

In parallel with previous works, these thinkers developed some ideals such as the Amau Doctrine (an Asian Monroe Doctrine), stating that Japan assumed total responsibility for peace in Asia. Minister Hirota proclaimed "a special zone, anti-communist, pro-Japanese and pro-Manchukuo" and that Northern China was a "fundamental part" of Japanese national existence, in announcing a "holy war" against the Soviet Union and China as the "national mission".

During 1940 Prince Konoye proclaimed the Shintaisen (New National Structure), making Japan into an "advanced state of National Defense", and the creation of the Taisei Yokusankai (Imperial Authority Assistance Association), for organizing a centralized "consensus state". Associated was the government creation of the Tonarigumi (residents' committees). Other ideological creations of the time were the book The Subject's Way, the "Imperial Way" or "War Party" (Kodoha) Army party, the "Yamato Spirit" (Yamato damashii), and the idea of "eight squares of the World" (hakko ichiu), "Religion and Government Unity" (Saisei itchi) "seishin kyoiku" (Spiritual Training) for reinforced the ideological training in armed forces and "Kikosaku" (severe punishment without martial law involvement) doctrine, for support of Kempeitai, Tokei-Tai (secret Naval Police), Tokko and others law forces actions.

Another doctrines in line with Japanese geopolitical conquest plans and economy are the Yen block and yor next development in Hachiro Arita and Nobuhiro Sato thinking work in Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. These ideas also implemented during Pacific war period for managed new occupied lands in Southeast Asia.

The Japanese "moral national Book" The Subject's Way are the obliged official source of responses in nation, religion, cultural, social and ideological topics. All citizens needed to have it, if the local equivalent of German Mein Kampf German book.

In the national catechism book, mentioned the Imperial Edict, ordered their publication by Emperor Hirohito, with motif of signing the tripartite Axis alliance between Japan, Germany and Italy in September 1940, taken in count why one Imperial Edict poses more value of constitutional laws in present days:

"the great learning why send as envoy our Imperial founder Amaterasu Omikami and other sacred Imperial ancestors, consist in why our more important moral orders debt to extend in all direction and the all world debt to unified under sole roof. This if this point why ours stayed to treated of obeyed day to day". These Imperial Edict are for reinforced and justified the expansionist national doctrines.

[edit] The State Religion Question

State Shinto placed emphasis on the idea that the "center of Phenomenal World is Tenno". From that center, the doctrine dictated that subjects should spread the idea of the great spirit around the world. Thus began ideas of Japanese territorial expansion.

Certain Shinto thinkers and supporters of Japanese state Shinto religion like Heisuke Yanagawa, Chikao Fujuzawa, Kuniaki Koizo, Kiichiro Hiranuma and Prince Kanin, developed in depth the State-Religion links topic, in relation to right-wing and nationalist thinking.

This is the religious ideology which formed the basis for emperor worship and the Shinto State religion: the Divine Emperor was descended directly from Amaterasu Omikami, the National God who protects the country. All proclamations of the emperor took on religious significance; for instance, in 1882, the Meiji Emperor made an "Imperial Rescript to Seamen and Soldiers", from this time considered sacred and obligatory.

[edit] Imperial Way Faction

See main article Imperial Way Faction

Japanese citizens were rallied to the "Defensive State" or "Consensus State", in which all efforts of the nation supported collective objectives, by guidance from national myths, history and dogmas, obtaining a "national consensus" following the Japanese right-socialist political way lines.

The central figure was the Tenno, the emperor, as had been the case from the Meiji constitution onwards. About who really held the political power in Japan, there are different versions. One says that real control was exerted by the Emperor over the military; another validates the batsu "trinity" (Monbatsu, Gunbatsu, Zaibatsu). In party political terms, and on a 'realist' view, it was the Kodoh (Imperial Way) faction who in fact ruled.

[edit] Right-Socialism Abroad

These thinkers taken actions too in foreign areas, following lines dictated by Naoki Hoshino in the creation of Manchukuo. Some personalities how Kanji Ishiwara, Kenji Doihara, Seichiro Itagaki, Yasunori Yoshioka, Masaiko Amakasu, and others in Manchukuo continuing these labour. In Mengchiang this work stay at charge of Colonel Kanji Tsuneoka and Kumataro Honda intervened in this form in Wang Chingwei Pro-Japanese state in Nanjing.

Along this actions Japanese advisers previous at conflict and wartime, maintain contact with some Southeast Asian nationalist supporters and the White Russian anti-communists based in Manchukuo.

[edit] Summary

These ideas were developed and finally integrated into Showa Nationalism, a short description of the Pacific War philosophy. Political heirs are the NSJAP (National Socialist Japanese Workers' Party, Dai-Nippon Patriot Party; and some other nationalist groups.

[edit] See also

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