Japan's Imperial Conspiracy

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Japan's Imperial Conspiracy
Image:Japan's Imperial Conspiracy cover.jpg
Author David Bergamini
Country USA
Language English
Subject(s) Internal Japanese politics before and during World War II
Genre(s) History
Publisher Various
Publication date 1971
Media type Hardcover

Japan's Imperial Conspiracy is a nonfiction historical work by David Bergamini. Its subject is the role of Japanese elites in promoting Japanese imperialism and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere; in particular, it examines the role of Crown Prince and Emperor Hirohito in the execution of Japan's Imperial conquest, and his role in postwar Japanese society.

The book concludes that the conventional conclusion of historical analyses - that the Imperial household was largely powerless and not culpable or particularly supportive of the imperial adventures, blame for which is assigned to military elites - is mistaken. Instead, it asserts and that imperialism and the internal political fighting necessary to gain support for imperialism was a long-premeditated plan supported by all sectors of elites and especially members of the imperial family.

The reason given why the American occupiers allowed the continuance of the institution of the Emperor is that its support was sought for the purposes of fighting Communism and the nearby Soviet Russia. Bergamini draws his conclusion from a variety of sources but gives prominence to his interpretation of various diaries kept by involved figures. His conclusions have not generally been accepted and his data and sources have been questioned.

[edit] Social Troubles Institute

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The Social Troubles Institute, Social Troubles Research Center or simply Colonization Academy, which Bergamini alleged was founded in 1921, was a think tank dedicated to future conquest plans on the Asian Mainland, and political implications. It had the patronage of Crown Prince Hirohito and was set up on land that had once been the Imperial Meteorological Observatory.

Bergamini describes the Institute as a secret indoctrination center (protected by extensive security measures) for select younger sons, of politicians, Japanese nobility and militarist supporters, who desired to participate in fulfilling the dreams of Imperial conquest harbored among elements of Japan's aristocracy. The first draft of Japanese conquest plans for world domination were traced by Bergamini to the Institute. Academics have generally considered Bergamini's research of his original sources to be contaminated by conspiracy theories, although his ideas have not entirely fallen out of circulation.

Under Bergamini's theory, graduates of this ultrasecret 'political' think tank, recruited only by special invitation from rightwing circles, continued its 'political' and 'military' practice in the occupation zones in Manchuria. From this 'school' began the political and strategic debate between the Strike North Group (the Army group, pro-war against Soviet Siberia) and the Strike South Group (the Navy group concerned with the Chinese lands and especially Southeast Asia).

The Director and principal academic adviser was Shumei Okawa, with Mitsuru Toyama another 'professor' in the center. Both were adherents to the Black Dragon Society. This center was closed in 1945 by the Allied authorities.

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

  • Bergamini, David [1971] (1971). Japan's imperial conspiracy (Hardcover) (in English), New York: Morrow, xxxviii, 1239 p. illus. 25 cm.. ISBN LCCN: 74-102686. 
  • Bergamini, David [1971] (1971). Japan's imperial conspiracy (Hardcover) (in English), New York: Morrow, 2 v. (xlvii, 1612 p.) : ill. ; 22 cm.. 
  • Bergamini, David [1971] (1971). Japan's imperial conspiracy (Hardcover) (in English), London, England: Heinemann, xxxviii, 1239, [1] p., 18 plates. illus., maps, ports. 24 cm.. ISBN ISBN 0-434-06690-7 9780434066902; LCCN: 72-176016. 
  • Bergamini, David [1971] (1972). Japan's imperial conspiracy (Hardcover) (in English), New York, New York: Pocket Books, xlii, 1364 p. illus., ports. 25 cm.. 
  • Bergamini, David [1971] (1971, 1972). Japan's imperial conspiracy (Hardcover) (in English), London, England: Panther, xxxviii, 1213 p. : maps ; 20 cm.. ISBN ISBN 0-586-03842-6 (pbk.) :; 9780586038420 (pbk.). 
  • Bergamini, David [1971] (2006 (?)). Japan's imperial conspiracy: how Emperor Hirohito led Japan into war against the West (Hardcover) (in English), Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press. ISBN ISBN 0-773-45894-8 (v. 1, bk. 1); 9780773458949 (v. 1, bk. 1); 0773158964 (v. 1, bk. 2); 0773458956 (v. 2, bk. 1); 9780773458956 (v. 2, bk. 1); 0-77-345897-2 (v. 2, bk. 2); 9780773458970 (v. 2, bk. 2) LCCN: 2006-48238. 
  • Bergamini, David [1971] (1971). Japan's imperial conspiracy (Hardcover) (in English), London, England: Heinemann,, xxxviii, 1081, [31] p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.. 
  • Bergamini, David [1971] (1972). Japan's imperial conspiracy (Hardcover) (in English), New York, New York: Morrow, XLII, 1364 p., [32] p. pl. : ill. ; 18 cm.. ISBN LCCN: 74-102686. 
  • Bergamini, David [1971] (1972). Japan's imperial conspiracy (Hardcover) (in English), London, England: Panther, xxxviii, 1081, [29] p. : ill., maps, ports., geneal. ; 20 cm..