Volume 13 | Issue 50 | Number 4 | Dec 14, 2015
The Asia-Pacific Journal | Japan Focus
Nippon Kaigi and the Radical Conservative Project to Take Back
Japan
David McNeill
In September 2015, several hundred mainly
In “Getting Over it! Why Korea Needs to Stop
foreign academics and journalists received
Bashing Japan,” Sonfa Oh, a naturalized Japanese
unsolicited copies of two poorly written books
academic originally from South Korea, argues
from Japan, accompanied by a signed letter from
that successive generations of Korean leaders
politician Inoguchi Kuniko. "In East Asia, the
have resorted to historical fabrication, and
regional history of the 20th century has been
“capricious, opportunistic egoism” to damage
incorrectly distorted (sic) by some individuals
Japan and its reputation around the world.
due to their current domestic political
Japanese rule of Korea from 1910–1945 was
ambitions,” said the letter. “I believe it is
essentially benign, writes Oh. The Japan in both
important for you, as a highly esteemed member
publications is cast as well meaning, stoic and
of the academic and policy circles (sic), to look
endlessly forbearing in its dealings with its
into the books which I am enclosing with this
mendacious, two-faced neighbors.
letter."
The mass mail-shot is part of an occasionally
The first of the books, “History Wars,” published
clumsy but well-funded attempt to transform
by the Sankei Shimbun
, a conservative newspaper,
international perceptions of Japan. A campaign
said records of Japanese misconduct during
of “strategic communications,” with a budget of
World War II were exaggerated or false. China
over half-a-billion dollars, has been launched to
and South Korea have used these claims to wage
counter negative PR and cultivate a generation of
a long battle in America to distort views of the
pro-Japanese foreign commentators. Japanese
war, with the goal of “weakening the US-Japan
embassies and consulates have been instructed to
alliance,” it said. “Japan’s postwar governments
be more proactive in challenging perceived
have not only failed to wage an effective rebuttal
slights, such as foreign textbooks that stir the
against the propaganda maneuvers of Japan’s
history pot. Brookings, Carnegie, CSIS and other
adversaries, but have also fallen witlessly into
think tanks have been given millions of dollars to
their…traps.”
promote Japan; millions more has gone to
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support chairs at Columbia, Georgetown and
government, have also triggered PR blowback
MIT universities.
(http://www.japantoday.com/category/kuchik
omi/view/diplomatic-pressure-on-foreign-
At the same time, an informal list of friends and
reporters-raises-media-hackles).
foes appears to have emerged. Outside Japan,
those considered allies include a small group of
The book campaign struck some, therefore, as
mainly US-based academics, journalists and
naïve, at best. Did Inoguchi think that a few
rightwing bloggers. The foreign enemies list is
hundred pages of thin, selectively argued
t o p p e d b y T h e N e w Y o r k T i m e s ,w h i c h
academic gruel might tilt a complex debate that
neoconservatives have long seen as leftwing and
has waged for years in favor of Abe style
anti-Japanese. The hundreds of foreign scholars
conservatism? The point, she insists, is to
who signed the 2015 Open Letter in Support of
Historians
in
circulate ideas that “have not been represented”
Japan
in the mainstream. “I felt I was in a position to
(https://networks.h-net.org/system/files/contri
work with others in enhancing views about what
buted-files/japan-scholars-statement-2015.5.4-
we have done since the war, as a new nation
eng_0.pdf), an attempt to counter the revisionist
state,” she said. “It is not to justify anything,” she
drift under the Abe administration, are also
added, citing her own credentials as a fighter for
under suspicion. It is the letter that appears to
women’s rights, in Korea and elsewhere.
have prompted the mailing.
Inoguchi’s decision to lend her imprimatur to the
The risk of overreach in this project is never far
books was considered surprising. A political
away. In one case, Japanese foreign ministry
scientist and internationalist known for work on
officials accused Germany’s largest business
disarmament and gender issues, she had not
newspaper, Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung
, of
been previously been linked with Japanese neo-
carrying pro-Chinese propaganda. Its Tokyo-
conservatism. One clue to her apparent shift is
based correspondent Carsten Germis wrote a
widely
circulated
found in her association with Nippon Kaigi, or
article
the Japan Conference. Interviewed by telephone,
(http://www.fccj.or.jp/number-1-shimbun/item
Inoguchi said that she is a member of the Chiba
/576-on-my-watch/576-on-my-watch.html)
lamenting what he called a crude government
Prefectural branch of the lobby group, but insists
attempt to censor views it disliked. Dispatches of
they part company on one issue: “If they try to
diplomats to the offices of history professors and
justify the past, that is the point on which I
publishers, and attempts to nudge foreign
disagree. I don’t try to rewrite history; it cannot
journalists away from academics critical of the
be undone.”
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Justifying the uncomfortable past — and
promoting the nation's status in the global
recasting it for 21st Century Japan is, however,
community and (to building) friendship (with
precisely the mission of Nippon Kaigi. The
other nations).
group’s charter lists six key goals: “respect the
Source: Nippon Kaigi
Imperial Family as the center of Japanese life;”
nurture patriotism; promote a new Constitution
In practice, says Tawara Yoshifumi, who heads
“based on our nation’s true characteristics;”
the nonprofit group Children and Textbooks
protect the sovereignty and honor of the nation’s
Japan Network 21, which monitors neo-
independence; nurture young people to grow up
conservative movements, this is a shopping list
with pride and love for their nation; and establish
of revisionist causes: applaud Japan’s wartime
a strong army and promote the nation's status
campaign to “liberate” Asia from Western
abroad.
colonialism; rebuild the armed forces, instill
patriotism among students brainwashed by
Box: Nippon Kaigi acts based on the following
“leftwing” teachers and revere the Emperor as he
principles:
was worshipped before the calamity of World
War II.
1) Respect the Imperial Family, the center of a
unified Japan, and nurture compatriotism.
“They have trouble accepting the reality that
Japan lost the war,” explains Kobayashi Setsu, a
2) Promote a new Constitution based on our
leading constitutional scholar and former
nation's true characteristics.
Nippon Kaigi member. Kobayashi says the group
3) Protect the sovereignty and honor of our
is run by people who want to revive Japan’s
independent state and realize responsible politics
prewar Meiji Constitution, which served as the
that serve peace and order.
basic law before it was replaced during the USled Allied Occupation between 1945 and 1952.
4) Revive tradition in education and nurture
Indeed, some, he says, are descendants of the
young people to grow up with pride and love for
people who started the war and are nostalgic for
their nation.
Japan’s great power status.
5) Cultivate a spirit to protect the nation and to
Nippon Kaigi’s platform is rooted in profound
provide it with enough defensive power to
resentment about the postwar settlement. Its
secure its safety and contribute to world peace.
supporters say the liberal Constitution, with its
6) Widen the understanding of the world, aim to
“masochistic” education system, has emasculated
co-exist (with others) and contribute to
Japan. They despise the so-called victory justice
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meted out at the Tokyo war crimes trials and the
defender of strongdemocratic principles, a leader
pacifist clause that neutered the country’s armed
with “deep repentance” for the “lost dreams of
forces. Hyakuta Naoki, Nippon Kaigi
young Americans” who died fighting Japan in
sympathizer, bestselling author and former
World War II.
governor of NHK, Japan’s public service
Conspicuously missing, noted veteran Japan
broadcaster, expressed some of these core
watcher Gavan McCormack, were the core Abe
sentiments during a now infamous speech
values that Congress could hardly be expected to
(http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/pol
share: “take back Japan,” “cast off the postwar
itics/AJ201402040048) in 2014.
regime” and revise the U.S.-imposed
Campaigning for Tamogami Toshio, the ex-Air
Constitution; teach “correct” history to make the
Self-Defense Force chief of staff who was running
country’s youth proud and “revere the spirits of
for Tokyo governor, Hyakuta called the March
Japan’s war dead,” including those convicted as
1945 firebombing of Tokyo and and the
war criminals. Washington seems unaware of
incineration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which
these contradictions, or is inclined to overlook
collectively killed perhaps 300,000 people, “cruel
them in return for Abe’s promise of greater
massacres.” The Tokyo war crimes trial, he said,
military cooperation and support for TPP.
was “conducted to cover up those atrocities.” It
Much of the far-right agenda in Japan slips past
wasn’t only the Japanese who committed war
American politicians, says Tessa Morris-Suzuki, a
crimes, and there was no reason to teach such
professor of modern Japanese history at
things to children, he said. “I want to first teach
Australian National University. “They don’t
children what a wonderful nation Japan is.”
really see how this will play out in East Asia
The drive to rewrite not just the history of World
because they need the U.S. bases (in Japan),” she
War II, but exhume the foundations laid down by
says. “The Abe administration doesn’t think
the Occupation during the years after, naturally
Japan did anything wrong in the war — they just
invites serious tensions with Japan’s US sponsor.
think it was unfortunate that they lost.”
In April 2015, for example, Prime Minister Abe
Shinzo delivered a speech to both the US Senate
Neoconservative values increasingly seep into
and House of Representatives — the first by a
the core of Japanese political life. The latest salvo
Japanese leader — lauding deepening trade ties
comes in the form of a panel, reporting directly to
and the military alliance with America. The talk,
Abe that will probe the verdicts of the
fine-tuned for his American audience by
International Military Tribunal for the Far East
speechwriter Taniguchi Tomohiko, cast Abe as a
(1946–1948). The verdicts, which condemned
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Japan’s six wartime leaders to death, were “based
position on history and territorial issues.
on a poorly constructed” perception of history,
The blueprint for the next stage in the revolution
said Inada Tomomi, chairman of the Liberal
was laid out to an estimated 11,000 supporters in
Democratic Party’s Policy Research Council
Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan hall on November 10th,
(http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/pol
2015. The organizers of Utsukushii Nihon no Kenpo
itics/AJ201511120065).
wo Tsukuru Kokumin no Kai
(People's association
Abe has already partially satisfied a key demand
for creating a Constitution for beautiful Japan),
of his supporters — that Japan end the shameful
claim to have collected signatures from nearly 4.5
apology diplomacy of the postwar years. The
million people, including 422 Diet members,
nation’s gold standard mea culpa, issued by
calling for a national referendum in the summer
socialist prime minister Murayama Tomiichi in
of 2016. The declared aim is to restore traditional
1995, has been overlaid by a carefully worded but
family values, and strengthen Japan’s defenses.
ambiguous statement in which Abe stopped
Speaker after speaker warned about the rise of
short of offering his own words of remorse but
China and the decline of the United States.
said Japan “must not let…generations to
“Japan faces its worst crisis” since the war but the
come…be
constitution has “hobbled” the country, said
predestined
to
apologize.”
(http://japan.kantei.go.jp/97_abe/statement/20
Hyakuta.
1508/0814statement.html)
Among those listening was Eto Seiichi, a special
The prospect that radical conservatives might
adviser to Abe, ex-education minister
dismantle Japan’s entire postwar political
Shimomura Hakubun, Takeo Hiranuma, the
architecture no longer looks far-fetched. The LDP
head of the parliamentary league of Nippon
has proposed changes to virtually all 103 articles
Kaigi, and lawmakers Arimura Haruko and
of the 1947 constitution that would tip the
Mihara Junko. The chair was conservative
balance away from individual rights and toward
journalist Sakurai Yoshiko, a key figure in the
duties to the state. They have “reinterpreted” the
drive to get 10 million signatures. Her status is
Constitution to expand the nation’s military role
recognition, says Tomomi Yamaguchi, an
abroad. Nationalists in the Cabinet have
anthropologist at Montana State University, that
repeatedly suggested that much of the accepted
changing the attitudes of women, many of whom
narrative of World War II, complete with its grim
admire Japan’s long-standing pacifism, will be
catalogue of war atrocities, be wished away The
crucial. Abe himself sent a prerecorded message
education ministry has mandated this year that
in which he said the “time had come” to seek a
school textbooks must reflect the government
Constitution suitable for the 21st century.”
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About a third of the Diet and well over half of
the Hinomaru flag, both associated with Japan’s
Abe’s 19-member Cabinet support Nippon Kaigi.
wartime empire. A key supporter is former
All are members of its parliamentary league. Abe
Tokyo governor Ishihara Shintaro, who
is its “special adviser.” The group has more than
mandated punishment for teachers who refuse to
230 local chapters, around 38,000 fee-paying
stand, face the flag and sing the anthem during
members and a network that reaches deep into
school ceremonies.
the government. Its members or affiliates include
The group was formed in 1997, in reaction to
former heads of large corporations; university
what was arguably a high point in postwar
presidents, Self-Defense Force chiefs of staff,
liberal education, by politicians, intellectuals and
several party chiefs and at least one former chief
religious figures. Its small Meguro office in
justice
Tokyo still shares a building with Seicho no Ie
(http://www.economist.com/news/asia/216536
(House of Growth), a right-wing religious cult
76-powerful-if-little-reported-group-claims-it-
and a key tributary of one of the two
can-restore-pre-war-order-right-side-up), who
organizations that merged to form Nippon Kaigi,
chaired the group for several years.
the Society to Protect Japan (Nihon wo Mamorukai
)
Despite this impressive firepower, determining
(the other was the People’s Conference to Protect
the group’s exact influence is difficult. The
Japan, or Nihon wo Mamoru Kokumin Kaigi).
The
country’s media mostly shies away from
publisher of Sonfa Oh's book is Tachibana
covering them, says Sugano Tamotsu, a journalist
Shuppan, which has links to the cult and the
and researcher. Sugano believes its most
religious and political right.
important achievement has been to unite right
A decade ago, the group collected 3.6 million
wing movements under a like-minded program.
signatures demanding revisions to the education
“Throughout 40 years of history,” Sugano says,
law that would make it compulsory to teach
“it has been sending almost the same message
children patriotism. The group wants Abe to
and focusing on the same priority: educating the
continue to visit Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine,
young generation.”
though such pilgrimages are seen in much of
Nippon Kaigi's signature drives have helped pass
Asia as an endorsement of the leaders enshrined
laws and implement legal changes in local
there and their war aims. Abe triggered a major
councils and in the Diet, Yamaguchi says. They
diplomatic row with South Korea and China
have helped banish much “left wing” teaching
when he last went in 2013. The group’s growing
from schools and have brought back the tradition
political heft is partly credited with increasingly
of singing the national anthem and standing for
unabashed displays of allegiance to the shrine —
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the opposite.
a record 168 Diet members visited during the
spring festival of 2013.
David McNeill writes for The Independent
Supporters have campaigned against anything
(http://www.independent.co.uk/) and other
that shows Japan’s wartime behavior in a bad
publications, including The Irish Times
light, bombarding exhibitions on war crimes, for
(http://www.irishtimes.com/)
and
The
Economist (http://www.economist.com/). An
example, with petitions and phone calls. A
Asia-Pacific Journal editor, he is a coauthor of
closely allied group is the Shinto Association of
Strong
Spiritual Leadership. In the late 19th century, the
in
the
Rain
(http://amzn.com/0230341861/?tag=theasipacjo
country’s oldest religion, Shinto, was reinvented
0b-20): Surviving Japan's Earthquake, Tsunami
as a tool of state, serving as an ideology that
and Fukushima Nuclear Disaster (Palgrave
helped mobilize Japanese to fight wars in the
Macmillan).
emperor’s name. In 2007, lobbying by the
association and Nippon Kaigi helped to persuade
Recommended citation: David McNeill, "Nippon
the government to makeApril 29a national
Kaigi and the Radical Conservative Project to Take
holiday in honor of wartime monarch Hirohito.
Back Japan", The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 13,
Issue 50, No. 4, December 14, 2015.
Even opponents are impressed at how radical
conservatives have quietly transformed the
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their success is that they might achieve exactly
16, No. 2, April 27, 2015
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