Nippon Kaigi
Japan Conference 日本会議 | |
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Reactionism[14] | |
Political position | Far-right[20] |
Affiliations | Nippon Kaigi National Lawmakers Friendship Association |
Colours | Black Carmine |
Website | |
www | |
This article is part of a series on the |
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) |
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Nippon Kaigi (日本会議, lit. 'Japan Conference')
The group has significant influence in Japanese politics. In October 2014, 289 of the 480 Japanese
The organization describes its aims as to "change the postwar national consciousness based on the Tokyo Tribunal's view of history as a fundamental problem" and to revise Japan's current Constitution,[32] especially Article 9 which forbids the maintenance of a standing army.[33] The group also aims to promote patriotic education, support official visits to Yasukuni Shrine, and promote a nationalist interpretation of State Shinto.[34][35][36][37] It also rejects that comfort women, sex workers recruited by Japan during World War II, were forced to work.
In the words of Hideaki Kase, an influential member of Nippon Kaigi, "We are dedicated to our conservative cause. We are monarchists. We are for revising the constitution. We are for the glory of the nation."[38]
Objectives
Nippon Kaigi has described six official goals of the organization as:[39]
- "A beautiful traditional sovereignty for Japan's future" (美しい伝統の国柄を明日の日本へ): Fostering a sense of Japanese unity and social stability, based around the shared history, culture, and traditions of the Japanese people.
- "A new constitution appropriate for the new era" (新しい時代にふさわしい新憲法を): separation of religion and state.
- "Politics that protect the state's reputation and the people's lives" (国の名誉と国民の命を守る政治を): Addressing the loss of public interest in politics and government by taking a more aggressive stance in historical debates and crisis management.
- "Creating education that fosters a sense of Japanese identity" (日本の感性をはぐくむ教育の創造を): Addressing various problems arising in the Japanese educational system (bullying, prostitution, etc.) and instituting respect for the national flag and anthem of Japan, and for national history, culture, and traditions.
- "Contributing to world peace by strengthening national security" (国の安全を高め世界への平和貢献を): Strengthening Japanese defense power in order to counterbalance China, North Korea, Russia, and other hostile powers, and remembering Japan's war dead.
- "Friendship with the world tied together by a spirit of co-existence and mutual prosperity" (共生共栄の心でむすぶ世界との友好を): Building friendly relations with foreign countries through social and cultural exchange programs.
Nippon Kaigi believes that "Japan should be applauded for liberating much of East Asia from Western colonial powers; that the 1946–1948
History
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Conservatism in Japan |
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Nippon Kaigi was founded in 1997 through the merger of two groups whose agendas included constitutional revision:
- Nihon wo mamoru Kokumin Kaigi (National Conference to Defend [or Protect] Japan, founded in 1981) included many veterans of Japan's Imperial Army and Navy, and published its own Constitutional reform draft in 1994. Its predecessor was Gengo Houseika Jitsugen Kokumin Kaigi (National Conference to Implement Regnal Year Legislation, founded in 1978).
- Nihon wo mamoru Kai (Society for the Protection of Japan, founded in 1974), that comprised several Shinto and religious cults.[32][42][43]
Toshiro Mayuzumi, leader of the Nihon wo mamoru Kokumin Kaigi, was a pivotal figure in the merger, and was slated to become the first president of Nippon Kaigi, but he died of illness on April 10, 1997, shortly before the new organization's first meeting in May 1997.[44] The position of founding president fell to Koichi Tsukamoto, the founder of Japanese clothier Wacoal.[26] Yuzo Kabashima, the secretary general of Nippon Kaigi, established a sister organization Nihon Seinen Kyogikai in 1977, which is headquartered in the same building as Nippon Kaigi and acts as the organization's secretariat.[45]
The organization saw remarkably swift success in establishing strong connections among the establishment and in passing legislation that was congruent with the group's aims. In 1999, the Diet at last formally recognised Kimigayo as Japan's national anthem and the Hi no Maru as Japan's national flag. After the legislation passed, ensuing years saw the Ministry of Education and prefectural educational committees such as those of Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara issue guidelines forcing school teachers to adhere to specific procedures concerning these national symbols in the educational context.[46]
Organization and membership
Nippon Kaigi claims 40,000 individual members, 47 prefectural chapters, and about 230 local chapters.
Following the 2014 reshuffle, 15 of the 18 of
After campaigning actively for Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidates in July 2016, Nippon Kaigi campaigned for constitutional revision in September 2016.[48]
Presidency
List of presidents | |||
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Year | Name | Period | Time in office |
1997 | Koichi Tsukamoto | 1997–1998 | 1 year |
1998 | Kosaku Inaba | 1998–2001 | 3 years |
2001 | Toru Miyoshi | 2001–2015 | 14 years (honorary president) |
2015 | Tadae Takubo | 2015–2024 | 9 years |
After Takubo died, president is vacant.
Criticism
Journalist Norimitsu Onishi says that the organization promotes a revival of the values of the Empire of Japan.[49] Tamotsu Sugano, the author of the bestselling exposé on the group, Research on Nippon Kaigi (日本会議の研究), describes it as a movement democratic in method but intent on turning back gender equality, restoring patriarchal values, and returning Japan to a pre-war constitution that is neither democratic nor modern.[50] On 6 January 2017, sale of the book was banned by a district court for defamation,[51][52] pending removal of the offending portion; a revised digital edition continued to be sold.[53] Sales resumed that March when the court allowed a revised edition with 36 characters deleted to appear.[54]
Muneo Narusawa, the editor of Friday Weekly (週刊金曜日, Shūkan Kin'yōbi), says that, in parallel with historical negationism, the organization often highlights historical facts that portray Japan as a victim, such as with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Soviet declaration of war and invasion of Manchuria, and the North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens. Former education minister Hakubun Shimomura, the secretary general of the Discussion Group of Nippon Kaigi Diet Members (日本会議国会議員懇談会, Nippon Kaigi Kokkai Giin Kondankai), argues for patriotic education and opposes a "masochistic view of history".[55][56]
See also
- Historical negationism
- Historical revisionism
- Japanese nationalism
- Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform
- Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
- Nippon Ishin no Kai
- Propaganda Due
- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
- Seicho-no-Ie (fundamental movement sect)
Notes
- ^ For further information, see the articles Nanjing Massacre denial, Japanese history textbook controversies, and China–Japan relations.
References
- Shibuichi Daiki; "Japan Conference (Nippon Kaigi): an Elusive Conglomerate"; East Asia, Vol. 34 (2017), Nr. 3, S. 1–18
- Tawara Yoshifumi; "What is the Aim of Nippon Kaigi, the Ultra-Right Organization that Supports Japan's Abe Administration?"; Japan Focus, Volume 15 (2017), Issue 21, Number 1 (Volltext)
- Tawara Yoshifumi; 日本会議の全貌: 知られざる巨大組織の実態 [Outlook of Nippon Kaigi: Actual Situation of Unknown Big Organization]; T. 2016 (Kadensha); ISBN 9784763407818
- Yamaguchi Tomomi; in: Shūkan Kin'yōbi, Narusawa Mueno ed., 日本会議と神社本庁[Nippon Kaigi and Association of Shinto Shrines]Tokyo 2016 (Kin'yōbi); ISBN 9784865720105
- ^ a b Wingfield-Hayes, Rupert (15 August 2020). "VJ Day: A WW2 hero and a reckoning with Japan's past". BBC News. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "In rare move, court suspends publication of best-seller on Abe-linked conservative lobby group". The Japan Times. Kyodo. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
A Tokyo court has ordered a publisher to suspend publication of a best-selling nonfiction book detailing links between the conservative Japan Conference (Nippon Kaigi) lobby and a religious group, saying it contains defamatory information.
- ^ Newsham, Grant (19 July 2016). "Japan's conservative Nippon Kaigi lobby: Worth worrying about?". Asia Times. Tokyo. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
TOKYO–The recent spate of western media articles on Nippon Kaigi – a conservative Japanese lobbying group (and somewhat akin to a "Political Action Committee" in America) associated with Prime Minister Abe — suggests Japan is heading for a police state, and soon afterwards will be looking overseas for somewhere to invade.
- ^ White, Stanley; Kajimoto, Tetsushi (12 March 2018). "Japan PM, finance minister under fire over suspected cover-up of cronyism". Reuters. Tokyo. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
Also removed was a reference to ties by Abe and Aso to a conservative lobby group, Nippon Kaigi.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Michael; Segawa, Makiko. "Shinzo Abe's killing brings to light Japan's unseen world of shadowy cults, healers and religious lobbyists". i news. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Mark, Craig (6 September 2021). "Who will replace Yoshihide Suga as Japan's prime minister? Here's a rundown of the candidates". The Conversation. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
She is a member of the ultranationalist Nippon Kaigi organisation, which aims to restore the emperor to divine status, keep women at home, prioritise public order over civil liberties, and rebuild Japan's armed forces.
- ^ Steinbock, Dan (15 January 2019). "Japan's "Comfort Women": Asian Protests and Imperial Japan's Sexual Slavery". Foreign Policy Journal. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
He belongs to the ultranationalist Nippon Kaigi, which seeks to re-militarize Japan and to revive Imperial Japan and which, among other things, vehemently denies Japan's "comfort women" history during World War II.
- ^ "The Conversation: Assassination of Shinzo Abe leaves Japan reeling". New Zealand Herald. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Arudou, Debito (31 July 2016). "For Abe, it will always be about the Constitution". The Japan Times. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ [6][7][8][9]
- . Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ Larsson, Ernils (3 December 2014). "Abe's cabinet reshuffle reflects growing influence of the religious right". East Asia Forum. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ISBN 9789004466531.
... high degree of grassroots support from a number of nationalist and militaristic social groups such as the War Bereaved Association and Nippon Kaigi, ...
- ISBN 9789811302565 – via Google Books.
the reactionary group Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference)—has been waging war over its shared past with China and South Korea on battlegrounds ranging from Yasukuni Shrine to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- ^ "Could Japan soon have a female leader? Sanae Takaichi emerges as a contender". The Japan Times. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
Both have served as members of a nonpartisan group of lawmakers supporting far-right organization Japan Conference (Nippon Kaigi).
- ^ Steinbock, Dan (8 June 2021). "Fruity Indo-Pacific Politics: Or How Kishi Met Lorenzana – Analysis". Eurasia Review. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ISBN 9781108724746.
... Nippon Kaigi Parts of the Japanese establishment have ties with a large far-right voluntary organization, Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference), whose ranks include grassroots members across the nation as well as national and local ...
- ISBN 9781135172787.
In 1997 nationalist intellectuals, politicians, and religious leaders formed the largest far-right advocacy group, Japan Conference (Nippon kaigi), formed as a result of the merger between the two ...
- ISBN 9781609456429.
Every year far-right nationalist groups – including Nippon Kaigi – private citizens and government officials visit the Yasukuni Shrine. Many wear uniforms or clothing linked to the Imperial Army and display the Japanese imperial flag.
- ^ [15][16][17][18][19]
- ^ a b c "Right side up". The Economist. 4 June 2015.
- AP News. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2023.. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
Abe's key ultra-conservative supporter, Nippon Kaigi, or Japan Conference, was among the organizers Saturday.
- "Ultra-nationalist school linked to Japanese PM accused of hate speech". The Guardian. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
Abe and Kagoike, who has indicated he will resign as principal, both belong to an ultra-conservative lobby group whose members include more than a dozen cabinet ministers.
- "Tokyo's new governor defies more than glass ceiling". Deutsche Welle
In 2008, she made an unsuccessful run at the LDP's chairmanship. Following her defeat, she worked to build an internal party network and became involved in a revisionist group of lawmakers that serves as the mouthpiece of the ultraconservative Nippon Kaigi ("Japan Conference") movement.
- "Ultra-nationalist school linked to Japanese PM accused of hate speech". The Guardian. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
Parts of the Japanese establishment have ties with a large far-right voluntary organization, Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference), whose ranks include grassroots members across the nation as well as national and local politicians...
Carrying the legacy of Japanese fascism, the LDP (and particularly Nippon Kaigi) is the knowing driver of both this growing racism and nationalism and Japan's swelling military fervor. The synthesis of remilitarization with reactionary politics is embodied in the party's longtime leader, Shinzō Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, who retired only last year due to his declining health.
External links
- 日本会議 (Japan Conference) (in Japanese)
- United States Congressional Transcript in response to Nippon Kaigi Archived 22 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- Tawara Yoshifumi: What is the Aim of Nippon Kaigi, the Ultra-Right Organization that Supports Japan's Abe Administration? Asia-Pacific Journal / Japan Focus, 1 November 2017.