Nakano Seigo
(
12 February 1886â€"
27 October 1943) was a
Japanese political leader who advocated a
fascist Japan to complete the
Meiji Restoration.
Nakano sought to bring about a rebirth of
Japan through a blend of the
Samurai ethic,
Neo-Confucianism, and
populist nationalism modeled on
European fascism. He saw
Saigo Takamori as epitomizing the 'true spirit' of the
Meiji ishin, and the task of modern Japan to recapture it.
Nakano formed the
Kokumin Domei (National Alliance) with
Adachi Kenzo in December of
1932. He left this group with a splinter group to form the
Tohokai (Far East Society, see their flag
here) in May of
1936.
In December of
1937, Nakano had a personal audience with
Benito Mussolini. In the next month, he met with
Adolf Hitler and
Joachim Ribbentrop.
In January of
1939, Nakano gave a speech on the need for a
Totalitarian Japan. He argued against those who "say that neither
Fascism nor
Nazism are appropriate for our
nation." He then distinguished between old-style,
conservative,
despotism, and a "
Totalitarianism… based on essentials." Arguing against majority rule (as the majority "is the precise cause of contemporary
decadence") and "an
individualism which shows no concern for others", he calls for a "
government going beyond
democracy" giving consideration to "the essence of human beings." With organic unification of individuals "sharing common ideals and a common way of feeling," there can be formed "a perfect national organization."
On
16 February 1942, the
British diplomats secretly proposed a peace deal with
Japan. A possible agreement was that if
Great Britain formally recognised the authority of
imperial Japan over Northern
China and
Manchuria, the Japanese would give Britain
sovereignty over the Malay Peninsula and
Singapore.
At the same time as this diplomatic movement, a political confrontation was in progress between the "Toho kai" party and the
Kodoha party. This was possibly the last internal political power struggle in the government before the
Midway and
Coral Sea defeats in 1943, which sent the Japanese
military reeling.
The
ultranationalist Toho kai party was led by Nakano Seigo who appeared to have some political influence at the time and expressed his outright support and confidence for
Japanese Navy. He anxiously awaited the approval of the peace talks, so as to stabilize the recent conquests in
Southeast Asia. Seigo also wanted to prevented any further sacrifices by the Japanese people towards the war effort, and pressured the government to halt the ambitious conquest of
Asia.
On the other side was the largely pro-
Imperialist faction, which represented the
military interests of Japan, was led by Tojo. He displayed a completely different perspective over the issue. He reasoned that the successes in recent campaigns in Southeast Asia were extremely rapid, and continuation of the conquests could lead to gaining most of Asia and
Australia before the
United States and the Allies could react to further develop the so-called
Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere.
General Tojo rejected any form of peace processes in the conquered lands and gave authorization for more conquests.This angered and frustrated the Toho Kai until Seigo finally committed suicide on
October 27,
1943.When Japan rejected such peace agreements, the Japanese empire lost the opportunity to mantain their new territories in
Southeast Asia in the long term. Japan was unable to reinforce the defensive infantries, which allowed the
United States to launch counter-offensives by 1943.
Verbally critical of the
Tojo regime, Nakano was forbidden to publish articles or make public speeches. He committed
seppuku in October of
1943 after being placed under
house arrest.
*
Sadao Araki*
Kita Ikki *
Japanese Doctrines in Showa Period *
Japanese Militarism *
Japanese nationalism *
Japanese fascism *
Socialist thought in Imperial Japan *
Militarism-Socialism *
List of Japanese Nationalist Movements and Parties*
Double Leaf Society*
Tosei-Ha*
Koda-Ha *
Imperial Way Faction*
NSJAP*
Fascism (Oxford Readers) by
Roger Griffin (Part III, B., iv. Japan), 1995, ISBN 0192892495
*
Populist Nationalism in Pre-War Japan: A Biography of Nakano Seigo by Leslie Russel Oates, 1985, ISBN 0868611115
description* "Nakano Seigo and the Spirit of the Meiji Restoration in Twentieth-Century Japan" by T. Najita in
Dilemmas of Growth in Prewar Japan edited by James William Morley, ISBN 69103074X
