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Opposite
Expansion
# *
F o r t i t u d e of Japanese S o l d i e r s
U e m o i v A a l t o T h r o e Jliunnn iJorahs
H i s s Mioh5, ICavmi
* ->
25
29
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
(1)
This dismaying total wae aoaunwlattfd in apite of service flags hanging in home windovra, in spite of our own Presidents "We rauct make the
nor Id safe for democracy", and even in apite of brilliant patriotic
speeches in the house of congress*
The task of selling our young American individualist who owna a
motor car and hac a girl the idea of becoming a draftee, of sleeping on
isefc ^ound under an 0D blanket, of getting up before dawn to face murderous machine-gun fire, la becoming increasingly difficult*
For our iaiay officers to get response to cold "canned" language o;f
military orders such ast
A soldier, knowing
(2) Not
even Germany in her pre-war days of splendor, over loved her army as does
Japan love hers*
For oeituries China held her,- soldiers lowest in the sooiai aoalo*
She is \K>ak and overrun by War Lords both from wi.th.in and without*
Japan
puts the soldier first and she has never been invadod*
The entry of Japan, through power, into tha family of modern nations
id unprecedented.
"Susquehama*
(3)
(k) This
sadden awakening taught Japan that her great Camurai swords were no match
for modern weapons*
But straightway Japanese military men saw the light and set about to
master the moro efficient western manner of slaughter*
It took her forty years to get .eody*
new bayonet was into the inners of China*
broke the pcrcter of China without the lose of a ingle ship or battle*
(5)
Six years later, during the Boxer uprising, as the allied forces
marched on Pekin, seasoned west&rners .Y^re araazed at the reckless abandon
of the Japanese soldiers*
(6)
of Jftpanose C i v i l i s a t i o n
- p i
Only four years after the Boxer trouble Japan defeated white Prussia*
Yfh&t matter to Japan If at the end of the victorious struggle with Russia,
she was exhausted in men and treasure; had sue not demonstrated for the
first time the superiority of the Brown over the White?
(7)
At the close of 1918 Japan had joined the Allies, helped to defeat
the Ceufcral Powers on tha Mediterranean, in Shantung and on thtf plains of
Siberia*
But the World War in no way has quieted Japan1 e military spirit* The
recent Shanghai episode, in itself inconsequential, illustrates th* twnper
of the Japanese soldier*
Japanese and Chinese positions, blew the wire to bits and themselves to
eternity.
(8)
The oapturo of Mukden ir October 1931 and tho oreation of the Mnchurian state followed the Japanese thrust at Central China*
The final drastic act, in which as yet no blood bus been shed, vraa
the abrogation oi the treaty fixing naval ration*
her cards on the table*
States and Great Britain is the direot result of a ne.T and the greatest
revJvaJ of Japanese military spirit.
(9)
This present revival is kncnrm ac the Kodo Movement (The Way of tho
Bnperor).
the entire population has been thoroughly baptized in its teachings. (10)
By military prowess &lone Japan has joined tho family of groat nations
(7)
(8)
(9)
fib)
(11)
(11)
f
In the hands of the military leaders lies the destiny of th&ir
pire, for they are responsible only to the Emperor*
saored and inviolable*
all Japan*
(12)
(12) Gowon, p
-k-
(lj)
(ilj)
They worshipped th
aun and their termers were bright and they were indescribably brave and
resourceful*
The tribe from the Land of the Sun demanded the right to rule over the
worshippers of clouds and storms*
Hero ho defeated
tho stupid Ainu who were already paying tribute to the invaders from Korea
Thus the Empire fcf Japan was founded by Kan-Iweire, who became Jummu,
the first fcuperor* The time is fairly veil fixed at 660 B.C.
(16)
(17)
Spiritual progress
thornsoITo Kami)
Nihon -- pronounced Japan means sun origin*
Mikoto
Land-eternal-stand of August-things
Jixmmi
divine valor.
And, most significantly, the charaoter for governing -Matsurigoto means worship
(18)
the Sun Tribe, came from a so-oalled celestial realm in the tropics, believing in their divine right to establish a kingdom*
five centuries ago the toperor fought and won battle*? v/ith a conviction of
hie divine right*
II
II
During thin period strong family ties were formed, filial piety
(20)
shrines dedicated to departed local leaders and there were priestc to demand obedience to custom and proper respect for the daad.
individual freedom.
From the beginning, the Japanese worshipped their raoe rather than a
spiritual God.
(21)
Prom among the villages and clans thore arose strong leaders, and no
other war lords or prinoes have ever enjoyed greater loyalty from their
subjects*
These
thur and ao ar?,y as the eighth century represented tho boat olase of Japan.
Stronger men wore required for fight Ing than for trades or farming* All
other olaasoo of people therefore \vro considered inferior to the Samurai*
(22)
alty unto death to their leader wus the keystofto of tholr code*
During
the rule of tho great Bho^xn ian the Samurai nunbored two million*
The
3amurai wera exempted from t&xation, given incomes by thalr feudal lord*
and were the only people in Japan privileged to wear two sworda*
They
developed a raarvelouo esprit and through V/ien the Shogune dominated Japeui,
practically unopposo'l*.
(23)
(2)4)
Not until the Era of the Iteijl wre the real Btoperora actually in control of the entire nation*
tho olana fought to ponaeso him much a3 tho Icrealitoo end Philistines
fought to possess the Arc of the Covenant*
sessed the Emperor, the entire nation held him in highest veneration. They
knew no greater devotion than to thoir Eiuporor, a human descendant of gods*
It was fortunate for Japan, that she had her Samurai warriors*
Twi.ce
Khan 1 * ships and dealt terrible execution with tholr great swords* (25)
At such tJunos Shinto Spirit ran high*
.. \ All clans united in a common cause and chelr Samurai wero regarded
as uv. ors of tho race*
By the early r>art of tho seventeenth century Japan wao aware of the
tremendous power of Spain*
had drifted in
Japani
Qur kin^s (3p,ln) begin by Bonding into the countries which they
to conquer missionaries who induce the pooplo to embraco our religions, and when they have made acnsidarable progress, troops are sent
who combine with the new Christians, and than our kln^a have not much
trouble in aooompliflhing the rest*"
(26)
Seriously alarmed at the proapoots of being overrun by western barbarians. Samurai warriors exterminated the native converts? and either
killed or deported tH> miaaionarles.
For two hundred years following tho expulsion of foreigners, the
Sho^uns and their Sowurai warriors were "Uie supreme power of Japan*
clans singly, could not dispute their portor*
Other
counted for the absence of an anti-Shogun movemaiit from aaon(r the various
other clans,
Thase two hundred yuara wore peaceful years and th Samurai turned to
a great revival of learning to occupy their restless energies*
a revival of tho old Shintoiflm*
divinity of the race.
There cama
(27)
Rhintoism
The Samurai oodo wae the veliicle for tho national falth#
Like t)io
They understand
It is ac real as
life.
Patriotism and Shintoism in Japan are inseparable and one cannot survive without the other.
pur a form, assumes amazing vitality; for to the Japanese, patriotism means
more than ib oan to any other people.
(28)
Another phase of tho Samurai code has had a deep effect on Japanese
military thought.
(?}
To givo S^KIG iuo'i ol tho prevalence of hara-k.Vri, and to show tho class
of people who practice ib, a few examples uro citedt
A Japanese Christian priost, captured ae a soldier in the RussoJapanese War, and lator released, is looked down upon by his Christian
friends for failure to take advantage of the btiautiful opportunity to
commit hara-kiri*
(30)
General Yoshibashi, true cavalryman of the old school, had his heart
set on the idea that the primary role of the cavalry is shook action not
mobility and fire power these being secondary*
with the idoa that, since Japan's future battles would be in a country
whore cavalry was particularly well suited, the cavalry arm should be
greatly increased.
(Jl)
When the HueQians captured the Japanese transport, "Kinshu Maru w , they
allowed the offioors and men an hour to decide to surrender
Frenzied,
the entire Japanese personnel opened fire on the Hussion battleship with
rifles.
And before tho Russians could send the transport to tho bottom
with a torpedo, a great number of offioors and mon committed hara-kiri, (3)
At Yu-huan-tun, 7 March I 'K)5
"Major Okoshi, of the 6th !<ciinont, had been sont back with a party
escorting the reglmontal colour, a.-d had boon charged with a rruoasa^e to
General Nambo explaining tho situation of the regiment*
utos all the party except ono soldier were killed or wounded*
The unwounded
man carried tho colour to safety, and Major Okoshi thereupon shot himself
after writing tho following lettert
Sin
The reason I loft the regiment, leaving the regimental and
battalion oommanders behind and not sharing in their fate, is simply beoause I was ordered to do so by the regimental commanderf in order to report the situation of the regiment to Your Kxoollenoy*
I knew before I left the village of the danger en route; but I
had hoped to return to the regiment onoe more after I had reportod myself
to Your I-ixoellency, and to die for my country with my brother officers and
dear soldiers*
will therefore commit suicide and follow the same journey to heaven as the
other officers and soldiers havo done*
the past, and sincerely wish Your I^xoollenoy good luck in your military life*
I am too faint to -write any more*
6iJ0 FM on the 7^ n March under the enemy1 s artillery fire from
the west, and at a nameless village south of Li-wan-pu*
Major Okoshi*n
To His Excellency
Major General Naihbo
(33)
On the eve of the break with Russia, Admiral Togo called a conference
of his commanders aboard his flagship wLIikaoaH#
brief announoomenti
*We sail tonight*
(?U)
Victory or death
was to be theirs
An officer present remarked*
(35)
General Nogi was the real hero of the Russo-Japanese Y/arj he had a
thousands of young man to their death, had lost his own two sons, yet he
himself M d been permitted to live when he would have weloomd the honor
of dying for his Baperor*
sons he had sent to death, he owed a debt to himself and he owed a debt to
hi3 Ifraperor*
On
September 1J, 1912, the day of tho Emperorfs funeral, which took place
forty-five days after death. General and Mrs* Nogi returned to their home
from the ceremony*
His grave
if? a Shrino whore hundreds of thousands, including highest govornment officials, go to worship*
(?6)
In 19J/0 thero waa a play at tho Kabukiza theatre in Tokyo which playod
to a full houe for a month*
The
orowd cheered lustily and become i'renziod as they lived again the battle
ju3t as they and othors must have livod it twenty-five year*, ago*
In the
play No^i had lost hin two sons, recalling their defcth he remarked that he
oould not have returnod to Tokyo with hi& sons alive*
As a
father I am pleaaed with the death of my two sons for the Emperor*" {)*])
In 1926, upon the death of Etaperor Yoshihito, his olose friend Baron
Ikeda committed hara-kiri in order to tcoompany hie master * (38)
In the town of Kiryu, during November 193^4 Police Sergeant Juei Hondaj,
with a poAioe pilot oar was leading His Majesty, the I&iperor, baok from
maneuvers*
The Sergeant beoaro confused and took The Son of Heaven down
twenty minute a I
Honda's humiliation waa complete, and although closely guarded to prevent hara-kiri, the Sergeant outwitted his guard and cut a four-inch slice
in his throat* (39)
In the recent Shanghai debacle, Major Koga waa wounded, captured by
the Chinese and then promptly released*
erated, even by his fellow officers*
The major was completely exonBut Koga waa obsessed with the idea
that only death could wipe out the stain of his having been made a prisoner*
Returning to his place of capture he releawed the Shinto Spirit; his stain
was forever wipod out*
Commenting on this act, former Minister of War General Ai aki said*
"There cannot be a single Japanese prisoner, according to the disciplinary
principle of the Imperial Army**
(I4O)
More than two hundred yearn ago the Lord of Ako was murdered by another
nobloman named Kiro*
Finally on February 3
Gowon, p I4IO
Tim magazine, 26 ITovombor 193U* P %
Christy* Asia magazine, July 193U, p
RodoBdale, pp l-2!j
Each of the
().jl)
This prac-
Japanese people toward those who oomniit the act which renders hara-kiri of
supreme importance to the military student.
It is customary to canonise
(ij2)
ground
From the windows of the General Staff building can b cc or the two most
sacred spots in the Japancoo Empire the Yasukuni Jinja Memorial and the
Emperorfr. palace.
However,
-16-
Ill
MODERN
JAPAN
Break-up of Feudalism
Arrival of Military Socialism
Psychology of Military Teachings
Military Nationalism Today
Neoessity for this Spirit*
Pan-Asiatio Dreams
Ill
pedition, according to a Washington correspondent, is to be merely a hydrographioal survey of the Japanese coast*
For the first time in their history the fclmurai warriors and their
groat swords were impotent*
Without a solution to
their own internal problems, all factions hurriedly agreed roaistance was
futile*
If the Japanese
came to the United States, they would find the navigable w&tor3 of the
country free to them, and tliat they would not be debarred even from the
$old fields of California,n
(J45)
So long as sh
Hut
now that sho w&e to deal with foreign powera she must prosont a united
front*
-17-
In
the end there was only one solution, self-ovldent from the first*
The
Tho revival of
loyal to the last, gave up their entire incomes from their old olansf
without a murmur
(I46)
In 1877 Jo-pan
less action, the Satsuma clan broke out in open revolt against the newly
organized government*
The robellion was bitterly fought and the central government was forced to
resort to the use of something novel in Japanese history a brand new
national array of conscripts, oomposod not of Samurai gentry but largely of
stock from the lowly walks of lifo#
The Satsumi clan pitted iiO#000 ex-Samurai against the Mikado's new
conscripts^
The fighting was bitter and bloody, each aide suffering thirty*
(hi)
The victory of tho National Army wan a turning point in Japanese history*
National authority*
(i|6) Vinaoko, p 90
(hi) Portor, Rioe of a Modern Power, p 110
(I48) Portor, Japan the Now World Power, p 60
(J48)
"delivered en m a s s e d
Therer are sound reasons w h y Japan must keep alive her spirit of nationalism through power*
and put intu operation a system of moral training for the youth of the Empire w h i c h bids fair to accomplish more than was intended in the beginning*
Japan's governmental organization amply secures the military establishment
and Cabinet*
(U9)
With their position secured by tho Emperor himself, \5he military leaders have injected into the school courses of tho land an amazing doctrine
of soldier ppyohology*
(50)
Tuo thousand rjaerve officers of tho Army are on duty in the grade
schools for the express purpose of handling this spiritual training
as the Japanese call it
or
moral training*
Soldior psy-
chology of the military leaders has had a freo hand in shaping the thought
of young Japan*
(51)
J49 Hunt, p
Konnody, p 169
51 Hunt, Conversations with
Hlbino (introduction), p 9;
-19-
(52)
(53)
"If it is then asked what loyalty io and what it implies we reply
briefly that it means the unchanging reverential service of the Imperial
line,"
(5I4)
(55)
"To serve the Efcnperor with single-hearted loyalty , is the superlative treasure of the Japanese subject, by reason of which he rises superior
to all foreign peoples*"
(56)
"There is nothing upon which loaders have looked with such anxiety of
late as the torrential violence with which products of European and American civilization havo invaded the ea&t # *
(57)
1J
uo f to cause us embarrassment, or to oppress us for their own end?, our Emporor will not overlook their insults, and our people at hi* oennnand will
brave a thousand defctha to defend tho national honor*
to the Emperor in order that our foes m y bo defeated and subdued in our
highest privilege."
(58)
No subject
(59)
{56)
(57)
(58
(59
(60
Ilibino,
Hiblno,
Hibino,
Hibino,
Hibino,
niblnc f
lliblno,
Hiblno,
(60)
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
3
5
6
7
13
15
19
21
-20-
"Undor the wide spreading heavens and in every corner of our land,
from thn woodcutter who sleoos ariong tho mountains to tho fisherman who
is tho companion of the restless waves, the people of Japan without exception regard th^ Imporial Line with reverent*al awe, and are ever ready to
devoto their lives to the supreme claims of patriotism^"
(6l)
(62)
(6?)
You will nob find tho oqual of this nation in Europe or America nor
yot in Asia."
(65)
(66)
IIor can wo ovor fail to laud the Imperial Destiny of our Empire,
(67)
(61)
((&)
(63)
(6li)
Ufj)
(66)
(67)
(68)
Jlibino,
Hibino,
Hibino,
Hibino,
Hibino f
Hibino0
Hibino,
Hibino,
(68)
p 36
p 172
p [|2
p UJ.
p lj2
p 57
p 2Ji2
p 15O
-S3
(69)
^tfhen the true flag *a unfurled cind the loyal troops advancet what
soldier is there that Iaok3 in gallantry or in courage?
Careless of the
Is this not the reason why our soldiers are superior to all
(70)
Recently, this "lYay of the Japanese Subject*1 has boen proparod espeoially for soldiers, sailors and civilians in military training
It is
a handbook whioh students and soldiers are required to know as our soldiers
know their general orders*
(71)
Vfith ouch ama^in^; and vivid dootrino tau^lit to t)ie youth of tho land,
it io little v/onder that youn Japan i now swopt witli the now Kodo doctrine.
The curve of the intensity of this "Cauldron of Patriotism" lis yot in it3
Ho in of the/Samurai
(73)
To General Arakifs mind, foreign thought was creeping Into Japan and
to him "the remedy for this is tho propagation of the Soldier Spirit among
the whole nation"*
In his recent books
clares:
ef feotivoly tho power of tho spirit of the Japanese* by w.iih alono poaoe in
the Far East may be secured and the degradation of humanity may be cheeked*
By tho power of arms Araki would have JB,pan expand.
(7k)
Japan is the attainment of tho Way of Heaven which wo understand as consisting of ti.o throe virtues, tho love of humanity, all embraoSaag equity
and all sonquerin^ bravery for which 'Three Sacred Treasures1 stand as
symbols #
lloavon*" The Japanese Army stands "as the guardian of the '.Yay of
Iloavon against the mischief-inakoro from the outside*
Therefore it is tf.
moral forco, at the same time a sacred instrument wherowith justice and
truth are promoted and Inequity and depravity suppressed*11
(75)
Tho
Them the
(76)
The old Shinto spirit, flushed with recent victories in Korth China,
has started Japan on a policy of expansion, tho end of which i3 not yob
Japan is far fro?n carefree in hor rolo which General Araki calls,
"The V/ay of Heaven"*
On the northwest lies youn, and dreaming Soviet Run0la whoBO bombers
in Vladivostok have already made a profound impression on him /far Ministry
(73) Hunt, p
(7n) Araki, Asia magazine, July 19:'U p ^$~3
(75)
llxxnl,
p Ul
in Tokyo*
Japan is
(77)
since he has what ho wonts, that now it in wrong to taice land by force*
w
Ouht a nation which obviously has a high decree* of culture and who^e
(76)
Other nations, in particular the United Statesf havo been far from
diplomatio in impressing their ideas of exclusion and racial discrimination
upon Japan*
A. cavalryman rni^ht
I I ICICI l O l t l
4.IKV%
JAPANESE EXPANSION
Ta]
a^arine
Februar
35
ready real,
Tho Philippine Archipelago is the southern third of the oounterreoonnaissanoo screen off China,*
herself from the Philippine* will be the time to see whether or not Japan
wants these islands*
(80)
To
basoo and sea aroas to bo patrolled, should determine tlio relative strength
of navies,
(81)
prosced it, that sea powor io not measured by the oca area wldch must be
pabrollod and the proximity of basee to that area, but that soa power gained
only after the enemy fleet haa been annihilated*
It Is to prevent possible
annihilation that Japan has deoidod to build a fleot second to none* After
gaining naval parity Japan will talk limitation*
(82)
Admiral Yainamoto frankly admits Japan demands navnl equality to discourage pemanently all ronietanco to Japan's piano for China.,
(Ojj)
The
(00)
01)
82)
J)
Prytm, 277-280
Jioooovell*., Asia nu\(-azino# February l\oU9 P 77
Ito, Asia raa;;azlnof Decombor 193^1, F TfO
Yamanoto, Vanity Fair, Inarch 1955 P 37
.25-
Japan charges the Ytest, and it appears justly, vdth racial disoManination.
They are
The World
Vfar -- a heaven-sent opportunity for Japan placed her as one among the
great powers.
As tho gap between the East and V/est widens, military psychology
probes this sore and will not allow it to heal*
Bryan, p 21
Iloarn, Kokoro - Chapteri The Geniun of Juptutone C i v i l i s a t i o n .