kitta ikki
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Personality studyTRANSCRIPT
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Modern History Personality: Kita Ikki
Kita’s Life 1. BORN
-‐ Kita Ikki was born ‘Terujiro’ -‐ April 3rd 1883 -‐ Island of Sado, off northwest coast of Sea of Japan
2. BIRTHPLACE -‐ G.Wilson: Kita’s birthplace was highly influential on his rise to
prominence -‐ ‘The island has a place in Japanese lore as a haven for exiled notables’ -‐ Men of Sado made of rebellious stuff – says Kita’s bro Reikichi in his bio
o Tough, rebellious and anti-‐authoritarian -‐ Islanders influenced by:
o Sonno Joi – revere the emperor o Minken – civil rights movement o Japanese nationalism
-‐ Kita shared with Sado’s previous reformist thinkers: o Highly individualised personality
-‐ Through this radical background Kita developed... o Resentment of authority o ‘Permanently at odds with the status quo’
3. FAMILY
-‐ Influenced later writings and activities -‐ Father – community leader (Mayor) and prominent sake brewer -‐ Family had sumarai ancestors -‐ Family represents the epitome of social developments during Tokugawa
times and exemplified the growth of commercial activity in rural Japan – well being
-‐ Uncle Homma o Introduced to socialism o He was a fiery socialist
-‐ Wilson: Fam background influenced Kita’s later achievements and contributed to rise to prominence as a political thinker
4. EARLY BEHAVIOUR -‐ Demonstrated eccentric behaviour from very early on in life -‐ Exhibited showmanship
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-‐ Experienced a need to impress and command attention -‐ Had a tendency towards fantasy -‐ Showed sensitivity and intelligence -‐ Enthused by Sino-‐Japanese War – his artwork was sold commercially
5. EDUCATION -‐ Read widely – Marx, Darwin... About romanticism, liberalism, imperialism -‐ Self educated – outside influences of Imperial Rescript on Education
6. HEALTH -‐ Suffered eye condition: Pterygium -‐ Temporarily dropped out of school x2 in 1891 + 1898 to Tokyo
University Hospital -‐ Treatment: daily doses of cocaine
o Impact on physical and mental health -‐ IMPACT OF THESE VISITS
o Broadened his interests o Fuelled his interests in national events
7. RETURN TO SADO
-‐ Paid scant attention to studies -‐ Terminated education in 1900 -‐ Reikichi: spent his time leading ‘the ideal life of a rural semi-‐intellectual’ -‐ Spent a lot of time reading: Confucian, Marx, Darwin
o These works were highly influential in his later writings
8. SOCIALISM & EARLY WRITINGS -‐ 1900 – Kita and Uncle Homma travelled to Honshu to hear speeches from
a socialist leader o Homma declared enthusiasm for socialism o Kita highly influenced by his uncle’s conversion
-‐ Periodical Myojo 1900 o Kita influenced by the romantic poetry o Contributed his own verse
-‐ Began to publish articles on Kokutai in local daily Sado Shimbun o So critical that the prefectural police came to Sado to investigate
him -‐ Soon after became an ardent socialist and activist
o Distributed socialist literature o Staging socialist rally
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-‐ Attracted to utopian ideals of socialism provided him with outlet for his romantic and emotional temperament
9. RJ WAR -‐ Context:
o Dissatisfaction over limited gains in Treaty of Portsmouth o Violent Hibiya riots
-‐ Kita was supportive of the war aims against Russia -‐ Sympathised with rioters and believed they were protesting for the right
things but the wrong reasons o The thought the root of their discontent was in their faith in the
emperor system (which had let them down) o Kita saw the emperor system as a tool in hands of genro to
manipulate o Influenced him to write a book spelling out this lesson
Early Life Conclusion (Wilson): By 1905 Kita had yet to establish a career for himself. He spent most of his time idly wondering and had an incomplete education. He was a ‘promising’, yet frustrated romantic thinker burning with a desire to prove his talents in a volatile world! 10. TOKYO – KOKUTAI AND PURE SOCIALISM
-‐ Wrote his book against above post RJ backdrop -‐ Wrote 1000 page manuscript in 6 months -‐ No publisher wanted it -‐ Used family money to publish 500 copies himself on May 9, 1906 -‐ Banned by Home Ministry within 10 days! -‐ ***See other notes on writings for details about the book
11. JOINED GROUPS, DEVELOPED INTEREST IN CHINA
-‐ After banning of his book, above events, etc... Made contact with Japanese who were active in giving aid and advice to Chinese revolutionaries operating out of Tokyo
-‐ Developed an interest in course of events in China – remained his chief concern over the next decade
-‐ Conditions in China allowed him to play a role in the process of evolutionary change he believed in
o Wilson: His involvement an adventure for altruistic ends -‐ Accepted by a number of different groups
o Chinese Alliance
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o Black Dragon Society -‐ Attended meetings; addressed Chinese audiences; develped contacts with
leaders
12. CHINESE REVOLUTION & TRIP TO CHINA 1911-‐1913 -‐ Interest in China/Reasons for involvement:
o Boyhood immersion in C’s traditions o Wilson: sincere grattitude of what C civilisation had given to Japan o W: Honest desire to help C throw off shackles of imperialism and
resume her former eminence -‐ *Had been working on the editorial staff of the Kokurykai’s (patriotic club)
monthly publication with status of guest member o Used these funds to travel to China at the outbreak of revolution in
1911 -‐ He acted as a free agent once he arrived in China
o Did not support Japanese objectives; his chief objective was to do what was best for China
-‐ Supported the campaign for revolution in China -‐ Thought Sun Yat-‐sen was unfit to lead the revolutionary cause because he
seemed determine to accept foreign aid and emulate foreign models -‐ Wanted a leader free of “the disease of over-‐dependence on Western
ideas and institutions” – He supported his friend Sung Chiao-‐Jen who was a more genuine C nationalist
o Sung was assassinated after his party was elected –Kita accused Sun Yat-‐Sen’s colleagues
-‐ Japanese consulate in China grew impatient with Kita’s activities -‐> He was ordered to leave China and not return for 3 years
-‐ Chinese revolution had had a significant impact on his thinking (Masaki)
13. BACK TO TOKYO -‐ Kita returned to Tokyo with his new wife Suzuko who he met in Shanghai -‐ Changed his name to Ikki (meaning ‘Single Brilliance’) -‐ Wore Chinese clothing, W calls him a Sinophiles -‐ Wrote Private History of the Chinese Revolution in 1915 upon his return
(published 1921) ***see other notes for details
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14. BACK TO CHINA 1916-‐1920 -‐ Returned to China in June 1916 -‐ At the time anti-‐Japanese sentiments had increased in China after 21
Demands Kita disappointed -‐ WWI particularly frustrated him
o Japan’s actions @ PPConference where it did not promote China’s rightful claims and instead consolidated its wartime gains
o Anti-‐J feelings in C exacerbated -‐ Witnessed 1919 May the Fourth Demonstration
o Despaired at resentment against his homeland o Wrote letter: Highest Judgement on the Versailles Conference – his
interpretation of the world situation at the end of the war -‐ All he had worked for seemed vitiated by the resentment towards his
country -‐ Sino-‐J relations deteriorated Came to belive that the pre-‐requisite to
alterations in J’s FOREIGN policy was a REORGANISATION of the nation INTERNALLY!
-‐ Turned attention back to Japan itself –‘completing’ its evolutionary breakthrough
15. PLAN FOR THE RE-‐ORGANISATION OF JAPAN -‐ ... Thus (above reasons) he wrote this book! A Program of ACTION! -‐ Best known work – gives him his reputation -‐ *** See writings notes for details -‐ Manifesto for how Japan should change -‐ Continued ‘historical evolution approach’ His program would help
Japan achieve its destined place on the scale of historical evolution -‐ No single way, rather a mixture of ideologies and doctrines
16. YUZONSHA -‐ Okawa Shumei and associates wanted to create a political vehicle for the
emerging taisho nationalism -‐ Kita Ikki was encouraged to join the group.
o Members impressed by Plan for the Reorganisation of Japan -‐ Wilson: their activities often inconsequential
o Lacked a large membership and had few financial resources. o Yuzonsha is seen by Wilson as a failure.
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-‐ Yuzonsha may have infiltrated the military and had some influence on young soldiers
-‐ In 1923 the Yuzonsha broke up -‐ Differences between Okawa and Kita Ikki were cited as the cause -‐ The most problematic issue was Japanese relations with the Soviet Union -‐ Yuzonsha fundamentally weak because of its inability to unify
o Reflected the wider Japanese nationalist movement of the 1920s 17. WITHDREW – MITSUI PAYMENTS, NICHIREN BUDDHISM
-‐ Between 1923 and 1936 Kita Ikki was generally out of public view. -‐ Content to write the occasional article and live off the income he received
from the Mitsui Zaibatsu. -‐ Wilson – A need to support himself and his family...? -‐ Wilson: doesn’t see Kita as having sold-‐out
o Mitsui wanted to understand this emerging nationalism and hoped Kita could help them do that.
-‐ Szpilman: His ‘financial assistance’ from politicians and zaibatsu exemplifies nexus between shadowy figures from criminal demi-‐monde and legitimate businessmen/politicians that was a part of Japan’s political culture
-‐ By 1930s he had almost completely retreated into his private world of religious mysticism and chanting Lotus Sutra
-‐ Nichiren: o Dynamic popular priest o From Sado! o Linked with a somewhat nationalistic Buddhist sect o Kita influenced by his ideas and practices
-‐ Kita fell deeper into supersitition -‐ Attraction to Nichiren
o Wilson: Kita saw parallels between Nichiren and himself o Nichiren a nationalist – would have appealed to Kita
-‐ Kita became devoted to ‘the wonderful law of the Lotus Sutra’ (Wilson) – maintained until his death
-‐ Szpilman: By the mid thirties, with the rapid political changes taking place in Japan, Kita, increasingly moderate and isolated, had become a political irrelevancy
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18. FEBRUARY 26 MUTINY -‐ 1936 – Kita became involved in the drama of the Ninoruku Jiken! -‐ The Reorganisation Plan had been read eagerly by young officers
o A ‘Sort of Bible’ for some (Masaki) o The extent of the influence of Kita’s ideas over these young offers
is a subject of historical debate. Spzilman: ‘Kita’s hold over them was weaker than it is
generally believed... [he] admittedly had impact on some of the young officers, but even that tends to be exaggerated.’
o Ideas didn’t resonate with everybody... they weren’t even properly understood by a lot of those who were influenced
o **See other notes for evaluation of influence -‐ Why were they influenced??
o They resented the privileged position of General Staff senior officers
o They sought ways to better their position o Many came from the countryside; they were aware of inequities o They blamed elites who operated in the name of the Emperor for
improper government o They proposed the destruction of these elites so that the emperor
could rule
-‐ Little evidence to show he was involved in the plot -‐ He believed it would fail -‐ Only found out about it on the day it occurred -‐ Arrested on February 28 and was never released
19. THE END
-‐ A year and a half later, after incarceration and trials, he was executed by an army firing squad D:
o ‘civillian ringleader’ for the conspiracy! o Deemed guilty by ideological association o *Despite lack of clear evidence he was even involved
-‐ Kita Ikki was prosecuted as a civilian under military jurisdiction – bad
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-‐ He adamantly stated during his trial that he had taken no part in planning or executing coup
-‐ He received a death sentence BECAUSE OF: o His role as a source of inflammation among officers o His reputation as a communist had grown significantly o The Army wanted him out of the way o The public thought he was a fascist, army thought he was a
communist o As a precaution against future plots
-‐ Executed August 1937
Kita’s Writings THE THEORY OF KOKUTAI AND PURE SOCIALISM
-‐ He published 500 copies himself May 9, 1906 -‐ AIM
o Analyse Japanese history/ Question national polity o Disprove the officially sanctioned interpretation of Kokutai o Attempted to reconcile the conflict between Kokutai and
socialism by proclaiming that there was no conflict because Kokutai and socialism were identical – Social democracy characterised the Kokutai
o Intended to redefine both socialism and Kokutai -‐ Broad literary audience in quest of fame
-‐ How did he redefine socialism?
o Applied the theory of biological evolution to human society -‐ Kita’s view of history
o History was simply the record of social evolution o History was linear – story of evolutionary progress
-‐ Belived Japan was at the stage of social democracy in its evolutionary progress towards utopia
-‐ Supported universal suffrage -‐ Wanted to eliminate the political elites through a legal battle
-‐ Wilson’s critique of the book:
o Kita had a flawed and restrictive interpretation of history o His linear view of history allowed him to see through the myth of
the restoration o Had a reasonable grasp of socialism o Weakness: belief in the absolute validity of his construct o Failed because of the government’s authoritarianism
OR poor writing style? Eg 1000 pages long
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-‐ Reception
o Evoked strong praise and criticism o Angered the authorities – banned by Home Ministry within 10
days o This would have caused Kita great frutstration
Expected it to be widely read and provoke controversy o Hoped to fight the banning of the book in court (even bought
clothes lol) but this never happened Even denied the satisfaction of notoriety! (that Szpilman
states he wanted)
A PRIVATE HISTORY OF THE CHINESE REVOLUTION
-‐ First appeared in two parts in 1921 -‐ Intended for:
o High ranking bureaucrats o Military officers o Those who shaped Japan’s policies towards China
-‐ AIMS o 1. To write an interpretation of the Chinese Revolution and its
significance o 2. To show that Japan’s national interests demanded a
revolutionary change in Japanese foreign policy (A critique of J’s foreign policy)
o Mixture of historical interpretation and political pamphleteering (Wilson)
-‐ THEMES o Non-‐Western societies must not imitate Western ways – each
couontry has its own evolutionary route towards modernity o Westernisation introduced capitalism and political doctrines that
did not conform to Japan’s evolutionary pattern – would corrupt J philosophy
o Capitalism had led Japan, esp in WWI, to embark on W-‐style imperialism in Asia
This had come into conflict w C’s evolutionary process and caused ill feeling toward J
o C needed to achieve its own revolutionary settlement based on Chinese tradition
o Japan’s role: Abrogate AJ alliance and go to war to drive the west out of
Asia
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Free from Westernisation, J could develop as an Eastern monarchy and C as an Eastern republic
-‐ Main theme: In spite of overwhelming military power and successes of the west, non western societies must not imitate western ways for every country has its own characteristic evolutionary route towards modernity.
-‐ Wilson: The book provides historians with a detailed narrative of the Chinese recolution
A PLAN FOR THE REORGANISATION OF JAPAN
-‐ Started the book in 1919 when still living in Shanghai -‐ For 40 days he fasted consuming only water, sake, eggs or small Chinese
lollies -‐ PROGRAM OF ACTION How Japan should change -‐ His reputation as an advocate of violent change can be attributed to this
book -‐ AIM: To address Japan’s international and domestic problems –
sweeping reform -‐ Wrote partly for his adopted son, Taiki (to help him understand his dual
heritage) -‐ Continued ‘historical evolution’ approach –to help Japan achieve its
destined place on the scale of historical evolution -‐ Mix of various ideologies (socialism, militarism, pan-‐asianism etc) -‐ For Japanese leaders he was hoping to influence
-‐ DOMESTIC ISSUES
o Wanted to remove privileged ‘cliques’ that intervened between the emperor and the ppl
True union of the emperor and Japanese people only by getting rid of the financial, military, bureaucratic and political party elite cliques
o This could only be achieved by coup d'état. -‐ KEY FOREIGN POLICY IDEAS
o Bringing all of east and South-‐East Asia under the leadership/influence of Japanese military and economic power
o Did this occur? 1940 -‐ Greater East Asia co-‐prosperity Sphere
-‐ POLITICAL AND MILITARY CHANGES
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o Advocated removal of elites that were coming between the emperor and people
His solution? -‐ Coup d'état led by young military officers Military officers would be joined by a small educated
civilian elite o After the coup? Martial Law
Three years of military rule Parliament dissolved Council of Advisors-‐ 50 “talented men” appointed by
emperor Army to police the countryside to prevent rebellion
-‐ OUTCOMES o All men over 25 able to vote o Basic freedoms recognised o Imperial lands handed over to the nation o Retain bicameral legislative system BUT:
Lower house of the Diet granted more powers Upper house replaced by a House of Review of
distinguished persons -‐ ECONOMIC REFORMS
o Eliminate large concentrations of land and capital in the hands of big companies and landowners
o Create economic efficiency and coherent planning o Set limits on private land ownership and capital
-‐ 7 new revamped government ministries to supplement the existing bureaucracy – would regulate the nations economy
-‐ Evaluation of SOCIAL REFORM THINKING o Wilson:
Favours the working class Profit sharing/worker management Favours subsidies for rural sector Believed education was a social necessity
o Rejects the role of women in politics but states that women should have equal labour rights
o All children have the right to 10 years of education – boys/girls should be treated equally
o Defends civil liberties Right to a fair trial Right to personal property
-‐ LIMITS ON WEALTH o Limits on amount of land and capital – eliminate large private
concentrations
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o Personal property owned by a single family should not exceed Y 3 000 000
o Targeting large companies -‐ Zaibatsu o Economic wellbeing for all individuals o Allow Government to achieve defence needs
-‐ F POLICY
o All countries must be allowed to reach their final destiny o Japan would have to expand to be able to support its population o Present state of affairs is unjust
England and Russia dominate the world order -‐ INTERNATIONAL POSITION
o Japan can bring justice to the world – liberating European colonies in Asia
o J has right to go to war ‘on behalf of another state or people oppressed by unjust force’
o Plan: Drive Britain back to the Suez (Egypt) Neutralise USA with trade agreement Encourage China to defeat Russia in war
-‐ LEFT/RIGHT WING?
o Economic and social views are still very much leaning towards the Marxist/socialist/left-‐wing approach of his early writings.
o Views on foreign policy represent a militaristic/imperialistic approach
o Mix of both -‐ Wilson: Kita still believes in social democracy as the final state of Japan’s
evolution o To achieve this new tactics must be undertaken – direct
-‐ CONCLUSION:
o Japan must follow a course of conquest and bloodshed to re-‐establish an independent Asia
o Japan will offer the future to all of Asia o ‘Peace without war is not the way of heaven’ (war is inevitable) o Japan has to evolve into a social democracy with rights for the
individual essential (same as 1906) o To get there Japan must undergo massive upheaval (coup, martial
law) **more extreme than previously (1906) – reflects world
situation and Kita’s experiences -‐ Wilson’s Problems:
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o How do Advisers get appointed? o Must de-‐modernise for a period of 3 years o A lot of faith in the good sense of leadership o Fails to explain how the system will work on a continuing basis o Little understanding of how organisations work o Stresses ‘men of talent’ must step forward to lead. Doesn’t this
present danger of oligarchs like before?
KITA’S WRITINGS -‐ Reputation as a political thinker -‐ Quite unlike each other
o Different contexts, perspectives and audiences -‐ Constant threads:
o DISATISFACTION w political, economic, social situation o Nationalism o Social Darwinism o Organic theory of the state
-‐ Called for popular and egalitarian ends by a highly authoritarian and elitist means (through time his means became more radical)
Evaluation of Kita’s Life Kita is one of the most written about figures in J history but had a limited role KITA AS A PERSON
-‐ Iconoclastic attitude and romatic temprament (Wilson) -‐ An idealist and activist -‐ Szpilman:
o Ultra-‐nationalist – symbol of Japanese fascism o Japan’s first authentic revolutionary o Left wing – critic of emperor system and victim of militarism o Right wing – pan-‐Asian visionary and a nationalist o Kita Ikki was a critic of the particular shape and process of
Japanese modernisation o Kita wrote for effect, to impress, to shock, to frighten
-‐ Wilson: o An ideologue o Favoured radical immediate and drastic change to existing
institution to fulfill Japan’s nationalist mission and goals o Was equally influenced by Japanese tradition and western ideas o Was misunderstood
WHAT WAS/ WASN’T HE? -‐ Kita was neither a typical or average Japanese intellectual
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-‐ He was not a policymaker -‐ He was not a charismatic leader of the masses -‐ He was a private and solitary ideologue and activist who strove to resolve
the many tensions of a modernising nation -‐ There was a paradox in his ideas: He was an unrestrained individualist
who never even attempted to found a political organisation
CONVENTIONAL INTERPRETATION: FASCIST -‐ Kita is viewed as a “fascist” who converted from socialism. -‐ He is viewed as paralleling European fascists who found a way to achieve
the twin goals of reforming domestic institutions and expanding national prestige abroad.
-‐ These writers interpret “fascism” as a country that is both capitalist and militarily expansionist
-‐ Japanese historians e.g. Maruyama, Sogoru, Shiso -‐ NOT a fascist – lacked defining characteristics
Wilson’s Interpretation (Contrary to fascist):
-‐ Kita did not convert from socialism to fascism. Nor did he support the fascist regime of the 1930s
-‐ He was an iconoclast permanently at odds with the status quo -‐ The main feature of Kitas life is not change from one position to another,
but rather continuity and consistency of outlook and ideas -‐ Throughout his career he maintained two chief preoccupations:
o 1. Belief in the desirability of change and modernisation based on not only Western ideas but also on traditional Japanese attitudes
o 2. Intense faith in Japan’s national mission to regenerate an Asia inundated by imperialist power politics
KITA’S IMPORTANCE CIRCA 1930s -‐ Kita was irrelevant by the time of his death -‐ New Japanese leaders had a detailed programme that had nothing to do
with Kita he had no influence on these people
INFLUENCE ON FEB 26 COUP -‐ Had nothing to do with the preparation or execution of the uprising -‐ His book was a ‘sort of bible’ for some of the young officers (Masaki) -‐ HOWEVER
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-‐ Spzilman: ‘Kita’s hold over them was weaker than it is generally believed... [he] admittedly had impact on some of the young officers, but even that tends to be exaggerated.’
...WHY? Wilson explains Kita’s views differed from theirs! Kita DID NOT reflect the views of the army radicals. Two main points of difference: 1. Kita’s belief in organ state theory. Kita believed that sovereignty rested with state not emperor Army believed in ‘Showa Restoration’ where the emperor had absolute sovereignty 2. Kita’s belief in the role of the army
Kita believed the army ought to become an instrument of the nation-‐ a popular army Army believed themselves to belong to the emperor (role to execute his wishes)
These fundamental differences in ideology meant that Kita’s writings and ideas would NEVER be totally accepted by the army In reality, his book could serve only as a ‘reference book’ (W and S agree) THEREFORE LIMITED INFLUENCE
KITA AS A THINKER
-‐ WILSON + MASAKI o Assign IMPORTANCE to Kita’s Role as a political thinker
They make close study of his life in conjunction with his ideas
-‐ SZPILMAN o SEPARATES Kita’s life and ideas, calls for CAUTION in viewing Kita
as a thinker Provides context for actions of blackmail and extortion
o Kita’s ideas not very powerful and did not carry great influence on Japanese policy or political thinking (his role is to exemplify nexus etc...)
KITA’S WRITINGS -‐ Contribute to his LIMITED role in J history BECAUSE they attribute to his
failure as a political thinker BECAUSE: o Varied nature of his works o Select choice of audience o Readership o Banning of his works
-‐ Varied nature of works, the audience, and direct purpose o Kokutairon and Pure Socialism
Intended for big audience BUT banned o Private History of Chinese Revolution
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Small readership No perceptible impact on policy in China *A small contribution CAN be seen in the value it provides
the historian as an account of the Chinese Revolution BUT no influence
o Plan for the Reorganisation of Japan Most successful Did contribute to Ninoruku Jiken
ROLE IN HISTORY KITA WAS A PERSON WHO WAS NOT OUTSTANDING
-‐ ‘The meaning of his life... has eluded the historians who have striven to understand him’ S
-‐ ‘Kita proved an outstanding failure at every stage of his life’ S -‐ ‘By the mid thirties... Kita had become a political irrelevancy’ S -‐ An advocate of change who failed to achieve -‐ Not a ‘great man’ valued by historians (eg. not like other 20th century
personalities)
***DID NOT influence 1936 Coup sufficiently to be important (see above) ***DID NOT write successfully enough to be important (see above)
As a failed inconoclast who faded into the History books with political irrelevancy, his main role is to: 1. Exemplify Japan’s persistent tradition of political intrigue, blackmail and extortion WITHOUT being a revolutionary thinker who changed Japan
-‐ ‘Kita is important because he aptly exemplifies Japan’s persistent tradition of political intrigue, blackmail and extortion’ S
-‐ ‘The ‘fnancial assistance’ Kita received from prominent politicians and leading businesses exemplifies the nexus between shadowy figures from the criminal demi-‐monde and legitimate politicians that was a part of Japan’s political culture.’ S
-‐ ***This can be discovered through Szpilman’s REVISIONIST biography
2. Represent the experiences and ideas of his society -‐ ‘He manifestly was not [an original thinker]’ S
‘He was an ideologue and activist whose experiences mirrored the many tensions of a nation that was rapidly becoming a modern urban-industrial society’
o ‘In his extreme statism Kita was by no means alone in prewar Japan. Nor was he alone in his wholehearted espousal of the organ theory of the state’ S
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o ‘Kita was amongst the vast majority of his fellow countrymen for whom tradition played a role at least equally decisive as Western ideas in shaping attitudes towards modernisation’ W
o ‘He, like other Japanese nationalists, believed in Japan’s national identity, the justice of its national mission and the promise of progress through national effort’ W
o ‘Some Japanese called in the name of nationalism for radical reform of domestic institutions on a grounds that a great modern nation ought to be doing more for its people. One such radical nationalist was Kita Ikki.’ W
-‐ ***This can be discovered through BIOGRAPHY, esp Wilson’s 1960s SOCIAL bio
-‐ Davies: ‘when studying the life of an ordinary person, the significance for the historian lies in the extent to which it is representative of the experience of a large class’
3. His political ideas deepen an historian’s understanding of how political history is shaped by viewing the ‘unfulfilled possibilities’ of his works
-‐ ‘Kita Ikki thought of the total reconstruction of Japan. We should be able to catch a glimpse of the image of another Japan through his works and acitivities’
o Builds up out picture of political history o Historian forms an image of a given time (the political idea reflects the
situatoion)
WHY IS HE STILL KNOWN AND DISCUSSED?
-‐ Japanese admire those who have failed but have failed with their principles pure
-‐ Continued popularity because of the Japanese admiration of heroes whose failure is enobled
o Thus widely covered in Eastern History o Epitome of a failure – executed on the verge of success
-‐ Not covered widely in Western History -‐ Execution saved him from obscurity -‐ Kita had a legion of followers on both sides of the political spectrum:
o Acceptable to the left: victim of Militarism o Acceptable to the right: nationalism and pan-‐Asianism
-‐ ‘Kita Ikki thought of the total reconstruction of Japan. We should be able to catch a glimpse of the image of another Japan through his works and acitivities’
o Interests many Japanese historians eg. Masaki
.... PERONISM..?
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-‐ Nationalistic and has usually been the creation of nationalist military officers seeking to destroy privileged classes which have kept the masses poor
-‐ Juan Peron – Argentina o Ideology between socialism and capitalism o Methods of governing were often repressive. Very much a
nationalist -‐ Similar to Peron
o He sought to rid Japanese society of political, social and economic elites
o Placed faith in the military to achieve this, and his belief that the Japanese people were the key to greatness (views all held by Peron)
Describe the Life of Kita Kita Ikki was born on 3 April 1883 on the island of Sado as the first son of a community leader and nephew of a committed socialist. Wilson regards Sado’s tradition of rebellious thinkers as influential to Kita’s resentment of authority and disagreement with the status quo; features that characterised his iconoclastic ideas and actions. From 1891 Kita travelled to Tokyo to receive treatment for his eye condition known as ptyerygium. His visit in 1898 had a profound effect on him by steering his interests towards politics and away from school. Kita withdrew from formal education in 1900 to pursue the development of his own ideas, ‘leading the idle life of a rural semi-‐intellectual.1’ He wrote for Sado’s local ‘Sado Shimbun’ where he criticised the government to the extent that he was investigated by the local police. Kita was not deterred and became a vocal socialist in his community. He travelled to Tokyo where he completed his first work: The Theory of Kokutai and Pure Socialism, which received considerable interest upon its publication in 1906, though within ten days was banned by the Home Ministry. Kita rose to some prominence as a socialist, which took him to China in October 1911. He subsequently witnessed the Chinese Revolution which significantly impacted upon his thinking.2 His actions were viewed with suspicion, however, and he was forced to leave China in April 1914. Upon Kita’s return to Japan, he began to write his second book: A Private History of the Chinese Revolution, which was not published until 1921. It was intended for Japan’s policy makers to explain the Chinese revolution and demonstrate that a change in Japan’s foreign policy towards China was in the nation’s best interests. Kita returned to China in June 1916 to observe high anti-‐Japanese sentiments after WWI. This caused him to doubt Japan’s policy toward China and believe
1 Reikichi, ‘Meiji no Nihon’ 2 Miyake, Kita Ikki’s Political Ideas and the Revolution of February 1936: ‘the Chinese Revolution had caused a change in his thinking, and led to his belief in a military dictatorship and to his conviction that a military confrontation with the British Empire and Russia was unavoidable.’
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that Japan needed to be re-‐organised internally. His third and best known work, A Plan for the Reorganisation of Japan, was thus published in 1923 as a plan of action to reform Japan so that it could ‘reach its destined place on the scale of historical evolution’3. After 1923 Kita withdrew from the public sphere and immersed himself in Nichiren Buddhism whilst living off payments from the Mitsui Zaibatsu. During this time, The Reorganisation became a ‘sort of Bible’4 for some young army officers5 who partook in the 26 February 1936 mutiny. Despite a lack of evidence that he was involved in the uprising, Kita was deemed guilty for the mutiny by ideological association and was executed on 19 August 1937.
3 Wilson, Radical Nationalist, p66 4 Miyake, Kita Ikki’s Political Ideas and the Revolution of February 1936 5 The extent of the influence of Kita’s ideas over these young offers is a subject of historical debate. Spzilman, Kita Ikki and the Politics of Coercion, p488: ‘Kita’s hold over them was weaker than it is generally believed... [he] admittedly had impact on some of the young officers, but even that tends to be exaggerated.’