Uyoku dantai

"Uyoku dantai" ( _ja. 右翼団体; lit. "right wing groups") are Japanese nationalist right-wing groups.

In 1996, the National Police Agency estimated that there are over 1000 right wing groups in Japan with about 100,000 members in total.

History

The first "uyoku dantai" are said to have their origins in the late 19th century, in the wake of the 1868 Meiji Restoration which ended Japan's centuries-old feudal system and national seclusion. Dramatic and drastic changes to society resulted in widespread movements throughout the nation against the newly formed Meiji government, consisting mainly of disgruntled former samurai and the rural poor, known collectively as the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, often resulting in bloody clashes such as the 1884 Chichibu Incident. The authorities frequently resorted to use of hired gangs to suppress these movements.

As the socialist movement spread to Japan in the early 20th century, the authorities in turn used similar tactics to suppress or intimidate unions and the socialist movement. Some more violent groups or groups tied to organized crime, having close contact with the conservative elements of Japanese politics at the time, formed ultranationalist secret societies and militias that went on to develop extensive espionage networks throughout Korea, Manchuria, Russia and China. Ultranationalists gradually gained influence in the military and mainstream politics, and increasingly used political violence--see Imperial Way Faction. The groups not only helped the authorities fight a covert war against socialism, but often ran prostitution and drug-smuggling rings throughout continental Asia and agitated for conflict.

After the defeat of Japan in the Pacific War, the ultranationalist societies were disbanded and socialism was decriminalised. However, as the Cold War set in, the Allied Occupation authorities soon started to suppress the growing socialism movement. They frequently resorted to seeking the help of leading pre-war right-wing and organised crime figures, some of whom were war criminals who were pardoned in exchange for this help, and this formed the basis of post-war, anti-communist fringe groups with close links to both organized crime and the conservative Japanese establishment.

Throughout the Cold War, the groups, known as "uyoku dantai", generally carried a philosophy of anti-leftism and advocated solidarity with the United States and South Korea against communist nations such as the USSR, North Korea and the People's Republic of China. The 1970s, however, also saw the emergence of the "shin-uyoku" ("new right wing")--nationalist organizations that viewed the post-war Japanese conservative establishment as a puppet of the US and sought to break away from the traditionally pro-American stance of the post war rightist movement.

Philosophies and activities

"Uyoku dantai" are well known for their highly visible propaganda vehicles, known as "gaisensha" ( _ja. 街宣車)--converted vans, trucks and buses fitted with loudspeakers and prominently marked with the name of the group and propaganda slogans. The vehicles are usually black, khaki or olive drab, and are decorated with the Imperial Seal, the flag of Japan and the Japanese military flag. They are primarily used to stage protests outside organizations such as the Chinese, Korean or Russian embassies, "Chongryon" facilities and media organizations, where propaganda (both taped and live) is broadcast through their loudspeakers. They can sometimes be seen driving around cities or parked in busy shopping areas, broadcasting propaganda, military music or "Kimigayo", the national anthem.

Political beliefs differ between the groups but the three philosophies they are often said to hold in common are the advocation of "kokutai", hostility towards communism and hostility against the Japan Teachers Union. Traditionally, they viewed the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China and North Korea with hostility over issues such as communism, the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands and the Kurile Islands. Most, but not all, seek to justify Japan's role in the Second World War to varying degrees, and are critical of what they see as "self-hate" bias in post-war historical education. Many groups claim support for the Republic of China (Taiwan) and sometimes the independence movements of Taiwan, Tibet and East Turkestan. South Korea and the United States are traditionally regarded as allies but more recent organizations direct their criticisms against these countries too. Because of Aum Shinrikyo's activities over the years, which involved potential help from North Korea and Russia, the group is also a target by the uyoku dantai.Fact|date=March 2007

Groups

Below is a list of some groups usually considered "uyoku dantai".

Historical groups

* Aikokusha ( _ja. 愛国社 “Society of Patriots”) - Set up in 1928 by Ainosuke Iwata. (Not to be confused with a 1875-1880 organisation of the same name). Activities included organisation of anti-communist student movements in various universities and indoctrination of youths in rural villages. On November 14, 1930, Tomeo Sagoya, a member of the society shot Prime Minister Hamaguchi Osachi at Tokyo Station in an assassination attempt.

* Gen'yōsha ( _ja. 玄洋社) - originated from a secret society of ex-"samurai" with an aim to restore feudal rule, Genyosha was an ultranationalist secret society which engaged in terrorist activities, such as the attempted assassination of Okuma Shigenobu in 1889. It formed an extensive espionage and organised crime network throughout east Asia and agitated for Japan's military aggression. Forced to disband after the war.

* Black Dragon Society ( _ja. 黑龍會 "kokuryūkai") - an influential paramilitary group set up in 1901, initially to support the drive to drive Russia out of east Asia. Ran anti-Russian espionage networks in Korea, China, Manchuria and Russia. Expanded its activities worldwide in the subsequent decades and became a small but significant ultranationalist force in mainstream politics. Forced to disband in 1946.

Traditional groups

* Daitōjuku ( _ja. 大東塾 “Great Eastern School”) ( [http://www.juno.dti.ne.jp/~d-kaikan/] )- a cultural academy set up in 1939. Runs courses related to Shinto and traditional arts such as waka (poetry) and karate. Conducted several campaigns, such as the restoration of the National Foundation Day's original status of "kigensetsu" ("Empire Day") and of the legal designation of Japanese era names as Japan's official calendar.

* Great Japan Patriotic Party ("Dai-nippon aikokuto" _ja. 大日本愛国党) - Set up in 1951 by, and centred around, Satoshi Akao, a former anti-war member of the pre-war National Diet who was well-known at the time for his daily speeches at Sukiyabashi crossing in Ginza, Tokyo. The party advocated state ownership of industries with the Emperor as the head decision maker. They emphasised the need for solidarity with the United States and South Korea in the fight against communism. Their propaganda vans were decorated with the Stars and Stripes alongside the Japanese flag, and Akao once stated that Liancourt Rocks ("Dokdo/Takeshima") should be blown up as it represents an obstacle to friendship with South Korea. A former party member, Otoya Yamaguchi, was responsible for the 1960 assassination of Inejiro Asanuma, the head of the Japanese Socialist Party, at a televised rally.

* Issuikai ( _ja. 一水会) [http://www.issuikai.jp] - Formed in 1972 as part of what was then known as the "new right wing" movement which rejected the pro-American rhetoric of the traditional right wing. It sees the Japanese government as an American puppet state and demands "complete independence". Advocates the setting up of a new United Nations on the basis that the current UN structure is a relic of the Second World War. Fiercely critical of the Bush Administration over issues such as the Iraq war and the Kyoto protocol.

Groups affiliated to yakuza syndicates

*Nihon Seinensha ( _ja. 日本青年社, “Japan Youth Society”) [http://www.seinensya.org/] - one of the largest organisations with 2000 members. Set up by the Sumiyoshi-ikka syndicate in 1961. Since 1978, members have constructed two lighthouses and a Shinto shrine on the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyutai), a collection of uninhabited islets claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan. [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/08/26/2003065276] In June 2000, two members of the society attacked the offices of a magazine which ran a headline which allegedly disrespected Princess Masako.

* Nihon Kominto ( _ja. 日本皇民党 “Japan Emperor's Citizen Party”) ( [http://home9.highway.ne.jp/MIKI/] ) - affiliated to the Inagawa-kai syndicate. In 1987, it conducted a bizarre campaign to smear Noboru Takeshita during his quest for the position of Prime Minister, by constantly broadcasting excessive praise of Takeshita using twenty loudspeaker trucks. The broadcasts were stopped after the intervention of Shin Kanemaru. This incident led to a series of political scandals which eventually highlighted the involvement of organised crime in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. [http://www.rcrinc.com/tanaka/ch5-4.html] . In April 2004, a bus belonging to the group rammed the gate of the Chinese consulate in Osaka, damaging the gate. [http://english.people.com.cn/200404/23/eng20040423_141323.shtml] Police arrested Nobuyuki Nakagama, the driver, and Ko Chong-Su, a Korean member of the group, for orchestrating the attack.

* Taikōsha ( _ja. 大行社)( [http://www.taikousya-sumera.com/] ) - a Tokyo-based organisation with about 700 members, officially affiliated to the Inagawa-kai syndicate.

* Seikijuku ( _ja. 正氣塾) [http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~seiron/] - a group based in Nagasaki Prefecture set up in 1981. Responsible for a number of violent incidents, including the 1991 near-fatal shooting of the mayor of Nagasaki who stated that Emperor Hirohito was responsible for the war.

Other groups

* National Socialist Japanese Workers and Welfare Party ( _ja. 国家社会主義日本労働者党 "Kokka Shakaishugi Nippon Rōdōsha-Tō") ( [http://www.nsjap.jp/index.html] ) - a small neo-Nazi party. Its website shows a unique blend of Japanese nationalism and Nazi philosophy.

* International Federation for Victory Over Communism ( _ja. 国際勝共連合 "Kokusai Shōkyō Rengō") ( [http://www.ifvoc.org] ) - Set up in South Korea and Japan in 1968 by Sun Myung Moon, the founder of Unification Church. The Japanese chapter was set up following a meeting between Moon and Ryoichi Sasakawa, an ultranationalist businessman, and Yoshio Kodama, a leading figure in organised crime. These two figures, both suspected class-A war criminals due to their involvement in drug smuggling operations in China during the war, headed the organisation. [http://rightweb.irc-online.org/groupwatch/ucm.php#P10115_2011819] In 1969, it campaigned to close the (pro-Pyongyang) Korean University in Japan which was run by Chongryon, a pro-Pyongyang Korean group in Japan. In 1971 it organised hunger strikes to protest against Japan's official recognition of the People's Republic of China. The group advocates a nuclear armed Japan and solidarity with United States and South Korea.

Gallery

See also

*Japanese nationalism
*Japanese militarism

References

* [http://www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~edjacob/fringe.html]

External links

* [http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/discussionpapers/McNeill.html Media Intimidation in Japan] article by David McNeill
* [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20061022x5.html Building 'crisis' mood] article by Eric Prideaux
* [http://www.shef.ac.uk/content/1/c6/05/02/57/Wakisaka.pdf Uyoku: The Japanese Right Wing] article by Mai Wakisaka
* [http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/discussionpapers/2007/Shibuichi.html The Uyoku Ronin Do] article by Daiki Shibuichi