National Spiritual Mobilization Movement

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“Luxury is our opponent”: poster of the movement of national intellectual mobilization

The movement of national intellectual mobilization ( Japanese 国民 精神 総 動員 運動 Kokumin Seishin Sōdōin Undō ) was an organization of the Empire of Japan as part of the controls of civil organizations. It was based on the National Mobilization Act introduced by Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro .

In October 1937, representatives of 74 nationalist organizations were summoned and told that their institutions were now part of the Central Federation of the Movement of National Intellectual Mobilization and were under the command of Admiral Arima Ryokitsu , the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education . The movement's intent was to prepare the nation for all-out war against China during the Second Sino-Japanese War . Konoe later directed 19 more organizations to join the movement. Like many other movements, it was part of the New Order ( Shintaisei ), which was proclaimed on November 3, 1938.

In addition to public proclamations for greater patriotism, the movement carried out various fixed programs such as Increasing Productivity for the Nation , Increasing Harvests for the Nation, and the Student Volunteer Group to Serve the Nation . It was part of a policy of the Shōwa government towards greater surveillance, which began in 1936 with the formation of the Cabinet Committee for Information and which published two official magazines: Shūhō (newsreel) from November 1936 and Shashin Shūhō (illustrated newsreel). The purpose of these magazines was "to ensure that the content of the laws introduced by the government is made known and properly understood by the general public".

Konoe's successor, Prime Minister Hiranuma Kiichirō , subordinated the movement to General Sadao Araki in January 1939, who expanded its activities by organizing public events, radio programs, printed propaganda and discussion seminars as part of the Tonarigumi . Famous people were recruited to teach the people the virtues of thrift, hygiene, hard work and patriotism.

The movement was officially disbanded by the American occupation authorities on December 20, 1945 after the surrender of Japan .

Remarks

  1. ^ A b David C. Earhart: Certain Victory . ME Sharpe, 2008, p. 108

literature

  • Sandra Buck: Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture . Routledge, 2001
  • Peter Duus: The Cambridge History of Japan . Cambridge University Press, 1989
Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . Thus Konoe is the family name, Fumimaro the first name.