Miura Goro’s Argument on Equipping for War in his Heibiron

– An Analysis of his Notion of “Gokyougun” as the National Defense Strategy –

Abstract

In his Heibiron or On Preparing for War, Miura Goro, one of Generals of Meiji, made a proposal concerning the strategy of national defense. His way of thinking about this matter placed him outside the mainstream of the army because it was quite different from that of the leading faction at the period of mid-Meiji. This group of people, such as Yamagata Aritomo, Katsura Taro, envisioned a strategy of national defense in which mobile power of divisions was to be kept in proper control. In contrast, Miura stressed the importance of a defense strategy which would make it possible to destroy invading enemy or enemies most efficiently at the point where they were to land the island country. This argument led to the idea of establishing “Gokyougun” (national defense army) which consisted of one million people. In this article the author considers Miura’s notion of this strategy and his reasons for thinking it necessary, finally making clear that a radical change in the concept of war was going on in his thought and arguments.