Japanese Fascism and the Rightist Peasant Movement

Abstract

In this paper, I attempt to examine the feature of Japanese Fascism Movement in the 1930's through the analysis of the rightist peasant movement at Sanbu District in Chiba Prefecture. At that time, the rightist peasants tied up with the fascism political party, advocating "Anti-Capitalism" and "Anti-Marxism." This movement, which is denned here as "Reformative Japanism Movement," opposed the left wing powers and led to the strong distrust towards the existing political system. Furthermore, in this movement, "National Reorganization Plan" was shown with two assertions contrary in essence-one was protection for laborers and peasants, and the other, negation of democratic systems such as election and the Diet-which came to much loyalty to the Emperor. Practically, "Reformative Japanism Movement" succeeded in organizing peasants by establishing agricultural co-operatives and emphasizing their economic effect. Japanese Fascism was realized by means of including mass movement such as "Reformative Japanism Movement," and in that process, To jo Cabinet took the place of Konoe Cabinet.