TAISEI YOKUSANKAI

The 'Taisei Yokusankai' (大政翼賛会 'Imperial Rule Assistance Association', or 'Imperial Aid Association') was created in 1940 by Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoye. He decided to end party politics in Japan; under the ''Shintaisei'' Doctrine he moved to dissolve all the traditional parties. As a replacement there was the ''Taisei Yokusankai'', a "right-socialist" entity or umbrella group. Its creation therefore was equivalent to making the Empire of Japan a single-party state.

Contents

Origins of the movement

Ideas of the movement

Political trajectory of the organization

Main members

See also

Origins of the movement

The movement arose during conferences in Karuizawa
between Konoye, and his political colleagues Fumio Goto, Count Yoriyasu Arima and ex-syndicalist and right-wing spokesman Fusanosuke Kuhara. The conception was of a movement divided into two wings: one a socialist and populist left wing, led by Kingoro Hashimoto and the other a traditionalist right wing led by Senjuro Hayashi, for the capitalist interest. Another leading figures in the movement was Heisuke Yanagawa amongst Nobuyuki Abe were last if became the president of the political movement.

Ideas of the movement

Konoye wanted a unique party in government. This party would be formed by a unification of all bureaucrats and politicians in accord with Imperial Doctrine of Japan. All opinions should come to consensus in a common cause. At the same time all independent trades unions that still existed were banned, being replaced by a centralized 'patriotic' syndicate in support of the war efforts, the Nation Service Society. The "Consensus State" doctrines in Japan resulted from the war situation, and were essentially defensive in nature.
The organization had uniform in a khaki colour and organized in "civil regiments" inside in "patriotic armies" for worked in inner front under a "New objective in the life for media of Collectivism" and "Realization of Justice in the live". In the last period of conflict the membership received military training and was projected to integrate with civil militia in case of American invasion.
Associated were the "National Belief Mobilization" and Spiritual Mobilization under slogans such as "Yamato damashii" (Yamato Spirit), "Kodoha" (Imperial Way), "Hakko Ichiu" (eight squares under one roof), "Saisei-Itchi" (Government-Religion Unity), and also the Amau Doctrine (an Asian Monroe Doctrine).

Political trajectory of the organization

When the organization was launched officially, and Konoye hailed as a "political saviour" of a nation in chaos, internal divisions appeared. Political and doctrinal fights broke out when leftists declared open war on rightists who represented the capitalists and traditionalists in the Japanese Diet. But these organizations did maintain their structure and activities, under direct control of the military and their supporters, for the rest of the war years.

Main members

'Leadership Council'

★ Fumimaro Konoye

★ Yoriyasu Arima

★ Fumio Goto

★ Senjuro Hayashi

★ Kingoro Hashimoto
'Left-Wing Faction'

★ Kingoro Hashimoto

★ Fusanosuke Kuhara

★ Naoki Hoshino

★ Akira Kazami

★ Ichizo Kobayashi

★ Shozo Murata
'Right-Wing Faction'

★ Senjuro Hayashi

★ Heisuke Yanagawa

★ Nobuyuki Abe

★ Masatsune Ogura

See also

★ Kodoha

★ League of Diet Members Believing the Objectives of the Holy War