Nationalist Thought in Prewar Japan

Abstract

This study clarifies the nature and political effect of nationalist political thought in prewar Japan (1800-1941). A common belief that Japanese nationalism is of a particular nature unique to Japan, and that it is anti-liberal-democratic, feudal, hierarchical, and militaristic is denied. My study instead argues that Japanese nationalism was highly modern in the flexible way it maintained substantial influence throughout the Meiji-to-1945 period, whether the ruling power and order were more liberal-democratic or more totalitarian-militaristic at a given time.

Keywords: Nationalism, Ultra-nationalism, Constitutional Democracy, Japanese Fascism, Militarism

JEL Classification: B15, B25, N45