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This book examines political nationalism in Japan through an in-depth analysis of the organisation, ideology and influence of Nippon Kaigi, the most significant nationalist pressure group in contemporary Japan.
Starting with a review of political nationalism in Japan since 1945, the book then analyses the ideological corpus of Nippon Kaigi, highlighting its unity and coherence as a pressure group and assessing the real influence it exerts on Japanese political life. It goes on to examine the relationship between religion and nationalism and the key role played by various religious organisations within this pressure group, explaining why religious movements that should be in competition with each other manage to collaborate within Nippon Kaigi. Finally, the book turns to the characteristics of Japanese nationalist circles and an assessment of the rise of nationalism in contemporary Japan.
Featuring extensive firsthand interviews with individuals and organisations close to Japanese nationalist circles, this book will appeal to students and scholars of Japanese politics, nationalism and the sociology of religion.
List of contents
1. A brief history of political nationalism (1945-2000) 2. Nippon Kaigi: The most important nationalist pressure group in contemporary Japan 3. Nippon Kaigi: A case representative of the unity and coherence of the ideological corpus of the Japanese nationalist circles 4. Political lobbying by Nippon Kaigi: Between fantasy and reality 5. Religion and nationalism: The place of religious organisations within Nippon Kaigi 6. Japanese political nationalism: An inventory of fixtures
About the author
Thierry Guthmann is a full professor at Mie University, Japan. He is also a research associate at the Institut d'Asie Orientale (CNRS, Lyon, France).
Summary
This book examines political nationalism in Japan through an in-depth analysis of the organisation, ideology and influence of Nippon Kaigi, the most significant nationalist pressure group in contemporary Japan.
