Political prisoners in Imperial Japan explained

Political prisoners in Imperial Japan were detained and prosecuted by the government of the Empire of Japan for dissent, attempting to change the national character of Japan, Communist activity, or association with a group whose stated aims included the aforementioned goals. Following the dissolution of the Empire of Japan after World War II, all remaining political prisoners were released by policies issued under the Allied occupation of Japan.

Meiji period – Shōwa period

Beginning in the Meiji period, the government of the Empire of Japan detained Japanese residents suspected of political dissidence.^[1]

In 1925, the Peace Preservation Law was passed. Article 1 of the law stipulates that:

"Anyone who organises an association with the objective of change the kokutai or denying the private property system, or who joins such an association with full knowledge of its objectives, shall be liable to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not exceeding ten years."^[2]

Only about 5,000 out of more than 74,000 suspected violators of the Peace Preservation Law between 1928 and 1941 were prosecuted.^[3]

Those who recanted were either released or received short prison terms.^[4]

On 4 October 1945, the GHQ issued the Removal of Restrictions on Political, Civil, and Religious Liberties directive, which stipulated the release of political prisoners.^[5] It was estimated that 2,500 to 3,000^[6] political prisoners were in prison by the end of the war.^[7] Following the release of political prisoners on 10 October 1945, the GHQ enacted the "Restoration of Electoral Rights to Released Political Prisoners."^[8]

Notable political prisoners

• Shigeo Kamiyama
• Shoichi Ichikawa
  • Kiyoshi Miki Jun Tosaka

Notable prisons

• Sugamo Prison
• Fuchu Prison

Memoirs

• Eighteen Years in Prison (Gokuchu juhachi-nen) by Kyuichi Tokuda and Yoshio Shiga. Published by the Japanese Communist Party in 1948.

See also

• Japanese dissidence during the Shōwa period
• Political repression in Imperial Japan

Further reading

• Milorad M. Drachkovitchy (1986). Biographical Dictionary of the Comintern. Hoover Press. .
• Book: Gayn, Mark. Japan Diary. Mark Gayn. Tuttle Publishing. Dec 15, 1989 . 8–13.
• Book: Allied Occupation of Japan. Takemae, Eiji . A&C Black. 2003.
• Book: Tolerance, Suspicion, and Hostility: Changing U.S. Attitudes toward the Japanese Communist Movement, 1944-1947: Changing U.S. Attitudes toward the Japanese Communist Movement, 1944-1947. Henry Oinas-Kukkonen. ABC-CLIO. Mar 30, 2003.
• Book: Revolution and Subjectivity in Postwar Japan. J. Victor Koschmann. University of Chicago Press. Dec 1, 1996.
• Book: Politics and Culture in Wartime Japan . Ben-Ami Shillony . Oxford University Press. 1991 . 13.
• Book: Janus-Faced Justice: Political Criminals in Imperial Japan . Richard H. Mitchell. University of Hawaii Press . 1992 . 154.

External links

• 10 October 1945 . Fuchu Prison Exterior Shiga Yoshio previous release 球一 Tokuda 球一 addressed Tokuda. ja. Wazee Digital Commerce.
• 7 November 1945. Fuchu Prison inmate Kyuichi Tokuda expresses joy at his release while former inmate Tosaji Obara, finance director of the Japan Holiness Church, says his religious beliefs were suppressed while he was incarcerated.. ja. NHK.
• Web site: Japanese Diet Called Farce. The Tuscaloosa News. 5 October 1945.
• Web site: Japs to Free 3000 Political Prisoners New Premier Set To Pick Cabinet . The Pittsburgh Press . 7 October 1945.
• Web site: Four Jap Prisons Open Their Doors. Lawrence Journal-World . 10 October 1945.
• Web site: EMACIATED INTELLECTUALS LEAVE PRISON CAMPS. The Age . 10 October 1945.
• Web site: JAPAN TO URGE TRADE OF SILK FOR VITAL FOOD To Ask Permission for Barter System; Communists Would Get Rid of Mikadoism. The Montreal Gazette . Oct 4, 1945.
• Web site: PRISONERS WERE MISTREaTED BY JAPS EVEN IN 1929. Queensland Times . Oct 5, 1945.
• Web site: TOKYO COMMUNISTS, KOREANS SHOUT OPPOSITION TO HIROHITO. Spokane Daily Chronicle. 10 October 1945 .
• Web site: CONTROL OF JAPAN Political Prisoners ENFORCING ORDER FOR RELEASE. Kalgoorlie Miner. 17 October 1945 .
• Web site: Oust Mikado, Jap Reds' Tip Want Communist Nation. The Milwaukee Journal. Oct 4, 1945.
• Web site: COMMUNISTS SAY BLOOD WILL FLOW IN JAPAN. The Evening Advocate . Oct 4, 1945 .
• Web site: Trial of War Criminals To Start Soon in Japan. St. Petersburg Times . Oct 3, 1945.
• Web site: Nippon Communists March Through Allied-Ruled Tokyo, Ask Removal of Jap Emperor. The Bulletin. Oct 10, 1945.
• Web site: Fetters Taken From the Japs by MacArthur. The Milwaukee Journal. 6 October 1945.
• Web site: CAN"T HAVE DEMOCRACY AND HIROHITO, JAPS SAY. Toronto Daily Star. 4 October 1945.
• Web site: American Experience . MacArthur. PBS.

Notes and References

1. Book: The Japanese Police State: Tokko in Interwar. Elise K. Tipton. University of Hawaii Press. 1990.
2. Book: The Japanese Police State: Tokko in Interwar . . Elise K. Tipton . 1990. 62.
3. Book: The Japanese Police State: Tokko in Interwar . . Elise K. Tipton . 1990. 28–33.
4. Book: Politics and culture in wartime Japan . . Ben Ami Shillony . 1981. 13.
5. Web site: 5-3 The Occupation and the Beginning of Reform – Modern Japan in archives. National Diet Library. 19 December 2014.
6. Web site: Glossary – Birth of the Constitution of Japan. National Diet Library. 19 December 2014.
7. Book: Politics and Culture in Wartime Japan . Ben-Ami Shillony . Oxford University Press. 1991 . 13.
8. Book: Allied Occupation of Japan. Takemae, Eiji . A&C Black. 2003.