| Item title: | The Emperor cult as a present factor in Japanese military psychology |
| Title (kanji) |  |
| Location: | Australian War Memorial (AWM55 12/53 part 3) View information about obtaining a copy of this document |
AJRP details | |
| AJRP module: | Australian War Memorial official records |
| AJRP series: | Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) publications |
| AJRP sub-series: | ATIS research reports |
| AJRP folder: | |
Location details | |
| Institution: | Australian War Memorial |
| Call number: | AWM55 12/53 part 3 |
| Inst. series: | AWM55 |
| Inst. sub-series: | AWM55 12/- |
| Item: | RR-76 part 2 |
Item qualities | |
| Quantity / desc: | 39 pages |
| Access: | Open |
| Item type: | Unpublished, Official |
| Category: | Information report |
Item content | |
| Creation date (d/m/y): | 21/6/1944 |
| Conflict code: | Pacific War (1941-1945) |
| Keywords: | IMPERIALISM, POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES, MILITARY TRAINING, MILITARISM, PROPAGANDA, MORALE |
| Australian unit names: | |
| Allied unit names: | |
| Japanese unit names: | |
| Names: | HIRANUMA Kiichiro; ARAKAI Sadao |
| Languages: | English |
| Area: | Japan–Formosa Milne Bay [Melanesia (PNG, Irian Jaya & Solomon Islands), Papua] |
| Content: | This is an Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) research report issued on 21 June 1944 on the Emperor cult and its influence on Japanese military conduct, and forms part of a 6-part series intended to give a documented exposition of Japanese psychology. The report contains information on the following themes: the nature and purpose of the Emperor cult, the Emperor as a symbol of national unity and Supreme Commander in Chief, the constitutional position of the Emperor, the imperial rescript issued to Japanese servicemen, the Emperor cult in practice and the means by which indoctrination takes place, the implications of "Kodo: the imperial way", Japan's immediate war objectives as defined in the Imperial Edict, and evidence that the Japanese pursued a policy of world domination. The report concluded that Japanese leaders planned for world domination since 1858 and capitalised on the belief of the Divinity of the Emperor. That belief was used to foster national unity, foster a conviction of ultimate victory, develop the idea that each Japanese is personally responsible for carrying out the Emperor's wishes, and foster a conviction of uniqueness and superiority. The appendix includes an extract from Japanese statesman and Minister in the YAMAMOTO Cabinet (1923) HIRANUMA Kiichiro entitled "The path of righteousness", the constitutional provisions relating to the Emperor, an extract from the "Japan Year Book 1939-40" on the political power of the Japanese Army, an extract from a notebook captured at Milne Bay in September 1942 on the Japanese form of government and the "Kodo", the text of a morale lecture on loyalty and filial piety, and excerpts from a pamphlet by ARAKAI Sadao entitled "To the entire Japanese race". |
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Other information | |
| Notes: | |
| Last modified: | 03/05/2009 09:06:31 AM |
| Source: | AJRP staff |
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