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IN SEARCH of SUITABLE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP Japanese Conservatives in Occupation Plans and Policies 1942–1947

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IN SEARCH of SUITABLE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP Japanese Conservatives in Occupation Plans and Policies 1942–1947 B 93 OULU 2010 B 93 UNIVERSITY OF OULU P.O.B. 7500 FI-90014 UNIVERSITY OF OULU FINLAND ACTA UNIVERSITATIS OULUENSIS ACTA UNIVERSITATIS OULUENSIS ACTA SERIES EDITORS HUMANIORAB Juha Saunavaara ASCIENTIAE RERUM NATURALIUM JuhaSaunavaara Professor Mikko Siponen IN SEARCH OF SUITABLE BHUMANIORA POLITICAL LEADERSHIP University Lecturer Elise Kärkkäinen CTECHNICA JAPANESE CONSERVATIVES IN OCCUPATION Professor Pentti Karjalainen PLANS AND POLICIES 1942–1947 DMEDICA Professor Helvi Kyngäs ESCIENTIAE RERUM SOCIALIUM Senior Researcher Eila Estola FSCRIPTA ACADEMICA Information officer Tiina Pistokoski GOECONOMICA University Lecturer Seppo Eriksson EDITOR IN CHIEF University Lecturer Seppo Eriksson PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Publications Editor Kirsti Nurkkala FACULTY OF HUMANITIES, GENERAL HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF OULU ISBN 978-951-42-6174-9 (Paperback) ISBN 978-951-42-6175-6 (PDF) ISSN 0355-3205 (Print) ISSN 1796-2218 (Online) ACTA UNIVERSITATIS OULUENSIS B Humaniora 93 JUHA SAUNAVAARA IN SEARCH OF SUITABLE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP Japanese conservatives in occupation plans and policies 1942–1947 Academic dissertation to be presented with the assent of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Oulu for public defence in Kuusamonsali (Auditorium YB210), Linnanmaa, on 29 May 2010, at 12 noon UNIVERSITY OF OULU, OULU 2010 Copyright © 2010 Acta Univ. Oul. B 93, 2010 Supervised by Professor Olavi K. Fält Reviewed by Professor Chiharu Inaba Associate Professor Yoneyuki Sugita ISBN 978-951-42-6174-9 (Paperback) ISBN 978-951-42-6175-6 (PDF) http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9789514261756/ ISSN 0355-3205 (Printed) ISSN 1796-2218 (Online) http://herkules.oulu.fi/issn03553205/ Cover design Raimo Ahonen JUVENES PRINT TAMPERE 2010 Saunavaara, Juha, In search of suitable political leadership. Japanese conser- vatives in occupation plans and policies 1942–1947 Faculty of Humanities, General History, University of Oulu, P.O.Box 1000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland Acta Univ. Oul. B 93, 2010 Oulu, Finland Abstract The emergence of a cabinet and political parties that could be called democratic was one of the focal objectives for the Allied Occupation of Japan that lasted from 1945 until 1952. Cooperation with the local political actors was also necessitated by the model of indirect rule through domestic institutions that was adopted. The occupation authorities were actively seeking suitable political leadership to govern Japan and were ready to intervene in the development of Japan’s domestic politics for the sake of achieving their goals. Great efforts were, however, made not to distract the democratic façade that covered the undemocratic and non-transparent behind-the-scenes orders. It was important to make the selection of the new political leadership to appear as something that originated from the freely expressed will of the Japanese people. This dissertation offers the first narrative identifying and analyzing the characteristics of the occupation authorities’ policy concerning the Japanese conservatives at the beginning of the occupation. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the planning period’s influence on the actual occupation policy and introduces a wartime discussion concerning the Japanese conservatives. The process of sorting out the most suitable Japanese leaders in 1942 –1947 can be divided into several phases. What was considered suitable varied during different times, but what was expected from the suitable Japanese leadership remained rather unchanged. The planners of the occupation looked for moderate conservatives: who were to be thanked for Japan’s prewar steps toward democracy; who were not to be blamed for the war; and who were to help in the reconstruction process. At the beginning of the occupation, the occupation authorities sought for cooperative conservative statesmen who would be ready to follow the wishes of the occupier and yet claim the reforms as their own initiatives. After the first postwar general election in April 1946 this rule had to be connected with the conservative parties. Finally, the occupation authorities began to search for suitable middle-of-the-road conservatives who could, together with the right-wing of the Socialist Party, continue the previous cabinet’s work while ensuring the social stability and the success of reforms in the changing situation. Keywords: allied occupation, conservative parties, Japan, planning, policy, politicians, politics and government, United States, 1942–1947 Acknowledgements University of Oulu and its Department of History has been my academic home since September 2000. However, even before I began my studies in the department, Professor Olavi K. Fält had brought my interest in the history of Japan through his written production. Therefore, it is a great honor for me to call him my supervisor. Besides, there are two significant persons without whose contributions I could not defend my Ph.D. dissertation. Therefore, Professor Inaba Chiharu from Meijo University, my respected opponent, and Associate Professor Sugita Yoneyuki from Osaka University, my equally respected pre-reviewer, deserve my gratitude. I wish also to express my gratitude to the other staff members of the Department of History. Especially I would like to thank Kari Alenius, Henry Oinas-Kukkonen and Tuula Okkonen who have all commented on different parts of my manuscript. Further, Merja Hynynen and Seija Jalagin have supported my Japan-related studies. I am naturally indebted to my first Japanese teacher Junko Sopo who was also there to open the gate to Japan. Moreover, I would like to thank the group of Ph.D. students with whom I had the possibility to gather together to ponder questions related to the philosophy of history. This dissertation owes a great part also to another institution that brings together Finnish experts of Japan and Asia. The Graduate School of Contemporary Asian Studies did not only enable my daily work by providing a salary, but brought numerous Finnish and foreign scholars within my reach. This project might have been possible without the school, but the outcome would certainly not have been the same as it is today. In short, I would like to address my thanks to Professor Joseph Y.S. Cheng from the City University of Hong Kong, members of the board 2006–2009 (Professor Juha Janhunen, Dr. Erja Kettunen-Matilainen, Professor Pekka Korhonen, Professor Klaus Mühlhan, Docent Eero Palmujoki, Professor Liisa Salo-Lee, Professor Eduard B. Vermeer, Professor Dong Wang), coordinator Marita Siika and my fellow students (Anu, Eevamaria, Gyamtso, Johanna, Juha V, Minna L-L, Minna V, Outi, Riiku, Rio). This project would not have been possible without financial support from foundations who believed in the importance of my research and without partners who offered their helping hand to me during my research trips. Therefore, I would like to thank the Japan-Finland Society (Chūjo Watanabe- Scholarship), Oulun yliopiston tukisäätiö, the Sasakawa Foundation and Emil Aaltosen Säätiö whose financial aid made my trips to Japan and to the United States possible. 5 Furthermore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Professor Nishikawa Rieko from Keio University and Sorai Mamoru from Hokkaido University who hosted me in Japan. Numerous other persons have also helped me in both of the above-mentioned universities, but on this occasion I wish also to mention Professor Senaha Eijun from Hokkaido University. In addition, Ogura Yuji from the Senryō – Sengo-shi Kenkyū-kai deserves to be mentioned as he has worked as a link between me and the more experienced Japanese researchers of the field. Finally, I would like to thank Professor Masuda Hiroshi from Toyo Eiwa University, who not only inspired me with his own research, but also commented on my manuscript. I am also greatly indebted to various archivists in the National Diet Library and in the United States National Archives. My friends form an important group that I cannot pass without notice. You made my days so much better, within and outside the university campus. Unfortunately there are too many of you to be mentioned here by name. Nevertheless, I myself feel obligated to make an exception to this rule in the case of two gentlemen I am honored to call, not only my colleagues but also my friends. Scott Wilbur and Chris Winkler pushed me forward in many ways, most importantly by showing examples of how to face the various challenges that come with this kind of project. Last, I wish to thank the ones who have had the greatest influence on my work. No fancy words are needed when I address my gratitude to my parents Pentti and Vuokko and to my siblings Jani and Anne. You know what you mean to me. Likewise, the hundreds of words that could be used to describe my gratitude to my wife Miyako are not necessary as they would not reveal anything you do not already know. Oulu 7.4.2010 Juha Saunavaara 6 Abbreviations ACJ Allied Council for Japan (Tokyo) AFPAC United States Army Forces in the Pacific (also USAFPAC) ATIS Allied Translator and Interpreter Service (SWPA/SCAP) BAE Hans H. Baerwald Papers CAC Country and Area Committees (US State Department) CAD Civil Affairs Division (US War Department) CATS Civil Affairs Training Schools (CAD) CHS Civil Historical Section (SCAP) CIC Counter Intelligence Corps (SCAP) C-in-C Commander-in-Chief CI&E Civil Information and Education Section (SCAP) CIS Civil Intelligence Section (SCAP) CINCAFPAC Commander-in-Chief United States Army Forces in the Pacific CLO Central Liaison Office CUSSDCF Confidential U.S.
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