Political prisoners in Imperial Japan

Political prisoners in Fuchu Prison: Kyuichi Tokuda (second from left), Yoshio Shiga (third from left)

This article needs attention from an expert in history or Japan. The specific problem is: to identify key events and practices relevant to this topic across the entirety of the Meiji period. WikiProject History or WikiProject Japan may be able to help recruit an expert. (June 2018)

|

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.[1] 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

[edit]

Imprisoned leaders of the Japan Communist Party are greeted upon their release from Fuchu Prison. (ca. 10 October 1945)

Beginning in the Meiji period, the government of the Empire of Japan detained Japanese residents suspected of political dissidence.[2]

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."[1]

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

[edit]

* Kyuichi Tokuda
* Yoshio Shiga (communist)
* Shigeo Kamiyama
* Shoichi Ichikawa
* Kiyoshi Miki
* Jun Tosaka

## Notable prisons

[edit]

* Sugamo Prison
* Fuchu Prison

## Memoirs

[edit]

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

## See also

[edit]

* Political dissidence in the Empire of Japan
* Political repression in Imperial Japan

## References

[edit]

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

## Further reading

[edit]

* Milorad M. Drachkovitchy (1986). Biographical Dictionary of the Comintern. Hoover Press. ISBN 9780817984038.
* Gayn, Mark (15 December 1989). Japan Diary. Tuttle Publishing. pp. 8–13.
* Takemae, Eiji (2003). Allied Occupation of Japan. A&C Black.
* Henry Oinas-Kukkonen (30 March 2003). 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. ABC-CLIO.
* J. Victor Koschmann (1 December 1996). Revolution and Subjectivity in Postwar Japan. University of Chicago Press.
* Ben-Ami Shillony (1991). Politics and Culture in Wartime Japan. Oxford University Press. p. 13.
* Richard H. Mitchell (1992). Janus-Faced Justice: Political Criminals in Imperial Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 154.

## External links

[edit]

This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into footnote references. (October 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

* Fuchu Prison Exterior Shiga Yoshio previous release 球一 Tokuda 球一 addressed Tokuda (in Japanese). Wazee Digital Commerce. 10 October 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 (in Japanese). NHK. 7 November 1945.
* "Japanese Diet Called Farce". The Tuscaloosa News. 5 October 1945.
* "Japs to Free 3000 Political Prisoners New Premier Set To Pick Cabinet". The Pittsburgh Press. 7 October 1945.
* "Four Jap Prisons Open Their Doors". Lawrence Journal-World. 10 October 1945.
* "EMACIATED INTELLECTUALS LEAVE PRISON CAMPS". The Age. 10 October 1945.
* "JAPAN TO URGE TRADE OF SILK FOR VITAL FOOD To Ask Permission for Barter System; Communists Would Get Rid of Mikadoism". The Montreal Gazette. 4 October 1945.
* "PRISONERS WERE MISTREaTED BY JAPS EVEN IN 1929". Queensland Times. 5 October 1945.
* "TOKYO COMMUNISTS, KOREANS SHOUT OPPOSITION TO HIROHITO". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 10 October 1945.
* "CONTROL OF JAPAN Political Prisoners ENFORCING ORDER FOR RELEASE". Kalgoorlie Miner. 17 October 1945.
* "Oust Mikado, Jap Reds' Tip Want Communist Nation". The Milwaukee Journal. 4 October 1945.
* "COMMUNISTS SAY BLOOD WILL FLOW IN JAPAN". The Evening Advocate. 4 October 1945.
* "Trial of War Criminals To Start Soon in Japan". St. Petersburg Times. 3 October 1945.
* "Nippon Communists March Through Allied-Ruled Tokyo, Ask Removal of Jap Emperor". The Bulletin. 10 October 1945.
* "Fetters Taken From the Japs by MacArthur". The Milwaukee Journal. 6 October 1945.
* "CAN"T HAVE DEMOCRACY AND HIROHITO, JAPS SAY". Toronto Daily Star. 4 October 1945.
* "American Experience . MacArthur". PBS. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014.