Sasaki Soichi in his postwar years: in the context of his relations with Konoe Fumimaro

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Other Title
  • 敗戦前後の佐々木惣一--近衛文麿との関係を中心に
  • ハイセン ゼンゴ ノ ササキ ソウイチ コノエ フミマロ ト ノ カンケイ オ チュウシン ニ

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Sasaki Soichi was a constitutionalist, who stood at the forefront of the "Taisho Democracy" movement. He struggled in particular to establish academic freedom and university autonomy, The fact is not well-know, however, that this leading constitutionalist established some cooperative relationship with Konoe Fumimaro, who led Japan to a full-scale war with China, and entered into the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Italy. Their relations dated back to 1939, when Konoe visited Sasaki in Kyoto to consult on the issue of unconstitutionality of his nomination as a minister without portfolio, Some frictions notwithstanding, the cooperative relationship between these two figures developed during the war years, In 1944 Sasaki supported Konoe's plans to bring down the Tojo cabinet, and to bring a quick end to World War II. After the war, they worked together in the Office of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (Naidaijin-fu) on revision of the Meiji Constitution. When General MacArthur requested Konoe to revise the Constitution, he chose Sasaki as his consultant. They both agreed on introducing democracy and liberalism to the constitution, while keeping its existing framework of the "national polity" (kokutai), and the imperial sovereignty. They also opted for the Emperor's abdication on the ground of his was responsibility. Their work came to end with the dissolution of Naidaijin-fu.After Konoe's suhcide, Sasaki insisted on a revision of the Imperial Household Law to make the Emperor's abdication possible. While critical of the concept of popular sovereignty in the new Constitution of Japan, he supported its democratic contents and calle on the nation to respect it.

Journal

  • 人文學報

    人文學報 98 117-142, 2009-12-30

    THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES, KYOTO UNIVERSITY

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