Anti-monarchism in Japan

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{{Primary sources|date=June 2015}}

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Anti-monarchism in Japan (天皇制廃止論, Ten'nōsei haishi-ron, lit. "Emperor system abolition theory") or anti-Emperor system (反天皇制, Han ten'nōsei) was a minor force during the twentieth century.{{Citation needed|reason=Ambiguous statement that need further clarification|date=July 2024}}

History

In 1908, a letter allegedly written by Japanese revolutionaries denied the Emperor's divinity, and threatened his life.{{cite web|url= http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114106592?searchTerm=japanese%20anarchist%20emperor%20god&searchLimits=|title= PLOT AGAINST THE MIKADO. ALLEGED ANARCHIST ASSOCIATION. AMONG JAPANESE IN AMERICA.|publisher= Evening News|date= 17 January 1908}} In 1910, Kōtoku Shūsui and 10 others plotted to assassinate the Emperor.{{cite web|url= http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/322882/Kotoku-Shusui=|title= Kōtoku Shūsui |publisher= Encyclopædia Britannica}} In 1923, 1925 and 1932 Emperor Hirohito survived assassination attempts.{{cite book |title=Japan and the High Treason Incident|author= Masako Gavin, Ben Middleton|publisher= Routledge|date= Aug 21, 2013}}

After World War II, the communists were antagonistic to the Emperor. The Japanese Communist Party demanded the abolition of the emperor system.{{cite web|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1970&dat=19460223&id=2kkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OeQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2440,4265786&hl=en|title= Japanese Communist Party Asks End of Feudal System|publisher= Berkeley Daily Gazette |date=February 23, 1946 }} They boycotted the formal opening of the National Diet in 1949 because of Emperor Shōwa's (Hirohito's) presence.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19490321&id=_SBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IpMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2468,2992655&hl=en|title= Anti-Hirohito Diet Boycott|publisher= The Sydney Morning Herald|date= March 21, 1949}} The Japanese Communist Party continued to be antagonistic after Emperor Shōwa's death in 1989.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/08/world/japan-s-role-a-milestone-hirohito-s-death-puts-focus-on-new-identity.html?pagewanted=all|title= JAPAN'S ROLE: A MILESTONE; Hirohito's Death Puts Focus on New Identity|work= The New York Times |date= January 8, 1989 }}

During the Imperial visits to Otsu, Japan in 1951, and Hokkaido in 1954, Communist posters and handbills antagonistic to the Imperial Family Members were plastered in the cities.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19511116&id=ODBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uwsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6844,4330361&hl=en|title= Horrified Citizens Scrub Walls of Opposition As Hirohito Visits|publisher= Eugene Register-Guard|date= November 16, 1951}}{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19540809&id=UcZRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7WoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1199,5512975&hl=en|title=Hirohito, Wife Tour Island|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= August 9, 1954}}

In 1951, three thousand students in Kyoto University protested against Emperor Shōwa's continued reign.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19511113&id=R8NRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m2oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3859,2047735&hl=en|title= 3,000 Leftist Students Heckle Japanese Emperor|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date= November 13, 1951}}

See also

References

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