Populist Nationalism in Pre-War Japan

A Biography of Nakano Seigo

Nakano has received very little attention in works in English on the relevant period, as his approaches to effective power were limited while his career also lacks the violent drama associated with movements resorting to terrorism. Even in Japan he has not been made the subject of much academic enquiry. Though remaining a fairly well-known figure he is more generally consigned to the class of ‘ultra-nationalists’ who are blamed for the disaster of Japan’s defeat. This book uses material from the few biographies available in conjunction with some short sketches of Nakano by others, biographies of associates and official publications covering his and related political activities. Primary sources include a representative range of Nakano’s own writings, as well as speeches in the Diet. Interviews with Nakano’s two surviving sons and other close associates also feature.