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by Ikki Kita (Author)
Ikki Kita is remembered today as one of the preeminent fathers of ultranationalist Japanese ideology, whose ideas profoundly influenced Imperial Japan during the reign of Hideki Tojo. Written in 1906 when Kita was only twenty-three years old, The Theory of Japan's National Polity and Pure Socialism presented a bold and provocative manifesto for a new Japan-one that harmonized the ancient spirit of the nation's imperial heritage with a radical blueprint for social equality and national sovereignty based in evolutionary theory. At the time it was released, this book created a firestorm of controversy within Japan for its radical ideology, today understood as a form of Japanese fascism, as well its incendiary critique of the prevailing power structure and governance system, known as kokutai, which Kita argued served the interests of the ruling elite rather than the people.
Kita's work is both a piercing criticism of the corruption and historical insufficiency of his contemporary society, as well as a daring and timeless proposal for a far-reaching political and social revolution. With penetrating insight into Japan's unique national character, and a commitment to justice for all citizens, he advocates for a sweeping transformation that would dismantle the entrenched Meiji power structures and elevate the nation to its rightful place in history. To do so, he promotes a principled syncretism of the political left and right, fusing together an unprecedented vision for a mighty Japan.
Antelope Hill is proud to present The Theory of Japan's National Polity and Pure Socialism for the first time in the English language. The massive scope of this work, indispensable for understanding the ideology of Imperial Japan, illuminates the social and political context of its time, and its philosophical underpinnings remain just as relevant today in an age of continued inequality and erosion of national sovereignty.
