The Subordinate Self and the Immortal Nation: The Intellectual Origins of Japanese Ultranationalism, 1895-1930

Abstract

What was the foundation of Japanese ultranationalism, which started to spread its roots between 1895 and 1930? Ultranationalism is an ideological monism which downplays or even denies other components of human identity, and de facto views human beings not as individuals, but as cells within a national organism. This thesis argues that Japanese ultranationalism emerged from the belief of subordinate Self and collective immortality. Nine Japanese thinkers from different backgrounds, born in 1860-80s, shared the idea of subordinate Self and collective immortality as a premise for their respective arguments. Historiology of Japanese ultranationalism has focused on specific groups of people within the Japanese society to create a clearer picture of Japanese ultranationalism. Namely, they were the Emperor, the military personnels, Shintōists, and terrorists. This thesis builds on these previous studies to discover the underpinning idea of subordinate Self and collective immortality shared throughout Japanese society, regardless of their social status.