1. Overview
Nissho Inoue (井上 日召Inoue NisshōJapanese, April 12, 1886 - March 4, 1967) was a radical Buddhist preacher affiliated with Nichirenism, a political activist, and a terrorist who founded the interwar Japanese far-right militant organization known as the {{lang|ja|血盟団|Ketsumeidan|League of Blood}}. Despite his self-styled designation as a preacher, he was never formally ordained as a Nichiren priest, and his extremist doctrines were widely condemned by the mainstream Nichiren Buddhist establishment of his era. Inoue's actions, particularly his advocacy for "One Man, One Assassination" and the subsequent League of Blood Incident, significantly contributed to the escalating political violence in pre-war Japan, marking a critical period of democratic decline and the rise of ultranationalism. This article critically examines his life, ideology, and the profound impact of his activities on Japanese society and its democratic institutions.
2. Biography
Nissho Inoue's life was marked by a progression from early academic pursuits to a radicalized religious and political path, culminating in his role as a key figure in Japan's pre-war extremist movements.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Inoue was born Inoue Shirō (later adopting the name Akira, and then Nisshō, meaning "Called by the Sun") on April 12, 1886, in Kawaba, Gunma Prefecture. He was the third son in a family, with his father being a rural doctor. His second elder brother, Fumio Inoue, served as a Navy Lieutenant Commander.
2.2. Education
After completing his studies at the Tone Branch of the former Maebashi Junior High School, Inoue graduated from the main school. He subsequently attended Waseda University and Toyo Cooperative (present-day Takushoku University), though he ultimately abandoned his formal studies at both institutions.
2.3. Manchurian Experience and Return to Japan
From 1909 to 1920, Inoue traveled to Manchuria, where he spent time as a vagabond. During this period, he found employment with the South Manchuria Railway, engaging in intelligence activities. He returned to Japan in 1920.
3. Ideology and Philosophy
Nissho Inoue's ideology evolved from a search for spiritual truth to a radicalized vision of national reform, deeply influenced by Nichiren Buddhism and a belief in violent revolution.
3.1. Formation of Thought
Upon his return to Japan, Inoue initially sought to become a Zen priest. However, he later converted to Nichiren Buddhism. This conversion led him to relocate to Miho, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he studied under the prominent Nichiren scholar and nationalist preacher Tanaka Chigaku at his Kokuchukai Academy. During this period, Inoue also met Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. Despite his initial engagement, Inoue soon grew disillusioned with Tanaka's teachings. Around 1924, after a conversation with journalist Chisen Asahina, he decided to adopt the name Nissho Inoue. It was also around this time that he reportedly experienced a mystical recovery from an illness, which led him to begin performing Kaji Kito (healing prayers). In 1925, he co-founded Gokokuseisha (護国聖社GokokuseishaJapanese) with Tokujiro Takai, who was then secretary to Mitsuaki Tanaka, and attempted to establish a dojo, but this endeavor failed.
3.2. Risshō Gokokudō and Activities
In 1928, Inoue relocated to Ōarai, Ibaraki, where he established his own temple, {{lang|ja|立正護国堂|Risshō Gokokudō|Righteous National Defense Temple}}. This temple, built with funding from 水浜電車Suihama DenshaJapanese (Waterhama Electric Railway) through the efforts of Mitsuaki Tanaka, also served as a youth training center. Inoue primarily wished to dedicate himself to its activities as a dojo, advocating for a militarist revolution in Japan and performing Kaji Kito. Through Mitsuaki Tanaka's assistance, he became acquainted with influential right-wing figures such as Shūmei Ōkawa and Ikki Kita. He also garnered enthusiastic support from radical young officers stationed at the nearby Tsuchiura Naval Base, including Lieutenant Sai Fujii. Inoue further connected with figures like Kozaburo Tachibana, the head of Aikokujuku, and together they became convinced that violent action was the only viable path to reform the Japanese government.
3.3. Ketsumeidan Ideology
Inoue's radical ideology culminated in the formation of the Ketsumeidan, which espoused the motto "One Man, One Assassination" (一人一殺Ichinin IssatsuJapanese). This principle, sometimes expanded to "One Man, One Assassination, Many Lives" (一人一殺一殺多生Ichinin Issatsu Issatsu TasōJapanese), aimed at achieving a national transformation through targeted assassinations. The group's primary objective was the violent overthrow of the political and economic elite of the time, whom they believed were corrupting Japan.
4. Major Activities and Incidents
Nissho Inoue's extremist ideology translated into concrete acts of political violence, most notably the League of Blood Incident, which contributed to a climate of instability that led to further assassinations.
4.1. Formation of Ketsumeidan
In 1930, Inoue moved to Tokyo and began forming the Ketsumeidan, actively recruiting members from among radical university students. The organization was officially established in 1932, with a core group of 13 young officers, including Sho Onuma and Goro Hishinuma. Initially, the group planned a large-scale terror attack for 紀元節KigensetsuJapanese (Foundation Day) in February 1932. However, when the feasibility of this collective action became uncertain, they shifted their strategy to individual assassinations of prominent figures.
4.2. League of Blood Incident
The Ketsumeidan initiated its first wave of assassinations in early 1932. On February 9, former Finance Minister Junnosuke Inoue was shot and killed. This was followed on March 5 by the assassination of Baron Dan Takuma, the Director General of the Mitsui zaibatsu. These two high-profile killings became collectively known as the League of Blood Incident.
4.3. Connection to the May 15 Incident
Nissho Inoue was arrested shortly after the assassination of Dan Takuma. Following his arrest, his trusted subordinate, Koga Kiyoshi, assumed leadership of the Ketsumeidan. Koga then proceeded to organize a second wave of assassinations, which culminated in the May 15 Incident on May 15, 1932. During this event, Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi was assassinated, further escalating the political violence and instability that characterized the era.
5. Trial, Imprisonment, and Release
Following his arrest, Nissho Inoue faced trial for his role in the League of Blood Incident, which resulted in a life sentence, though he was later released under amnesty.
In the trial, Rinzai abbot Gempo Yamamoto testified in Inoue's favor, attempting to justify his violent actions from a Zen and imperialist perspective. In November 1934, Inoue and the three Ketsumeidan gunmen involved in the assassinations were sentenced to life imprisonment. The prosecution's attempt to secure death sentences for them was unsuccessful. Other arrested members of the group received lighter sentences. Inoue was eventually released from prison under a special pardon in 1940.
6. Post-War Activities and Retirement
After World War II, Nissho Inoue faced initial suppression by the Allied occupation forces, but later re-emerged as a figure within Japan's right-wing movements before eventually retiring from public life.
6.1. Purge and Rehabilitation
Following Japan's defeat in World War II, Nissho Inoue was identified as a fascist by the US occupational forces. Consequently, he was purged from public life in 1947, which prohibited him from holding public office or engaging in political activities. During this period, he traveled through rural areas, giving lectures to young farmers. Upon the end of the occupation of Japan in 1952, he was rehabilitated, allowing him to resume public activities.
6.2. Post-War Right-wing Activities and Retirement
After his rehabilitation, Inoue remained a prominent figure in right-wing activist circles in post-occupation Japan. In 1953, he was appointed as an advisor to the Ishin Undo Kanto Kyogikai (維新運動関東協議会Ishin Undō Kantō KyōgikaiJapanese, Kanto Council for the Restoration Movement), a right-wing organization. The following year, in 1954, he co-founded the Gokokudan (護国団GokokudanJapanese, National Defense Group) with figures such as Sagaoya Yoshiaki and Genji Kojima, becoming its first leader.
However, in 1956, members of the Gokokudan were repeatedly arrested for various criminal acts, including extortion, confinement, and violence, often for monetary gain or against individuals who refused to join the organization. Although Inoue initially denied knowledge of these incidents, he eventually took responsibility and resigned as the group's leader. This ironically led to the promotion of the frequently arrested vice-leader, Sagaoya Yoshiaki, to the position of leader. Following this, Inoue retired from active right-wing activities and spent his later years receiving financial support from influential figures, including the fixer Giichi Miura.
7. Personal Life and Family
Nissho Inoue's personal life was significantly impacted by his radical political activities, leading to a strained relationship with his family in his later years.
He was married to a former nurse, and together they had one daughter. In the early years of his right-wing activism, the family lived in poverty, with Inoue frequently taking 50 sen from the household expenses for his activities. As time progressed, Inoue spent less time at home. Although his wife worked to support the family, she suffered from spinal caries and was often ill, making it difficult for her to earn enough. Despite this, Inoue would reappear when money was available.
During his first trial for the League of Blood Incident, when he received a life sentence, Inoue reportedly told his lawyer regarding his child, "Though there is a parent, it is a parent of great enlightenment, not troubled by parental affection." When his wife brought their daughter to visit him in prison, he told his daughter, "Your father won't die" and "Listen well to your mother."
However, after his release from prison under special pardon in 1940, Inoue did not return home. Instead, he established new right-wing organizations. In his later life, he took a geisha in Kagurazaka as his mistress, eventually building a house in Kamakura where he lived with her, neglecting his legal family. While his daughter briefly worked as an office clerk for a right-wing group, the poverty of his family continued. Many of his disciples sided with his mistress, and only Sho Onuma of the Ketsumeidan provided support to Inoue's wife and daughter.
8. Writings
Nissho Inoue authored an autobiographical work titled One Man, One Assassination (一人一殺 - 井上日召自伝Ichinin Issatsu - Inoue Nisshō JidenJapanese). This book was published in 1953 by Nihon Shuho-sha, offering insights into his life, motivations, and the radical ideology that underpinned his actions.
9. Evaluation and Criticism
Nissho Inoue's legacy remains controversial, marked by his role in promoting political violence and his rejection by mainstream religious and political circles.
9.1. Criticism from Mainstream Buddhist Circles
Inoue's extremist tenets and his self-proclaimed status as a Buddhist preacher were widely denounced by the mainline Nichiren Buddhist establishment of his time. He was never formally ordained as a Nichiren priest, and his radical interpretations and advocacy for violence stood in stark contrast to the traditional teachings of the sect. This rejection highlights the significant deviation of his ideology from established religious principles.
9.2. Historical Evaluation and Controversy
Historically, Nissho Inoue is viewed as a pivotal figure in the escalation of political violence during the early Shōwa period. His "One Man, One Assassination" ideology and the actions of the Ketsumeidan directly contributed to the climate of instability and terror that gripped Japan, paving the way for further military and ultranationalist influence in politics. While some of his contemporaries, such as the Rinzai abbot Gempo Yamamoto, attempted to justify his violence from a Zen and imperialist viewpoint, mainstream historical assessments critically analyze his role in undermining democratic institutions and fostering a culture of extremism. His classification as a fascist by the Allied occupation forces further underscores the anti-democratic nature of his beliefs and actions. The controversies surrounding his legacy continue to serve as a reminder of the dangers of radical nationalism and political extremism.
10. Impact on Japanese Far-Right Movements
Nissho Inoue's ideology and the actions of the Ketsumeidan had a profound and lasting impact on the development and trajectory of far-right and nationalist movements in Japan. His advocacy for direct action and targeted assassinations provided a template for subsequent extremist groups. The "One Man, One Assassination" motto became a potent symbol for radical elements seeking to achieve political change through violence. Even after his imprisonment and the end of World War II, Inoue's continued involvement in right-wing circles, including his leadership of the Gokokudan, demonstrated his enduring influence. His life and actions are often cited as a significant precursor to the broader trend of political violence and ultranationalism that characterized the lead-up to World War II in Japan, and his ideas continued to resonate within certain segments of the post-war Japanese far-right.
11. Death
Nissho Inoue died on March 4, 1967, at the age of 80, due to a stroke (also described as brain softening).