Perceptions of Peace in Postwar Japan as Seen through Nihon Oyobi Nihonjin

This study analyzes the debates over the concepts of peace and security among Japanese intellectuals in the immediate postwar period, based on selected articles from Nihon Oyobi Nihonjin published between January and December 1951. Out of approximately 122 articles, those addressing issues of peace and rearmament were chosen for detailed examination. The year 1951 is a particularly significant period, as the Korean War and the San Francisco Peace Treaty spurred active discussions among intellectuals concerning Japan’s future national course. Nihon Oyobi Nihonjin, a political commentary magazine founded by Seikyōsha in 1907, served as a forum where elite politicians, bureaucrats, educators, and intellectuals discussed national strategies and the direction of postwar Japan. Focusing on articles dealing with international affairs, perceptions of peace, debates over disarmament, and socialist perspectives on peace, this study seeks to elucidate the concept of pacifism as perceived by early postwar Japanese intellectuals, as well as to uncover its internal contradictions and limitations. Ultimately, this analysis aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the nature and origins of postwar Japanese pacifist discourse.