『국체의 본의』에 관한 일고찰

Abstract

“kokutai no hongi” is a textbook of “kokutai” ideology, published by the Ministry of Education, Japan in 1937. It was published as a textbook of spiritual education for expanding imperialism. The publication aimed to clarify “kokutai” and cultivate national spirit in “people.” “Kokutai” means the thought Tenno of unbroken rules Japan. Japanese “kokutai” refers to fiction based on mythology. However, “kokutai” thought was clarified in “kokutai no hongi”. In the first year of its publication, 300,000 copies were published. A total of 2,000,000 copies were published until 1945 and distributed to Chosen, Taiwan, and occupied territories. The Board of Education instructed that national history, geography, Japanese, etc. should be taught at schools and that “kokutai no hongi” should be widely disseminated in instructions, lectures, and classes of all types of events. The book was prohibited by GHQ on December 15, 1945. However, after the 2000s, Japanese society has become conservative, and “kokutai no hongi” is being focused upon again and “kokutai” thought is raising. Therefore, “kokutai no hongi” needs to be critically considered.