Showa Restoration

A term that called for national reform and domestic reform, advocated by the Japanese right-wing movement in the early 1930s. The platform of the Oushikai, which was organized in 1928 (Showa 3) by young naval officers including Fujii Hitoshi, claims to "complete the Meiji Restoration," but the term Showa Restoration became widespread after the May 15 Incident (1932). The manifesto for the incident proclaimed, "Let's build a new Japan," and the "Song of Youth Japan," written by the defendant in the incident, Navy Lieutenant Mikami Takashi, while in prison, became popular as the "Song of the Showa Restoration." As a result, Showa Restoration became the watchword for the domestic reform movement that led to the February 26 Incident (1936). It is sometimes called "Imperial Way Restoration." However, the content was merely a slogan that criticized political parties and zaibatsu and advocated direct rule by the Emperor, and did not refer to a specific reform goal or plan.

[Akira Fujiwara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1930年代前半の日本の右翼運動が主張した国家の革新、国内の改造をよぶことば。1928年（昭和3）藤井斉(ひとし)らの海軍青年将校が組織した王師会の綱領に「明治維新ヲ完成シ」という主張がみえるが、昭和維新という呼び方が広がったのは五・一五事件（1932）からである。同事件の檄文(げきぶん)が「維新日本ヲ建設セヨ」をうたい、同事件の被告三上卓(みかみたかし)海軍中尉が獄中で作詩したという「青年日本の歌」が「昭和維新の歌」として広がったことで、昭和維新は二・二六事件（1936）に至る国内改造運動の合いことばとなった。それは「皇道維新」と称されることもある。しかし内容は政党、財閥を批判して天皇親政を主張するスローガンにとどまり、具体的な改革の目標やプランを意味することばではなかった。

［藤原　彰］

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