Nagayama Yoshida (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

Yoshida Nagayama (永山吉田 Nagayama Yoshida; Koshigaya, Musashi Province, April 8, 1871 – Tokyo, July 25, 1952) was a Japanese nationalist, revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. He was leader of Nationalist Party of Japan (1919-1952) and the two-timer President of the Republic of Japan(1931-1941; 1946-1949).

Early life
Yoshida Nagayama was born in Koshigaya, Musashi Province on April 8, 1871, the only son of Masano (正野) and his wife, Aiko (愛子), the small landowners from low-ranking samurai family. His father was a former disciple of famous rangaku scholar, Ogata Kōan. After the government regulated the law in 1870s for allowed the commoners to have a surname, his family adopted “Nagayama” surname in 1875.

Due to family poverty, Yoshida voluntarily entered the first Imperial Military Academy in Osaka at the age of 15. He formally joined the Imperial Army of Japan in 1890 at the age of 19. After contacted tuberculosis, Yoshida honorary discharged from the Army and returned to his hometown in 1891. Followed his father’s step, Yoshida began to study rangaku and French in Keio-Gijuku School in 1895 while also worked as part-time editor in Hochi Shimbun.

Emergence as Leader of Nationalists Party
Japan entered the World War I in 1916 and sided with Central Powers. But, as the War advanced, the Central Powers suffered by the defeat, Japan changed it side to the Allies. Toward the end of the war, Japan succumbed into deep economic crisis. In August 1918, rice riots caused by this inflation erupted in towns and cities throughout Japan.

At the north, the White Russian Army who escaped from Siberia after the Bolshevik gained controls over the country, occupied Karafuto (Japanese part of Sakhalin island) and northern Hokkaido in September 1918. The anti-communist Shogunate tried to cooperate with the White Russians for halting the spread of Communism. This action sparked to protests from revolutionary-nationalists who accused the Shogunate as foreign puppet.

The wave of mass demonstrations arose throughout Japan and Korea, demanded the Shogun to rid the Russian forces from northern Japan. The peak of the wave in Japan was the mass meeting in Ii Naosuke Square, Kyoto on November 4, 1918. As leader of Nationalist Party in Kyoto, Yoshida fiercely addressed the crowd to “drive out the Barbarians (White Russians) from Karafuto and northern Hokkaido and save Asia from Western imperialism.” He added, “Although we just the yellow-colored people in the Westerners’ eyes, we must believe and forever believe, we can stand in our own feet, by our own strength, to our own nation. Neither me nor you, whole Japanese nation, wanted to be a slave in our own country!”

Yoshida’s speech quickly spread through every newspaper, either the organ of Left or Right movement, and succeed to electrify the nation. Less than two weeks, his name began attributed as “the Great Sun”, “the Savior of Yamato” or “the Great Saint of Sovereignty” by the mass in every demonstration over the Home Islands of the Empire and he became the icon of Revolution. The number of Nationalist Party members also significantly increased, especially in the Northern provinces.

As the Revolution peaked, twenty-one members of Imperial House of Commons offer the option to form a new government led by Asahaka Nobugata, the leader of Five Righteous Councilors, a group of member of State Council that support the reformation of Japan before the Emperor. Yoshida himself was still a fervent supporter of Imperial Restoration and wanted the Emperor to take over the national government and to reform Japan into sovereign, modernized nation. But, to his surprise, Emperor decided to refuse the offer.

Disappointed, Yoshida chose only option left for save the nation: the direct action to overthrow the Shogunate. In June 16, 1919, Yoshida and other eighteen leaders of Nationalist Party convened the meeting at Kyoto and concluded the resolution which known as “Proclamation of the Action” that called for Japanese people to form a new grass-root government and defend the nation by themselves, not depended on Shogunate Army or the Emperor’s Army. The resolution is very important to lay the foundation of modern Japanese Republic and Japanese Republican Army.

Backed by eighteen Party leaders (more known as “Kyoto Faction”), Yoshida took over control of Party leadership and adopted Bolshevik rigid organizational system and inner-party democracy into the Party Statute. He even formed the Party militant organization, National Pioneers, in September 1919, aimed to mobilize the people against White Russian aggression. Yoshida himself decided to work behind the scenes as the main ideological theorist and political strategist of the Party, rarely appeared before the public. However, Yoshida greatly responsible for commanded the Pioneers’ attack to the building of Imperial Foreign Ministry in January 1920, which killed Foreign Minister Tomichii Hasegawa.

Formation of Revolutionary Government
In August 22, 1920, the National Protection Government (国民保護政府 Kokumin Hogo Seifu) formed in Kanazawa, Kaga Province with the decree issued by the Central Committee of National People’s Conference. Yoshida elected unanimously by all Central Committee members as the “Political Commander of the Army and Navy” (陸海軍政治司令官 Rikukaigun Seiji Shirei-kan), the supreme command of the Revolutionary Army.

As the Political Commander of the Revolutionary Army, Yoshida referred as “Generalissimo” by the Western media and brought the Nationalist Party hegemony over the Revolutionary Army. After the establishment of Republic, the position of Political Commander later included into the office of President of the Republic, as stated in 1931 Japanese Constitution: “The President of the Republic is the political commander of the National Army and the National Navy.”

Under his commands, the Revolutionary Army formed the military base along Central Highland of Japan which consists of mountainous and hilly areas. The first region fall under the Revolutionary was Hida Province in September 1, 1920, followed by Etchu Province in September 24, the eastern part of Mino Province in October 7, western part of Mino Province in November 24, Echizen Province in January 14, 1921, Shinano Province in March 17 and Kozuke Province in August 26. Most of the area conquered without any battle with the Imperial Army since the Revolutionary helped by the locals to enter the cities and the villages.

The National Protection Government and the Revolutionary Army then moved its seat to Nagano, Kaga Province in August 4, 1921 together with the establishment of first National Headquarters of Japanese Revolutionary Army in August 20, 1921.

As the Revolutionary area only few miles away from the seat of Bakufu government in Edo, the Bakufu sent its troops to halt the Revolutionary advances toward Shimotsuke Province. As result, the Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Army engaged in their first protracted battle in Kanume, Shimotsuke known as the Battle of Akayama occurred on September 13, 1921. The battle gained its name from the mountain (Yama) that battle took place became red (Akai) because the blood from both side of the troops. This bloody battle marked the beginning of the series of battle between the revolutionaries and the imperial government which would last from September 1921 until April 1930.

The Ten-Year Civil War
In 1922, the Japanese Revolutionary Army able to push the White Russian Army out of northern Hokkaido and Karafuto with the aid from Russian Red Army after the Revolutionary occupied southern Hokkaido in July 14, 1922. This momentum seen as the act of national liberation by most of Japanese and increased the people’s supports toward the Revolutionary government.

For the third time, the National Protection Government and the Revolutionary Army moved its seat to Hakodate, Hokkaido in January 3, 1923 to keep away from the Bakufu’s threats. Nagayama Yoshida exclusively took his residence on Western Wing of Goryokaku fortress.

In the 1923 Nationalist Party Congress, Yoshida voted unanimously by as the member of Party Central Committee as well as the Chairman of Party Politburo. As both the head of government and de-facto leader of Nationalist Party, Yoshida keep working tirelessly for the Government and Party administrative affairs, like signed the important documents, orders, and decree; drafted the speech to give before the Central Committee; wrote the articles for the Party newspaper; and inspected the Party bureaus and government offices every week.

However, he still indirectly involved in the matter of Civil War. In 1924, Yoshida approved the document to give permission for the Party agents to do a series of terror to the peoples that accused against the Revolution and supported the Bakufu government. The terrors swept Tokyo, Kyoto, and other important cities in Home Islands and killed more than 900 peoples; most of them are local aristocrats, rich merchants, government officials and military leaders.

In November 28, 1924, Grand Marshal of Republic of China and the leader of Chinese Nationalist Party, Dr. Sun Yat-sen traveled to Japan and met personally with Nagayama Yoshida at Goryokaku fortress, Hakodate, Hokkaido. Sun showed his support to Japanese Revolution and gave a speech on Pan-Asianism before the Central Committee of National People’s Conference of Japan. When Sun died in 1925, Yoshida was among the first ones who sent the condolences and gave an obituary speech before the Central Committee of Japanese National Party.

On March 13, 1926, the Revolutionary Army succeeds to occupy Musashi Provinces and the seat of Shogunate, Tokyo. Mizuho-hata, the flag of Revolution hoisted in Tokyo Imperial Palace, Parliament building and other governmental buildings. The Bakufu government moved its seat to Nanto (Nara), Yamato Province. The Revolutionary Government then able to move from Hakodate to Tokyo on July 8, 1926. Yoshida and all revolutionary leaders welcomed by thunderous cheers from the crowd of Tokyo citizens.

In Tokyo, Yoshida started the new level of leadership by issued the order to transfer the land owned by the aristocrats to the local farmers in all occupied provinces in 1926 and to organize the People’s Bank of Japan in 1927. The new Revolutionary Government formed in October 20, 1927 composed by all representatives from the National Front member parties. Yoshida once again elected unanimously as the Political Commander of the Army and Navy.

The Revolutionary forces successfully defeated the Government forces in Kitakyushu, Buzen Province, Kyushu on April 27, 1930. Prime Minister Shidehara agreed to surrender and signed the Instrument of Surrender in Myomi village, Sagami Province on May 16, 1930. Empress Ammei announced her abdication from the throne in May 18, 1930 and Shidehara Kijuro automatically became the de-facto provisional head of state of Japan. The Empire of Japan officially abolished in May 21, 1930 and the Revolutionary Government in Tokyo, led by Nagayama Yoshida and Hotori Etsu effectively took over the control of the country in May 29, 1930.