Is Buddhism a Terrorist Religion? Implications of the Blood Oath Corps Incident (Ketsumeidan Jiken) in 1930s Japan

We are delighted to announce the next talk in our CIEE Kyoto Seminar Series this summer, on Friday, August 21 by Dr. Brian Victoria (Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies):

"Is Buddhism a Terrorist Religion? Implications of the Blood Oath Corps Incident (Ketsumeidan Jiken) in 1930s Japan"

Abstract

My most recent book was entitled Zen Terror in Prewar Japan: Portrait of an Assassin. It contained the following quotation: “It was only after the emperor gave his approval that a policy was implemented. Government administered directly by the emperor came about in this way” (p. 139). The author of this quotation was Inoue Nisshō, best known in history as the leader of a band of assassins popularly known as the “Blood Oath Corps” (J. Ketsumeidan). Inoue, however, was not simply a terrorist leader but, following his release from prison in April 1941, became, almost unbelievably, the live-in advisor and confidant of then Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro, prime minister of Japan until October 1941.

As Inoue subsequently made clear, even after Konoe’s resignation Emperor Hirohito continued to control the government extending to Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945. Thus, despite the fact that General Tōjō Hideki served as Japan’s wartime prime minister, the Imperial military was never the ultimate decision maker during WW II. Nevertheless, during the postwar Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal of 1946-48, the U.S., in the person of Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers General Douglas MacArthur, would not allow Emperor Hirohito’s wartime role to be discussed let alone examined. This would turn out to have major ramifications for Japan in the postwar era, ramifications lasting even to the present day. These topics and more will be covered in this presentation.

Please note this talk begins at 18:00 and will be run in hybrid format from CIEE Kyoto (6th Floor, Gion Classroom) with Zoom access available.

Format & Venue

Time: 18:00–19:30 (JST), unless stated differently
Location: CIEE Kyoto, 6th Floor, Gion Classroom and Zoom (hybrid)

Registration

Please register in advance for either in-person or online participation:

In-person (CIEE Kyoto): [On-Site Registration] CIEE Kyoto Seminar Series - Brian Victoria – Fill in form

Zoom: https://ciee.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6xEIQ5hdRIyRdzAVruVgcA