High Treason Incident
Encyclopedia
The , also known as the , was a socialist-anarchist plot to assassinate the Japanese Emperor Meiji
in 1910, leading to a mass arrest
of leftists, and the execution of 12 alleged conspirators in 1911.
On 20 May 1910, the police searched the room of Miyashita Takichi (1875-1911), a young lumbermill employee in Nagano Prefecture
, and found materials which could be used to construct bombs. Investigating further, the police arrested his accomplices, Nitta Toru (1880-1911), Niimura Tadao (1887-1911), Furukawa Rikisaku (1884-1911) and Kōtoku Shūsui
and his former common-law wife, feminist author Kanno Suga. Upon questioning, the police discovered what the prosecutor's office regarded as a nation-wide conspiracy against the Japanese monarchy.
In the subsequent investigation, many known leftists and suspected sympathizers were brought in for questioning around the country. Eventually, 25 men and one woman were brought to trial on the charge of violation of Article 73 of the Criminal Code (harming or intending harm to the Emperor or member of the imperial family). Four of those arrested were Buddhist monks. The case was tried in a closed court, and the prosecutor
was Hiranuma Kiichirō.
Although evidence against the five principal defendants was conclusive, evidence against the remaining 21 defendants was circumstantial
. Nonetheless, twenty-four of the twenty-six defendants were sentenced to death
by hanging on 18 January 1911, and the remaining two defendants were sentenced to 8 years and 11 years respectively for violation of explosives ordinances.
Of the death sentences, an Imperial Rescript commuted twelve to life imprisonment
on the following day. Of the remaining twelve, eleven were executed on 24 January 1911. These included Kōtoku Shūsui
, a prominent Japanese anarchist, Ōishi Seinosuke, a doctor, and Uchiyama Gudō
, the only one of the Buddhist priests arrested to be executed. The last of the condemned defendants, the only woman, Suga Kanno, was executed the next day.
The case was largely used as a pretext by authorities to round up dissidents. Only five or six of those accused and convicted in the trial actually had anything to do with the plot to kill the emperor. Even the foremost defendant, Kōtoku Shūsui
, had not been involved in the plot planning since the very earliest stages, but his high prestige made him the principal figure to the prosecution.
The High Treason Incident is indirectly related to The Red Flag Incident
of 1908. During the High Treason investigation, anarchists already incarcerated were questioned about possible involvement, including Ōsugi Sakae
, Sakai Toshihiko
, and Yamakawa Hitoshi. The fact that they were already in jail saved many from facing further charges. Kanno Suga, who was found not guilty during the Red Flag trials, was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death in the High Treason trials.
The High Treason Incident created a shift in the intellectual environment of the late Meiji period
towards more control and heightened repression for ideologies deemed potentially subversive. It is often cited as one of the factors leading to the promulgation of the Peace Preservation Law
s.
A plea for a retrial was submitted after the end of the Second World War but this was turned down by the Supreme Court in 1967.
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
in 1910, leading to a mass arrest
Mass arrest
A mass arrest occurs when the police apprehend large numbers of suspects at once. This sometimes occurs at illegal protests. Some mass arrests are also used in an effort combat gang activity. This is sometimes controversial, and lawsuits sometimes result...
of leftists, and the execution of 12 alleged conspirators in 1911.
On 20 May 1910, the police searched the room of Miyashita Takichi (1875-1911), a young lumbermill employee in Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
, and found materials which could be used to construct bombs. Investigating further, the police arrested his accomplices, Nitta Toru (1880-1911), Niimura Tadao (1887-1911), Furukawa Rikisaku (1884-1911) and Kōtoku Shūsui
Kotoku Shusui
, better known by the nom de plume , was a Japanese socialist and anarchist who played a leading role in introducing anarchism to Japan in the early 20th century, particularly by translating the works of contemporary European and Russian anarchists, such as Peter Kropotkin, into Japanese...
and his former common-law wife, feminist author Kanno Suga. Upon questioning, the police discovered what the prosecutor's office regarded as a nation-wide conspiracy against the Japanese monarchy.
In the subsequent investigation, many known leftists and suspected sympathizers were brought in for questioning around the country. Eventually, 25 men and one woman were brought to trial on the charge of violation of Article 73 of the Criminal Code (harming or intending harm to the Emperor or member of the imperial family). Four of those arrested were Buddhist monks. The case was tried in a closed court, and the prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
was Hiranuma Kiichirō.
Although evidence against the five principal defendants was conclusive, evidence against the remaining 21 defendants was circumstantial
Circumstantial evidence
Circumstantial evidence is evidence in which an inference is required to connect it to a conclusion of fact, like a fingerprint at the scene of a crime...
. Nonetheless, twenty-four of the twenty-six defendants were sentenced to death
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
by hanging on 18 January 1911, and the remaining two defendants were sentenced to 8 years and 11 years respectively for violation of explosives ordinances.
Of the death sentences, an Imperial Rescript commuted twelve to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
on the following day. Of the remaining twelve, eleven were executed on 24 January 1911. These included Kōtoku Shūsui
Kotoku Shusui
, better known by the nom de plume , was a Japanese socialist and anarchist who played a leading role in introducing anarchism to Japan in the early 20th century, particularly by translating the works of contemporary European and Russian anarchists, such as Peter Kropotkin, into Japanese...
, a prominent Japanese anarchist, Ōishi Seinosuke, a doctor, and Uchiyama Gudō
Uchiyama Gudo
was a Sōtō Zen Buddhist priest and anarcho-socialist activist executed in the High Treason Incident. He was one of few Buddhist leaders who spoke out against the Meiji government in its imperialist projects. Gudō was an outspoken advocate for redistributive land reform, overturning the Meiji...
, the only one of the Buddhist priests arrested to be executed. The last of the condemned defendants, the only woman, Suga Kanno, was executed the next day.
The case was largely used as a pretext by authorities to round up dissidents. Only five or six of those accused and convicted in the trial actually had anything to do with the plot to kill the emperor. Even the foremost defendant, Kōtoku Shūsui
Kotoku Shusui
, better known by the nom de plume , was a Japanese socialist and anarchist who played a leading role in introducing anarchism to Japan in the early 20th century, particularly by translating the works of contemporary European and Russian anarchists, such as Peter Kropotkin, into Japanese...
, had not been involved in the plot planning since the very earliest stages, but his high prestige made him the principal figure to the prosecution.
The High Treason Incident is indirectly related to The Red Flag Incident
Red Flag Incident
The Red Flag Incident refers to a political rally that took place in Tokyo, Japan on June 22 of 1908.In the mixed political climate of the turn of the century Late Meiji-Taisho Era, a celebrated political activist and anarchist Koken Yamaguchi was discharged from a term in prison...
of 1908. During the High Treason investigation, anarchists already incarcerated were questioned about possible involvement, including Ōsugi Sakae
Osugi Sakae
was a radical Japanese anarchist. He published numerous anarchist periodicals, helped translate various western anarchist essays into Japanese for the first time, and created Japan's first Esperanto school in 1906...
, Sakai Toshihiko
Sakai Toshihiko
was a Japanese socialist, writer, historian. He is also known under the pen name Kosen Sakai .He is known for his translation with Shūsui Kōtoku.- External links :* at Aozora bunko...
, and Yamakawa Hitoshi. The fact that they were already in jail saved many from facing further charges. Kanno Suga, who was found not guilty during the Red Flag trials, was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death in the High Treason trials.
The High Treason Incident created a shift in the intellectual environment of the late Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
towards more control and heightened repression for ideologies deemed potentially subversive. It is often cited as one of the factors leading to the promulgation of the Peace Preservation Law
Peace Preservation Law
The Public Security Preservation Laws were a series of laws enacted during the Empire of Japan. Collectively, the laws were designed to suppress political dissent.-the Safety Preservation Law of 1894:...
s.
A plea for a retrial was submitted after the end of the Second World War but this was turned down by the Supreme Court in 1967.