Kiyoshi Kawakami
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese Christian journalist
who published several books in the United States
and the United Kingdom
. He was born in Yonezawa, educated in the law in Japan, and was for a short time engaged in newspaper work in that country.
He sometimes wrote under the name of K. K. Kawakami. Although Japanese do not have middle names, he is said to have been a socialist in his youth, when he apparently adopted the middle name "Karl" (from Karl Marx
).
In 1901 he travelled to the United States and studied at the universities of Iowa
and Wisconsin
. In 1905, engaged in journalism, he traveled extensively in China
, Siberia
, and Russia
. He was a correspondent for leading newspapers in Tokyo and a frequent contributor to American magazines and newspapers.
Kawakami's prewar writings sought to whitewash the Japanese military and economic penetration and invasion of China and Manchuria, presenting Japanese actions as aimed at saving China from chaos and disintegration. At the same time, however, they presented China as "scheming" to distort and obstruct Japanese goodwill in order to turn Western opinion against Japan. He was regarded in the United States as an apologist for Japanese imperialism and was briefly arrested after the outbreak of war. Some of his writings were included in the massive, ten volume series "Japanese Propaganda: Selected Readings: A Collection" edited by Peter O'Connor of Musashino University and published by the University of Hawaii Press in 2004.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who published several books in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was born in Yonezawa, educated in the law in Japan, and was for a short time engaged in newspaper work in that country.
He sometimes wrote under the name of K. K. Kawakami. Although Japanese do not have middle names, he is said to have been a socialist in his youth, when he apparently adopted the middle name "Karl" (from Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
).
In 1901 he travelled to the United States and studied at the universities of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
and Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. In 1905, engaged in journalism, he traveled extensively in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. He was a correspondent for leading newspapers in Tokyo and a frequent contributor to American magazines and newspapers.
Kawakami's prewar writings sought to whitewash the Japanese military and economic penetration and invasion of China and Manchuria, presenting Japanese actions as aimed at saving China from chaos and disintegration. At the same time, however, they presented China as "scheming" to distort and obstruct Japanese goodwill in order to turn Western opinion against Japan. He was regarded in the United States as an apologist for Japanese imperialism and was briefly arrested after the outbreak of war. Some of his writings were included in the massive, ten volume series "Japanese Propaganda: Selected Readings: A Collection" edited by Peter O'Connor of Musashino University and published by the University of Hawaii Press in 2004.
Selected bibliography
- Political Ideas of the Modern Japan (1903)
- American-Japanese Relations: An Inside View of Japan's Policies and Purposes (1912)
- Asia at the Door (1914)
- Japan and World Politics (1917)
- Japan and World Peace (1919)
- The Real Japanese Question (1921). ISBN 0-405-11275-0
- Jokichi Takamine: A Record of His American Achievements (1928)
- Japan Speaks on the Sino-Japanese Crisis (1932)
- Manchoukuo: Child of Conflict (1933). ISBN 0-404-03639-2
- Japan in China, Her Motives and Aims (1938)
External links
- About Conspiracy of Japan (from his Japan Speaks in 1932)