MacArthur Archives

Excerpts from Classified GHQ Intelligence Reports
on Kumazawa Tenno & the Nancho Claim to the Throne

15 May 1946

(a) Formation of Alliances: The Nancho Hotai Kokumin Domei was formed on 1 May 46 by followers of Kumazawa Hiromichi, who claims the right to the Throne as the direct descendent of the Southern Dynasty (Nancho) Emperors. It is an outgrowth of the Nobumasa O Kinyokai (Society to Publicize Emperor Nobumasa), an inactive organization formed in 1936 by Kumazawa and others for the purpose of conducting research on Japan's Imperial genealogy.

(b) Kumazawa's Explanation of Claim: When interviewed by CIC, Kumazawa asserted that the Imperial line was unbroken and undisputed from the time of Jimmu Tenno (600 B. C.) until the 13th Century. At that time Emperor Gosaga, who abdicated, changed his favor from his elder son, Gofukakusa, who already had been enthroned, to Kameyama, his younger son. But Gofukakusa, cleverly persuaded his brother to agree to have their descendants alternately succeed to the Imperial title. This arrangement failed, Kumazawa said, through treachery on the part of Gofukakusa and his progeny, who established the Northern (Hokucho) Dynasty now reigning, and who forced Kameyama and his successors, who form the Southern (Nancho) Dynasty, from the Capitol in to hiding until Aug. 45.

(c)Current Activities: Nancho Hotai Kokumin Domei seeks to realize its objectives by presenting the "true facts" about the Southern Dynasty to the people. At least four public lecture meetings have been held. Although an average of 70 yen was paid as rent for each meeting hall, no admission fee was charged and no donations were collected. Three of these meetings were held in Aichi Prefecture and one in Gifu. The average attendance has been something more than 500. Other plans of Nancho Hotai Kokumin Domei include the publication of a book of Imperial genealogical tables, booklets and pamphlets for distribution by mail, and demands for a Diet investigation.

(d) Strength of Organization: The president of the organization, Kobayashi Suiichi, a 43-year-old paper salesman, has told CIC that Nancho Hotai Kokumin Domei has a present total membership of about 1,000, most of whom have joined as a result of lecture meetings. Branches, besides the main office in Nagoya, are being established at Ichinomiya (Aichi Pref.), Toyohashi (Aichi), Gifu (Gifu), Tokyo, Arayama (Fukushima), Toyoshima (Nagano), and Koshimizu (Hokkaido).

(e) No Present Connection With Politics: Kobayashi, who voted for the Socialist Party candidate in the 10 April elections, has stated that Nancho Hotai Kokumin Domei has absolutely no connections with any political party, although should a party amiable to the League's purposes be formed, Kobayashi, as the organizations president, would have no objections to such an affiliation.

(f) Attitude Toward Present Cabinet and Occupation: Kobayashi was vehement in his denunciation of the Government, which he considers to be in support of the reigning Emperor and his Family. At the same time Kobayashi reiterated that the Allied Occupation "is splendid, run in the best possible fashion, and acting in the best interests of the Japanese." Kobayashi declares that he is grateful for the freedom of speech and of assembly afforded the Nancho Hotai Kokumin Domei by the Occupation Forces.

Comment: Although this group appears to border on the eccentric and to constitute no real threat to the present Emperor, the organization's purpose is revolution and for that reason Nancho Hotai Kokumin Domei will continue under CIC and CIS scrutiny.