War and Conscience in Japan

One of Japan's most important intellectuals, Nambara Shigeru defended Tokyo Imperial University against its rightist critics and opposed Japan's war. His poetic diary (1936-1945), published only after the war, documents his profound disaffection. In 1945 Nambara became president of Tokyo University and was an eloquent and ardent spokesman for academic freedom. In this first English-language collection of his key work, historian and translator Richard H. Minear introduces Nambara's career and thinking before presenting translations of the most important of Nambara's essays, poems, and speeches. A courageous but lonely voice of conscience, Nambara is one of the few mid-century Japanese to whom we can turn for inspiration during that dark period in world history.

One of Japan's most important intellectuals, Nambara Shigeru defended Tokyo Imperial University against its rightist critics and opposed Japan's war. His poetic diary (1936-1945), published only after the war, documents his profound disaffection. In 1945 Nambara became president of Tokyo University and was an eloquent and ardent spokesman for acade

Translator's Introduction: War and Conscience in Japan: Nambara Shigeru and the Asia-Pacific War Part I: Nambara's Writings and Speeches before Japan's Surrender "University Autonomy," September 5, 1938 "The Essence of the University," April 1941 "The State and Scholarship," Fall 1942 "The Mission of Scholars and Students," May 1945 "The Theme of Goethe's Faust," May 1945 Part II: Nambara's Poetic Diary, 1936-45 Ideal Forms: A Poetic Diary Part III: Nambara's Speeches after Japan's Surrender "The Mission of Scholars and Students," September 1945 "The Construction of the New Japan," November 1945 "The Creation of a New Japanese Culture," February 11, 1946 "Mourning the Students Who Died in the War," March 30, 1946 "The Emperor's Birthday," April 29, 1946 "What Will Revive the Homeland," September 30, 1946 "Truth Will Be the Final Victor," December 1951 "You Who Inherit the Legacy of the Students Who Died in the War," November 1963