The Mediators who Created the Practical Phase of Japan’s Propaganda in Occupied Countries during WW II ：From the Study about Tōa bunkaken

In this paper, I examine Japan’s propaganda during WW II in occupied countries, focusing on long-term cultural activities conducted by public and private sectors. Concretely I considered this issue based on the study about the journal, Tōa bunkaken (1942-1945). This journal aimed to study the effective systems and organizations of propaganda and inform its readers of research data or concrete information for propaganda activities in occupied countries. I explore why the practical instances of this journal were created, and by whom its network of the writers and editors was created. I clarify that the cultural activities of rightists played important roles in producing this journal. Zen’ichi Suzuki, the main producer of this journal, was a leading member of the rightists, and led a terror attack, called, the Shinpeitai Incident (1933). After the incident, he became active at the forefront of cultural propaganda in Manchuria, Shanghai, and Nanking. His experiences and network cultivated through these activities evolved into the practical features of Tōa bunkaken.