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Beheiren

Beheiren (ベ平連, short for ベトナムに平和を!市民連合, Betonamu ni Heiwa o! Shimin Rengo, "The Citizen's League for Peace in Vietnam") was a Japanese "New Left" activist group that existed from 1965 to 1974. As a loose coalition of a few hundred anti-war groups, it protested Japanese assistance to the United States during the Vietnam War.

Beheiren claims to have helped 20 U.S. soldiers to desert, in some cases providing them with false passports and other paperwork and helping them escape to Sweden via the Soviet Union.[1] They also used shareholder activism techniques — buying single shares of Mitsubishi stock so that they could address shareholders meetings about the company's support for the American war effort.[2] The group also assisted American soldiers who were publishing and distributing underground papers and pamphlets in Japan. They helped the Intrepid Four desert and seek asylum in Sweden in 1967[3] and later helped Terry Whitmore desert in 1968.[4]

Members included Makoto Oda (official spokesperson),[5] Yuichi Yoshikawa (Secretary-General), Michitoshi Takabatake, Osamu Kuno, Amon Miyamoto, Ichiyo Muto, Shinobu Yoshioka, Takeshi Kaiko, Yoshiyuki Tsurumi and Shunsuke Tsurumi.

History edit

Beheiren was organized with the assistance of the "Science of Thought" research group led by Shunsuke Tsurumi, which sought to create a new type of autonomous Japanese "citizen" (shimin) capable of "spontaneously" organizing to form "grassroots" protest movements without guidance from hierarchical "Old Left" political parties and organizations.[6] As a supposedly "nonideological" organization that "anyone can join," Beheiren grew out of, and was modeled after, the similar "Voiceless Voices Society" (Koe Naki Koe no Kai) that Tsurumi and the Science of Thought group had organized to take part in the 1960 Anpo protests against renewal of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.[7] However, historian Simon Avenell has argued that the concept of the autonomous, self-organizing "shimin" was a "myth" that sometimes proved useful for organizing protest movements but rarely if ever reflected the actual structure and organization of such movements.[6]

In March 1965, political scientist Michitoshi Takabatake approached Tsurumi about the possibility of creating a new organization along the lines of the Voiceless Voices to protest against Japan's involvement in the Vietnam War.[8] Tsurumi agreed, and the two approached novelist and travel writer Makoto Oda to become the new group's official spokesperson.[9] Oda agreed, and on April 24, Beheiren was officially established as an offshoot of the existing Voiceless Voices Society.

Oda traveled extensively around Japan and the world to promote national and international movements against the Vietnam War. In particular, he pressed Japanese New Left activists to overcome their consciousness as helpless "victims" (higaisha) of defeat in World War II and recognize their role as "victimizers" (kagaisha) as citizens of a country that was deriving economic benefit from supporting the U.S.-led war in Vietnam.[10]

In 1970, Beheiren took a leading role in organizing large-scale protests against the automatic renewal of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, which allowed U.S. troops fighting in Vietnam to be based on Japanese soil.[11] However, these "1970 Anpo protests" failed to prevent automatic renewal, as the government of conservative prime minister Eisaku Satō simply opted to allow the treaty to continue as is.[11]

Beheiren continued its activities until the U.S. announced its withdrawal from South Vietnam in 1974. A final closing ceremony was held in Tokyo on January 26, 1974.[12] In a farewell address, Tsurumi Shunsuke told an audience of around 1,000 activists that although Beheiren was ending, "another day I think Beheiren—although not as Beheiren—will want to make an appearance once again. Beheiren is dissolved. Long live Beheiren!"[13]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Dean, Kevin Robert. "What Japanese Anti-Vietnam War activists are up to". mailman.lbo-talk.org. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  2. ^ . www.meijigakuin.ac.jp. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  3. ^ Takata, Kei (2017). "Escaping through the networks of trust: The US deserter support movement in the Japanese Global Sixties". The Sixties. 10 (2): 165–181. doi:10.1080/17541328.2017.1390650. S2CID 148969373.
  4. ^ Whitmore, Terry (1971). Memphis-Nam-Sweden. Doubleday & Company, Inc. p. 130.
  5. ^ Hirano, Keiji (2015-05-19). "Anti-Vietnam War 'Beheiren' activism remembered 50 years on". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  6. ^ a b Avenell 2010.
  7. ^ Kapur 2018, p. 155.
  8. ^ Avenell 2010, p. 111.
  9. ^ Avenell 2010, p. 112.
  10. ^ Avenell 2010, pp. 117–124.
  11. ^ a b Kapur 2022, p. 17.
  12. ^ Havens 1987, pp. 235–236.
  13. ^ Havens 1987, p. 236.

Bibliography edit

  • Avenell, Simon Andrew (2010). Making Japanese citizens : civil society and the mythology of the Shimin in postwar Japan. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520262706.
  • Havens, Thomas R.H. (1987). Fire Across the Sea: The Vietnam War and Japan 1965-1975. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691054919.
  • Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674984424.
  • Kapur, Nick (July 15, 2022). "The Japanese Student Movement in the Cold War Crucible, 1945-1972" (PDF). The Asia Pacific Journal: Japan Focus. 20 (14).

See also edit

beheiren, ベ平連, short, ベトナムに平和を, 市民連合, betonamu, heiwa, shimin, rengo, citizen, league, peace, vietnam, japanese, left, activist, group, that, existed, from, 1965, 1974, loose, coalition, hundred, anti, groups, protested, japanese, assistance, united, states, d. Beheiren ベ平連 short for ベトナムに平和を 市民連合 Betonamu ni Heiwa o Shimin Rengo The Citizen s League for Peace in Vietnam was a Japanese New Left activist group that existed from 1965 to 1974 As a loose coalition of a few hundred anti war groups it protested Japanese assistance to the United States during the Vietnam War Beheiren claims to have helped 20 U S soldiers to desert in some cases providing them with false passports and other paperwork and helping them escape to Sweden via the Soviet Union 1 They also used shareholder activism techniques buying single shares of Mitsubishi stock so that they could address shareholders meetings about the company s support for the American war effort 2 The group also assisted American soldiers who were publishing and distributing underground papers and pamphlets in Japan They helped the Intrepid Four desert and seek asylum in Sweden in 1967 3 and later helped Terry Whitmore desert in 1968 4 Members included Makoto Oda official spokesperson 5 Yuichi Yoshikawa Secretary General Michitoshi Takabatake Osamu Kuno Amon Miyamoto Ichiyo Muto Shinobu Yoshioka Takeshi Kaiko Yoshiyuki Tsurumi and Shunsuke Tsurumi Contents 1 History 2 References 2 1 Citations 2 2 Bibliography 3 See alsoHistory editBeheiren was organized with the assistance of the Science of Thought research group led by Shunsuke Tsurumi which sought to create a new type of autonomous Japanese citizen shimin capable of spontaneously organizing to form grassroots protest movements without guidance from hierarchical Old Left political parties and organizations 6 As a supposedly nonideological organization that anyone can join Beheiren grew out of and was modeled after the similar Voiceless Voices Society Koe Naki Koe no Kai that Tsurumi and the Science of Thought group had organized to take part in the 1960 Anpo protests against renewal of the U S Japan Security Treaty 7 However historian Simon Avenell has argued that the concept of the autonomous self organizing shimin was a myth that sometimes proved useful for organizing protest movements but rarely if ever reflected the actual structure and organization of such movements 6 In March 1965 political scientist Michitoshi Takabatake approached Tsurumi about the possibility of creating a new organization along the lines of the Voiceless Voices to protest against Japan s involvement in the Vietnam War 8 Tsurumi agreed and the two approached novelist and travel writer Makoto Oda to become the new group s official spokesperson 9 Oda agreed and on April 24 Beheiren was officially established as an offshoot of the existing Voiceless Voices Society Oda traveled extensively around Japan and the world to promote national and international movements against the Vietnam War In particular he pressed Japanese New Left activists to overcome their consciousness as helpless victims higaisha of defeat in World War II and recognize their role as victimizers kagaisha as citizens of a country that was deriving economic benefit from supporting the U S led war in Vietnam 10 In 1970 Beheiren took a leading role in organizing large scale protests against the automatic renewal of the U S Japan Security Treaty which allowed U S troops fighting in Vietnam to be based on Japanese soil 11 However these 1970 Anpo protests failed to prevent automatic renewal as the government of conservative prime minister Eisaku Satō simply opted to allow the treaty to continue as is 11 Beheiren continued its activities until the U S announced its withdrawal from South Vietnam in 1974 A final closing ceremony was held in Tokyo on January 26 1974 12 In a farewell address Tsurumi Shunsuke told an audience of around 1 000 activists that although Beheiren was ending another day I think Beheiren although not as Beheiren will want to make an appearance once again Beheiren is dissolved Long live Beheiren 13 References editCitations edit Dean Kevin Robert What Japanese Anti Vietnam War activists are up to mailman lbo talk org Retrieved 2018 08 24 Asian Studies Conference Japan ASCJ 2004 www meijigakuin ac jp Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2018 08 24 Takata Kei 2017 Escaping through the networks of trust The US deserter support movement in the Japanese Global Sixties The Sixties 10 2 165 181 doi 10 1080 17541328 2017 1390650 S2CID 148969373 Whitmore Terry 1971 Memphis Nam Sweden Doubleday amp Company Inc p 130 Hirano Keiji 2015 05 19 Anti Vietnam War Beheiren activism remembered 50 years on The Japan Times Online ISSN 0447 5763 Retrieved 2018 08 24 a b Avenell 2010 Kapur 2018 p 155 Avenell 2010 p 111 Avenell 2010 p 112 Avenell 2010 pp 117 124 a b Kapur 2022 p 17 Havens 1987 pp 235 236 Havens 1987 p 236 Bibliography edit Avenell Simon Andrew 2010 Making Japanese citizens civil society and the mythology of the Shimin in postwar Japan Berkeley Calif University of California Press ISBN 978 0520262706 Havens Thomas R H 1987 Fire Across the Sea The Vietnam War and Japan 1965 1975 Princeton NJ Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0691054919 Kapur Nick 2018 Japan at the Crossroads Conflict and Compromise after Anpo Cambridge MA Harvard University Press ISBN 978 0674984424 Kapur Nick July 15 2022 The Japanese Student Movement in the Cold War Crucible 1945 1972 PDF The Asia Pacific Journal Japan Focus 20 14 See also editPeace movement Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beheiren amp oldid 1177104773, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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