Kuga Katsunan (1857-1907)

Abstract

The purpose of my paper is to introduce Kuga Katsunan's works on local autonomy and notables in modern Japan.(1) Kuga Katsunan is well known as one of the conservative and nationalistic journalists. He made a lot of comments on social, political and economic reform in modern Japan. He also made a big contribution to the heated controversy on what local government should be. He was really a tough opponent to bureaucratism in Meiji era.(2) After Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japanese leaders considered it necessary to establish a Western legal system as well as Western frame of government in order to achieve modernization. It was remarkable that within a few years Westernization became a national goal and was carried out rapidly even with a considerable degree of popular enthusiasm. But resistance on the part of conservative nationalists appeared in the late 19 century. The nationalists insisted that Japan should reconcil traditional elements with Westernization in order to keep national identity. Kuga Katsunan wrote in his newspaper that the form of local government is far less important than the spirit (Japanese tradition and custom) in which it is worked.(3) Until the end of World War II there was a history of lack of autonomy in Japanese communities. As the result of postwar refom, autonomy was given to local administrative units down to the village level. But autonomy still remains weak in Japan. So I believe that Kuga Katsunan's view on local autonomy gives us some suggestions even today.