Evolution of the Tokyo Tribunal's representation in the historical narratives of right-wing conservative non-state in Japan

The article focuses on examining the evolution of the memory of the Tokyo Tribunal in historical narratives championed by conservative non-governmental organizations in Japan and the impact these organizations had on historical memory in the country. Among the organizations examined are the Association of Shinto Shrines, the Japan Association of War-Bereaved Families, the Association to Answer the Departed War Heroes, the Society for History Textbook Reform, and the Japan Conference. As a theoretical framework, the research applies the approach of O. Malinova, who considers the politics of memory as a variation of symbolic politics, a struggle between various actors for the dominance of their historical narratives in the public sphere.
The study traces the evolution of perceptions of the Tokyo Tribunal within three periods: 1945—1960, 1960—1985, and 1985—present. In the early stages, right-wing conservative organizations avoided direct criticism of the Tokyo Trials, while developing a policy of remembrance that implicitly contradicted the foundations of the order established by the tribunal and the occupation reforms. The efforts of these groups, primarily Shinto associations and veterans’ and war-bereaved families’ associations, were aimed at achieving certain “special interests”: restoring state funding and raising their social status.
In the second period, criticism of the tribunal became more overt. Due to the need to establish their ideological and historical views among the younger generation, and amidst growing national pride due to economic success, right-wing conservatives consolidated around propelling the cult of fallen war heroes (eirei), which was ritualized at the Yasukuni Shrine. During the same period, 14 individuals recognized by the Tokyo Tribunal as Class A war criminals were enshrined there.
The third period is characterized by the open expression of revisionist views, criticism of the “Tokyo Tribunal's view of history.” New influential right-wing organizations emerged, promoting the reform of school textbooks and educational standards along “patriotic lines.” In recent decades, a new trend has gained momentum: against the backdrop of the decline of the once powerful Association of War-Bereaved Families, owing to the ageing of its members, the efforts of right-wing conservative organizations are increasingly focused on the revision of anti-war articles in the Constitution, while the issues of the Tokyo Tribunal are taking a back seat.

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