Minister Fuji Mountain Trail Guide Map. / / Political Boss Faction Water Vein Map

1954 Showa 29 Satirical Map of Mount Fuji, Japan as PM Shigeru Yoshida

Publication Date: 1954

About this Item

Very good. Slight wear on old fold lines. Printed both sides. Size 14.5 x 20.5 Inches. A very curious double-sided map / diagram satirizing the Fifth Cabinet of Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida (1878 - 1967), in power from May 31, 1953, to December 10, 1954. The recto (front) presents a trail map to the summit of Mount Fuji - symbolizing Japan. Yoshida sits atop smoking a large cigar, while along the way the Christian socialist, Tetsu Katayama (1887 - 1978) appears as a monument. At the base of the mountain Yoshida's cabinet secretaries, each representing an aspect of Japanese governance, work their way to the top via various 'gates' or 'trails.' Some suffer mishaps along the way. The verso (back) offers a similarly intriguing map/diagram of the national political/academic/business/bureaucratic system represented as a series of interconnected rivers flowing to a sea / nation. Playing with Mt. Fuji Maps This view is similar to those that would be given to tourists, hikers, and religious pilgrims at Mt. Fuji, listing the various entrances to trails, stations and amenities on the way to the summit, as well as rules for the trail. Here the satirist has changed the name of the gates (the bureaucratic entrance, the military entrance, the academic entrance, and so on) and stations ('self-sufficiency teahouse') and reversed the normal rules to make fun of the ambitions of leading political figures. Those seeking to reach the summit are advised to 'be mindful only to hike at night and not during the day,' 'never give way to others,' and that 'even the elderly and colleagues should be pushed aside if there is an opportunity.' Japan in the Aftermath of Occupation Japanese democracy in this period was lively and raucous, with parties being born and dissolving in short succession and former allies becoming enemies overnight, or vice versa. As a parliamentary system, cabinet members were generally chosen to satisfy various factions and coalition parties rather than on qualifications or merit. As this view demonstrates, the press was happy to take full advantage of free speech to comment on these developments following strict censorship prior to 1945 and somewhat less strict censorship during the U.S. Occupation. The early postwar period (1945 - 1960) was preoccupied with economic reconstruction following the war, but the geopolitics of the Cold War and the legacy of Japan's recent past were also paramount. Japan's postwar constitution included a renouncement of ever resorting to war to resolve disputes with other countries and Japan was only permitted a small self-defense force, which was mostly used to assist the U.S. military with internal policing during the Occupation. But the Cold War caused the U.S. to change its approach and encourage a revival of Japan's military-industrial complex to support the war in Korea. Japan's Self-Defense Forces were also allowed to expand and take on new roles, an issue that was extremely controversial in Japan and throughout Asia. Many in Japan were concerned about rearmaments leading to a return of militarism, and worried that Japan would become the frontline in a war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This map, made roughly two years after the end of the U.S. Occupation, shows the centrality of these issues to Japanese domestic politics, which would only be partially resolved after the Anpo Treaty political crisis of 1960. Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida Sitting atop Mt. Fuji is Yoshida Shigeru (???; September 22, 1878 - October 20, 1967), Prime Minister at the time of the map's production (he preceded and succeeded Katayama), nearing the end of six-year terms of office. Yoshida was born in ?iso, Japan, and had a long career as a diplomat before entering politics, including long stints in China and Europe. Due to these experiences, he spoke English well. He also opposed Japan going to war with the United States and United Kingdom in 1941 and was not directly implicated in any war crimes, which along wi.

Seller Inventory # PMYoshidaFuji-unknown-1954

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Minister Fuji Mountain Trail Guide Map. / / Political Boss Faction Water Vein Map
• Publication Date: 1954
• Binding: Soft cover
• Seller catalogs:
  • JAPAN-MAPS