The True Nature of Hakkō ichiu, the Religious Ideology That Moved All of Japan (Gentosha Shinsho) By Hiromi Shimada The atmosphere in the room shifted and became agitated the moment Junko Mihara, a member of the House of Councillors, mentioned the phrase "Hakkō ichiu" during the 2015 House of Councillors Budget Committee. While it is recognized as having played a role in justifying Japan's overseas aggression during the war, this phrase, coined by the Nichiren Buddhist scholar Chigaku Tanaka, also captivated Kenji Miyazawa, Kanji Ishihara, and Ikki Kita. What did it mean, and how did it drive pre-war and wartime Japanese people into a frenzy centered around the Emperor? And how did Hakkō ichiu survive and integrate into Japan after the war? A groundbreaking study that unravels the Japanese spirit that continues to this day.