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Drawing A Line Between Peaceful and Military Uses of Nuclear Power: The Japanese Press, 1945–1955

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2025

Shunichi Takekawa
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Abstract

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Why did Japan, the victim of the atomic bomb, early and whole- heartedly opt for nuclear power? From 1945 to 1955, indeed, from the immediate aftermath of Japan's surrender, the Asahi, Mainichi and Yomiuri, the big three newspapers, unanimously and without controversy, endorsed the peaceful uses of nuclear power, distinguishing it from nuclear weapons. This article reconsiders a literature that has focused on the decisive role of the Yomiuri newspaper, and Eisenhower's 1953 Atoms for Peace program, which led the Japanese to accept nuclear power in the mid-1950s. Instead, it shows a broad media consensus in support of nuclear power from the 1940s, envisaged as the heart of the next industrial revolution.

Keywords

Fukushima Daiichi accidentnuclear powernuclear weaponsJapanese pressanti-nuclear movementpopular sentiment in JapanUS-Japan relations
Type
Research Article
Information
Asia-Pacific Journal , Volume 10 , Issue 37 , September 2012 , e2
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Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

References

Notes

1 Sano Shinichi, Kyokaiden: Shoriki Matsutaro to Kagemushatachi no 1-seiki (Tokyo: Bungei Shunjusha 1994); Arima Tetsuo, Genpatsu/Shoriki/CIA (Tokyo: Shinchosha 2008); Arima Tetsuo, Nihon Terebi to CIA (Tokyo: Takarajimasha 2011)—this book was originally published by Shinchosha in 2006.

2 The authors include: Kainuma Hiroshi, “Fukushima”-ron (Tokyo: Seidosha 2011); Karasudani Masayuki, “Sengo Nihon no Genshiryoku ni kansuru Shakai Ninshiki,” in Oishi Yutaka ed. Sengo Nihon no Media to Shimin Ishiki (Kyoto: Minarva Shobo2012), pp. 183-240; Shichizawa Kiyoshi, “Terebi to Genshiryoku: Sengo Nidai Shisutemu no 50- nen: vol. 1,” in Sekai (July 2008), pp. 228-236;

Taguchi Randy, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fukushima (Tokyo: Chikuma Shobo 2011); Takeda Toru, Watashitachi wa Koshite “Genpatsu Taikoku” wo Eranda (Tokyo: Chuo Koron Shinsha 2011); Yamaoka Junichiro, Genpatsu to Kenryoku (Tokyo: Chikuma Shobo 2011); Yamazaki Masakatsu, Nihon no Kaku Kaihatsu 1939~1955 (Tokyo: Sekibundo 2011).

3 Taguchi, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fukushima, pp. 118-119.

4 Yamaoka, Genpatsu to Kenryoku, pp. 56-71.

5 Ikawa Mitsuo, “Genshiryoku Heiwa Riyo Hakurankai to Shinbunsha,” in Tsuganesawa Toshihiro ed., Sengo Nihon no Media Ibento 1945-1960 nen, (Kyoto: Sekai Shisosha 2002), pp. 247-265.

6 In 1953, the Asahi sold 6.7 million copies (morning and evening editions combined) per day, the Mainichi 6.4 millions, and the Yomiuri 3.4 millions. See Ariyama Teruo, ed. Senryoki Shinbun Shiryoshusei, Dai 5-kan (2001, Tokyo: Yumani Shobo).

7 Shibata Hidetoshi, Sengo Masukomi Kaiyuki (Tokyo: Chuo Koronsha, 1995), pp. 65-72 in volume 2. The book was republished in two volumes from the original in 1985.

8 Ibid., p. 72-73 in volume 2.

9 Yamazaki, Nihon no Kakukaihatsu: 1939-1955,

p. 201.

10 “Gensuibaku Kinshi Shomei 1,400-man nin,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (October 24, 1954), p. 7.

11 “6-okunin no Ishi: Gensuibaku Kinshi Shomei,” in Asahi Shinbun, evening edition (August 5, 1955), p. 2.

12 Yamazaki Masakatsu and Okuda Kenzo, “Bikini Jiken go no Genshiro Donyu-ron no Taito” in Kagakushi Kenkyu, no. 43 (2004), pp.

83-93.

13 Sano, Kyokaiden: p. 523.

14 Karasudani, “Sengo Nihon no Genshiryoku ni kansuru Shakai Ninshiki,” p. 191.

15 Kenneth Osgood, Total Cold War: Eisenhower's Secret Propaganda Battle at Home and Abroad (Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas 2006), p. 3.

16 Ikawa, “Genshiryoku Heiwa Riyo Hakurankai to Shinbunsha,” p. 252.

17 Ikawa, “Genshiryoku Heiwa Riyo Hakurankai to Shinbunsha,” pp. 247-265.

18 Ran Zwigenberg, “‘the Coming of a Second Sun’: The 1956 Atoms for Peace Exhibit in Hiroshima and Japan's Embrace of Nuclear Power,” The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 10, Issue 6, No 1 (February 6, 2012)

http://japanfocus.org/-Ran-Zwigenberg/3685.

19 See Yoshioka Hitoshi, Shinpan: Genshiryoku no Shakaishi (Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 2011), p. 61, and Yoshioka Hitoshi, “Nuclear Power Research and the Scientists’ Role” in Nakayama Shigeru et al., A Social History of Science and Technology in Contemporary Japan, Volume 2 (2005, Melbourne, Australia: Trans Pacific Press), pp. 104-124.

20 Unlike editorials, the front-page column does not necessarily represent Asahi's views. But it is written by a leading Asahi writer and has enjoyed high reputation over the years.

21 Boyer, Paul, Fallout: A Historian Reflects on America's Half-Century Encounter with Nuclear Weapons (Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1998).

22 “Genshiryoku wo Heiwa Riyo,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (September 6, 1947),

p.1.

23 “Bei, Hoshasei Isotopu Kokai, To-daitoryo, Gensiryoku no Heiwateki Riyo,” in Yomiuri Shinbun, morning Edition (September 10, 1947), p. 2.

24 “Genshiryoku de Hatsuden Sochi, Beikoku ga Nenmatsu ni Kokai Jikken,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition, January 30, 1948, p. 2.

25 “Genshiryoku no Doryokuka ni Seiko, Bei- Genshiryoku Iinkai de Happyo,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (December 30, 1951), p. 1: “Bei de Genshiryoku Hatsuden ni Seiko,” in Mainichi Shinbun, morning edition (December 30, 1951), p. 1; “Bei Genshiryoku no Denkika ni Seiko su,” in Yomiuri Shinbun, morning edition (December 20, 1951), p. 1.

26 “Genshi Enerugi, Heiwa Sangyo ni Katsuyo Sureba, Jiu wo Yobi, Taifu wo Tomeru,” in Yomiuri Shinbun, morning edition (July 26, 1946), p.3.

27 “Nippon no Kagaku Atarashiki Michi; Nishina Hakushi ni Kiku,” in Yomiuri Shinbun, morning edition (March 4, 1946), p. 2.

28 “Genshiryoku to heiwa: Nishina Yoshio,” in Yomiuri Shinbun, morning edition, August 1, 1948: p. 2.

29 “Heiwa to Genshiryoku, Nishina Yoshio,” in Mainichi Shinbun, morning edition (February 17, 1947), p. 2.

30 “Genshiryoku no Heiwateki Riyo,” in Yomiuri Shinbun, morning Edition (February 13, 1949),

p. 2

31 “Lilienthal-shi Genshiryoku Jodan,” in Yomiuri Shinbun, morning edition (January 1, 1950), p. 5.

32 Boyer, Fallout, p. 29.

33 According to Yamamoto, SCAP censored the Japanese media from September 1945 to October 1949. Major newspapers became the subject of pre-publication censorship in October 1945. But the SCAP switched to postpublication censorship for major newspapers in July 1947, relying more on newspapers’ selfcensorship. See Yamamoto, Takeshi, Senryoki Media Bunseki (Tokyo: Hosei Daigaku Shuppankyoku, 1996)

34 For details of the A-bomb-related US censorship issues, see Monica Braw, The Atomic Bomb Suppressed : American Censorship in Occupied Japan (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1991).

35 Yamazaki, Nihon no Kakukaihatsu: 1939-1955, p. 125-126.

36 Ibid., p. 124.

37 John W. Dower, “The Bombed: Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japanese Memory,” in Diplomatic History, vol. 19, no. 2 (Spring 1995), pp. 275-295.

38 Ibid., p. 279.

39 Tanaka Yuki, “‘genshiryoku Heiwa Riyo’ no Ura ni aru Shinjitsu,” in Kagaku Vol. 81, Issue. 12 (December 2011), pp. 1284-1286.

40 Yamazaki, Nihon no Kakukaihatsu: 1939-1955, pp. 127-151; Yoshioka, Genshiryoku no Shakaishi, pp. 63-68.

41 “Nihon Gakujutsu Kaigi, Haran Yobu Genshiryoku Mondai,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (October 18, 1952), p. 7.

42 Fushimi Yasuharu, “Naze Genshiryoku Kaihatsu wo Suishin Suru no ka,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (November 4, 1952), p. 4; Sakata Shoichi, “Nihon ni okeru Genshiryoku no Mondai,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (November 5, 1952), p. 4.

43 Yoshioka, Shinpan: Genshiryoku no Shakaishi, pp. 63-68.

44 The series of four articles appeared on page 4 of the morning editions published on December 2, 3, 4, and 6, 1952.

45 “Genshiryoku to Hatsuden: Bei-zaikaijin Yatto Chumoku,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (December 2, 1952), p. 4.

46 Kishida Junnosuke, “Tanaka-san ga Tsukutta Choken no Shitsufu,” in Asahi Shinbunsha Sogo Kenkyu Senta Chosa Kenkyushitsu ed. Choken no 50-nen (Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1997)

47 Tanaka Shinjiro, Genshiryoku to Shakai (Tokyo: Asashi Shinbunsha, 1953)

48 Yamazaki, Nihon no Kakukaihatsu: 1939-1955, pp. 143-144.

49 Those articled were on page 10 and page 11.

50 “Genshiryoku Mondai no Kaiko to Tenbo,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (January 5, 1953), p. 3.

51 Senya Toshizo, “Genshiryoku Jidai,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (January 9, 1953), p.6; Sakikawa Noriyuki, “Watashi wa Genshi Doryoku no Kenkyu ga Shitai,” Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (February 8, 1953), p.6.

52 “Genshiryoku no Heiwateki Riyo,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (April 17, 1953), p.3.

53 “Heiwa Riyo wa Eikoku ga Sentan,” in Asahi Shinbun, evening edition (August 22, 1953),

p.1.

54 “Genshiryoku Jidai to Nihon no Shorai,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (September 14, 1953), p. 4.

55 “Atoms for Peace Speech,” in International Atomic Energy Agency. Accessed on August 12, 2012.

56 According to the advertisement, Japanese ministries, but no US institution, such as the Ministry of Education co-supported this event.

57 Yoshioka, Shinpan: Genshiryoku no Shakaishi, pp. 69-70.

58 Ibid., pp. 70-71.

59 “Nihon Gakujutsu Kaigi Kara, Gakkai Kuno no Shukuzu,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (April 27, 1953), p. 6.

60 “Genshiryoku Yosan ni Gakkai no Taido Kimaru,” in Asahi Shinbun, morning edition (March 12, 1954), p. 7.

61 Yoshioka, Shinban: Genshiryoku no Shakaishi, pp. 74-80.

62 Shibata, Sengo Masukomi Kaiyuki, p. 66-67 in volume 2; Yomiuri Shinbunsha 100-nenshi Henshu Iinkai, Yomiuri Shinbun 100 nen-shi, pp. 648-649.

63 Shibata, Sengo Masukomi Kaiyuki, p. 66-67 in volume 2; Yomiuri Shinbunsha 100-nenshi Henshu Iinkai, Yomiuri Shinbun 100 nen-shi, pp. 648-649.

64 Sangiin Honkaigi (House of Councilors Plenary Session), “Genshiryoku Kokusai Kanri narabini Genshi Heiki Kinshi ni kansuru Ketsugi” (Resolution on the International Control on Nuclear Power and the Ban on Nuclear Weapons). Accessed on August 12, 2012.

65 Nihon Keizai Shinbunsha, ed. Nihon Keizai Shinbunsha 110-nenshi (Tokyo: Nihon Keizai Shinbunsha, 1986).

66 Zwigenberg, “‘The Coming of a Second Sun’: The 1956 Atoms for Peace Exhibit in Hiroshima and Japan's Embrace of Nuclear Power.”