Conscientious Objection in Japan

“On my third or fourth attendance at the Sunday service with Friends, an American young Quaker who was on the staff of the American Friends Service Committee working in Tokyo came to talk about his own experiences of having been a conscientious objector during World War II and about the ideas of conscientious objection (CO) in relation to Quaker beliefs. It really was an epoch-making shock to me to know such a thing as CO existed in this world. I had never heard nor dreamed anything like that even though I had been brought up in a devout Christian family. This person had lived ‘love your enemy’ in the US at the same time that I had been caught up with the mad notions of nationalism and of winning the ‘Holy War’ in Japan…

Quaker worship gave me time and space to dissolve my hard shell of self-centredness, to be sensitive, to discern things with fairness and unaffected by prejudice. I felt the need to be faithful to truth instead of relying on existing judgment. The idea of conscientious objection based on the philosophy of non-violence struck me and was proved to me to be fair, reasonable and Christian. I concluded that it must be the way to take for me, and for Japan, who had heart-rending experiences of defeat in war and of two nuclear disasters. This became my conviction and I was glad when I realised Japan had declared itself by its new constitution to be a unique CO nation, stating clearly in article 9 of the constitution that it would abolish fighting forces forever.

One day in Tokyo Local Court, I had an opportunity to make a statement to witness why I felt it necessary to resist tax-payment for military expenditures, saying, ‘With military power we cannot protect our life nor keep our human dignity. Even if I should be killed, my way of living or dying to show my sympathy and forgiveness to my opponents, to point to the love of God shown by Jesus Christ on the cross and by his resurrection, will have a better chance to invite others to turn to walk rightly so that we humankind may live together peacefully.’”

— Susumu Ishitani, 1989
Japanese Quaker peace activist

Reader Responses

When have you taken a stand against violence?

How did it feel?

In 1968 I was teaching in Richmond Indiana in a middle school. The principal asked me to witness a paddling of a student. I knew that in Indiana that could be done but had not ever thought about it because it wasn't something I would do. I refused to witness the paddling. The student was there and I refused. I was sure that that was the right answer. I was calm and focused. However, the principal said and unless he did the paddling it would mean problems for him and for the school. I was reluctant. I did witness the paddling and from 1968 on I have felt compromised by my decision.

The student with whom I had never had a problem was negative towards me for the rest of the year. And I don't blame him. It was wrong to back off and I have suffered for changing my stand. I no longer change my stand when I am sure that it is right and I feel that centered calm take over my body.

Dorothy G., Portland, ME, USA

This Week’s Messages

Mon May 12

The System is Designed to Deter Conscientious Objectors

“Virtually every male living in the United States, even illegal immigrants, need to register for selective service 30 days before or after their 18th birthday. That process has become pretty much seamless and hidden in that, in about 45 states across the country, it’s now automatic when people sign up for a driver’s license. So young people, young men really aren’t even aware that they are signing up for selective service.” …
Tue May 13

Ukrainian Quakers React to the War

“Though our faith community of Ukrainian Quakers, being advocates of nonviolent action, finds regrettable that nonviolent resistance to Russian aggression, marked by such impressive and heroic deeds as unarmed repulsion of Russian tanks by a crowd of civilian protesters in Koriukivka17, remains a matter of spontaneity and limited efforts of enthusiasts [….] The Government of Ukraine does not see nonviolent action among priorities in any short-term or long-term planning, does not provide any significant support to it, and attempts to subordinate it to the army, which undermines the ethical integrity and safety of nonviolent resistance.” …
Wed May 14

Witnessing for Peace in WWII

“At that time we didn’t know hardly anything at all about what was happening in the concentration camps. Had we known, would it have been different? But after knowing all the horrors of Nazism, one can understand people taking arms to get rid of Nazism for the world. But even then, side by side with that, it was so very important that there was a very, very small separate section of us who would give a peace witness. I never questioned that.” …
Thu May 15

Commemorating International Conscientious Objectors’ Day

“To commemorate men & women conscientious objectors to military service all over the world & in every age To all those who have established and are maintaining the right to refuse to kill Their foresight and courage give us hope This stone was dedicated on 15 May 1994 International Conscientious Objectors’ Day” …
Fri May 16

We Are Here for All of Us

“Let’s talk about our part / My heart touch your heart / Let’s talk about, let’s talk about living / Had enough of dying, not what we all about / Let’s do more giving / Do more forgiving, yeah / Our souls were brought together so that we could love each other” …
Sat May 17

Pulling Free, Out of the Wreckage

Some nerve-jangled imp or claw-hook cat / turned these hanks that lay smooth – / gray lambs, bassinet babies, risen loaves – / into a snarl that spills over the table, / smoke curling thick over a ruined town …

Banner image: Todd Drake
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  • Susumu Ishitani

    Susumu Ishitani (1932-2002) was at the forefront of the movement to refuse payment of that percentage of the Japanese income tax used for defense and military funding. He was a Quaker who was involved in Japan's Fellowship of Reconciliation. He was a child in Nagasaki when the atomic bomb was dropped there on August 9, 1945.

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