Shindo Renmei

Shindo Renmei - (臣道連盟 Shindō Renmei; "League of the Subjects' Path" in Japanese) was a terrorist organization composed of Japanese immigrants in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, active in the 1940s. Refusing to believe the news of Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, some of its most fanatic members used violence against those who did. Shindo Renmei killed at least 23 people and wounded 147 others, all of them being Japanese-Brazilians.

Historical background

The first Japanese immigrants arrived in Brazil in 1908, most intending to amass wealth and return to their country of birth. They found themselves in a completely different country, with different languages, religions, climate, foods, and customs; as they planned to return, they lived in relative isolation from the culture around them, with few learning Portuguese. As such, they were generally seen with suspicion by the general populace. Yet, by the 1930s, Brazil had the largest community of Japanese immigrants in the world.

The Estado Novo regime established by Getúlio Vargas, aiming to promote Brazilian nationalism, repressed the cultures of the Japanese and German communities. The decree 383 of April 18, 1938 stated, among other things, that foreigners were not allowed to take part in political activities,[1] speak foreign languages in public, or teach them as the first language of their children. Radio broadcast in foreign languages was forbidden; publishing in foreign languages was only allowed in bilingual editions.

At the time, almost 90% of the Japanese immigrants were subscribers of Japanese language newspapers, which indicates a much higher literacy rate than the general populace at the time. Decree 383, which made bilingual editions obligatory, in effect required such newspapers to be discontinued, as it made printing costs exceedingly high; as a significant number of Japanese immigrants could not understand Portuguese, this made it exceedingly difficult for them to obtain any extra-communal information.

When Brazil sided with the Allies in 1942, any communication with Japan was cut: the entry of new Japanese immigrants was forbidden; letters from Japan would no longer arrive at their recipients; Japanese-Brazilians were unable to travel freely or live in certain regions, such as coastal areas, without safe conduct from the authorities; and radio receivers were confiscated, making it almost impossible for Japanese-Brazilians to listen to short wave transmissions from Japan. Even bilingual newspapers were forbidden during this tumultuous period.

Foundation

Shindo Renmei was not the only, nor the first, "patriotic" organization founded by Japanese-Brazilians. Most of these organizations provided mutual support for the community; none of them, except for Shindo Renmei, was ever involved in terrorist acts.

Keizo Ishihara, Margarida Watanabe, and Massaru Takahashi, Japanese Catholics, founded the Pia ("pious"), a charity created to benefit of the poorer members of the diaspora, with the approval of the church and the Brazilian government. A former Japanese army colonel, Junji Kikawa, was active in the Pia. In 1942, after a violent altercation between Japanese and Brazilians in Marília, Kikawa founded Shindo Renmei, and campaigned for the Japanese community to commit acts of sabotage; he distributed pamphlets urging Japanese-Brazilian farmers to cease producing silk (used then to make parachutes) and peppermint (menthol was used in the production of explosives). As Pia's directors opposed this campaign, Kikawa left Pia in 1944.

Shindo Renmei had its headquarters in the city of São Paulo, with 64 local offices in the states of São Paulo and Paraná. It was sponsored by donations from their affiliates.

With the end of World War 2, Shindo Renmei refused to believe the official news about the Japanese defeat. Believing it to be nothing but American propaganda, they established new goals: to punish the defeatists, to spread the "truth" that Japan had won or was winning the war, and defend the emperor's honor.

In Shindo Renmei's eyes, the Japanese-Brazilian community was divided in two groups:

Compounding the confusion, a number of scammers produced fake Japanese newspapers and magazines with news about the "great victory" and started selling land in the "conquered territories". Others sold yen, the Japanese currency, nearly worthless at the time, to those who intended to return to Japan. This drove many kachigumi into bankruptcy, some even to suicide.[2]

Terrorist actions

Shindo Renmei's members believed that the news regarding Japan's defeat were false, and they created a communication system to spread the "truth" that Japan had won. Underground Japanese-language newspapers and magazines pushing this view were published, and clandestine radio stations were established.

The group also wrote lists with the names of the makegumi who should die for betraying the emperor.

Kamegoro Ogasawara, owner of a dry cleaner's in São Paulo, coordinated the punitive actions. Many Japanese-owned boarding houses served as hideouts for the killers after their actions.

Shindo Renmei's killers, or tokkotai, were always young people. Before a murder, they sent letters to their intended targets, urging them to commit seppuku – ritual suicide by sword – so that they could "regain the lost honor". The letters started by saying: "You have a dirty heart, so you must have the throat washed", this essentially means to be cut by a katana.[2]

Not one of those who received such a letter complied with the request. Thus, they were killed with firearms or katana. From 1946 to early 1947, according to official data, Shindo Renmei killed 23 and wounded 147, all Japanese-Brazilians. The killers often surrendered to the police soon after their crimes, explaining that they had nothing against Brazil or its people, and that they were not common criminals, for they killed only as part of their duty.[2]

Repression and end

Tales of murder, especially by katana sword, spread fear among Japanese-Brazilians; the general Brazilian population wasn't directly affected, however it was left with the impression that all Japanese were nationalist fanatics.

Bursts of violence against Japanese immigrants, belonging to Shindo Renmei or not, occurred mostly in towns in the countryside where they had large communities, such as in the region of Tupã, São Paulo.[2] After two attacks by Shindo Renmei, and the murder of a Brazilian truck driver by a Japanese truck driver on July 31, 1946, a massive crowd in Osvaldo Cruz rioted and was willing to lynch any Japanese they found. The riot was contained only with the arrival of army troops.[3]

The army and the Departamento Estadual de Ordem Política e Social (DEOPS - State Department of Political and Social Order) investigated the case in the states of São Paulo and Paraná. According to the police of São Paulo, 31,380 Japanese-Brazilians were suspected of having connections to the organization. DEOPS also investigated 376 Japanese-Brazilians.[3] Ultimately, the leaders of Shindo Renmei and most of the tokkotai were arrested.

About 155 Japanese immigrants were to be banished from Brazil in 1946, but this never happened, and the time for punishment elapsed. Only fourteen tokkotai were convicted of murder.

After many decades, Shindo Renmei is still somewhat of a taboo among Japanese-Brazilian immigrants.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dulles, John W. F. (2010-06-28). Sobral Pinto, "The Conscience of Brazil": Leading the Attack against Vargas (1930-1945). University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292782211.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gargantas Cortadas in IstoÉ Online (visitada em 17 de agosto de 2008)
  3. 1 2 SUZUKI Jr, Matinas. História da discriminação brasileira contra os japoneses sai do limbo in Folha de S.Paulo, 20 de abril de 2008
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