Honolulu Record, August 19, 1948, vol. 1 no. 3, p. 1
Fanatics, Racketeers Claim Japan Won War
Victory Clubs Are Organized; Main Centers On Two Islands
More than 3,000 Japanese residents throughout the Territory believe that Japan won the last war, the atomic bomb does not exist and the Russians did hot wage war against Japan.
This startling statement was made by Shohan Sunabe, president of "Hissho Kai" (Absolute Victory Club), at his home located at 1307 Lusitana St., which is now the headquarter of the organization.
Organized shortly after Japanese surrender on September 1, 1945, the Hawaii Hissho Kai gives its aims in its constitution as follows:
"To uphold the imperial way, adhere to the Emperor's wish and to display the Japanese spirit."
False Hope
Its statement of purpose says in part that the organization is "to console and encourage our countrymen who have been disappointed by newspaper reports and radio broadcasts stating that Japan's defeat meant the ruination of the country."
For the above purpose the Hissho Kai was formed at the time when the news of Japanese surrender dominated the information media, Mr. Sunabe stated.
This organization charges $10 initiation fee per member but does not collect dues. It has never held a general membership meetings according to its president, but has been run by a board of directors that meets every January. The same officers have been re-appointed year after year by the board.
Entertainment Fund
Various, charges have been directed against the officers for mishandling of funds, particularly their alleged feasting and banqueting day after day. About 30 members, practically the same people, visit the headquarters every day.
Sunabe, gray-haired man of 50, tired-looking, but with a gleam in his eyes, violently denied all accusations. He said he had visitors and when he had visitors he had to entertain them.
The Hawaii Times, local bilingual daily, has been exposing this organization in a series of articles in its Japanese section. The articles have been condemning the top Hissho Kai leaders of racketeering and scandalous swindle.
Subversive Literature
The leaders mail out propaganda literature to their followers. Month after month they endeavor to counteract information about Japan and the Pacific area which is disseminated by the press and radio.
Sunabe himself stated during an interview that General MacArthur has been dead a long time. He argued also that Japan still controls the Philippines, therefore, the islands were able to get independence from the U. S.
Among Hissho Kai members rumors have been widespread that the Japanese fleet is standing by close to Hawaii. The only reason it has not taken over the islands is the consideration of Japan to "save America's face."
Every bit of information coming from Japan, either through Japanese newspapers or radio, is labelled as propaganda originating in the United States.
Fanatic Hissho Kai members do not believe reports of AJA soldiers returning from Japan. An AJA who had just come back from devastated Tokyo was told by Hissho Kai members that the American army had taken him and other AJAs to a Pacific island and informed them that it was wartorn Honshu.
Flag Raising Cases
Because of this fanaticism families have been broken up. In one instance in rural Oahu, a Hissho Kai member raised the Japanese flag in his yard on the Emperor's birthday. His American-born son pulled down the flag. A fight ensued, and the son left home. On the Big Island, which is one of the two strongholds of the Hissho Kai in the Territory (the other is Oahu), several members had been arrested for raising Japanese flags. Their cases are now pending.
A Hissho Kai member at Kahaluu in rural Oahu early this year lost his leasehold on a 10-acre banana and vegetable farm because he refused to pay rent. He said it was foolish to pay rent when he was going to be the owner of the land when Japanese troops landed on Oahu.
(In next week's issue the Record will reveal names of leaders and locations of Hissho Kai branches).