Honolulu Record, August 26, 1948, vol. 1 no. 4, p. 1
Kiichi Watanabe
The life of the Hissho Kai (Absolute Victory Club) is limited. It might last until the peace treaty is signed with Japan, or shortly thereafter. When alien Japanese are able to visit Japan freely, the fantastic lie of Japanese victory can no longer be used by racketeers to dupe blind patriots.
Today, however, fantastic stories of Japanese victory told loudly and often enough by leaders of the Absolute Victory Club (Hissho Kai) seem to be taking effect even on some of the leaders of this hoax propagating organization.
An observer who talked with the Club members extensively concluded this week that these people gather at their headquarters every day to convince each other with orgies of lies.
Advisor Duped
An old, bearded and revered advisor before whom club members scrape and bow when he arrives at the headquarters in the morning is an outstanding example of a person duped.
This man was converted by the club leaders one year after V-J Day. Because of his scholarly background and community prestige, he was made an adviser.
Every so often President Shohan Sunabe reportedly takes this advisor and other officials to Pearl Harbor, Tripler General Hospital and other military installations. Club members who boast of having made the trips say the Tripler General Hospital will be the governor general's headquarters when Japan takes over Hawaii.
Utter Imagination
These officials state that the Japanese fleet is outside Pearl Harbor. They also say that when they visit military installations, the American guards salute them and that no place is restricted to them. The advisor allegedly has met a Japanese prince through Mr. Sunabe, whom he felt was none other than Prince Takamatsu. This prince is reported to be disguised as a Filipino. He conversed in broken English according to the advisor.
A man who has done extensive propaganda work for the club is Minegoro Niiya. He brings printed informational bulletins to potential recruits and members and informs them that these came from the Imperial Headquarters.
The officers of this organization as given by Mr. Sunabe are:
Shohan Sunabe, president; Shinichi Imai, first vice-president; Zenzo Gushiken, second vice-president; Shoei Shimabukuro, secretary; Hiroshi Ishida, assistant secretary; Kashin Uyehara, treasurer; Takie Nagamatsu, assistant treasurer; Kazuo Saito, auditor; Sekiji Uchibori, assistant auditor; Tokuzo Shibayama, advisor; Shuji Mikami, advisor.
Branches of the Hawaii Hissho Kai are located in the following districts:
Oahu—Kaneohe, Aiea, Waipahu, Ewa, Wahiawa and Waialua; Lanai; Hawaii—Hilo, Piihonua, Oola, Kau, Kona, Hamakua, Ninole, Hakalau and Papaloa.
Knife in the Back
A former president of the organization, Tsurumatsu Tokunaga, told the Honolulu Record that while he was president, Mr. Sunabe sent a Mrs. Uyeno of Waipahu to Hawaii and Maui to organize new branches without Tokunaga's knowledge. When this was effected, according to Tokunaga, the next move of Mr. Sunabe was to expel him.
Mr. Tokunaga stated that he was expelled because he helped a member of the organization to send relief parcels to Japan. As a leader of an organization propagating the idea of Japanese victory, he was told that to send relief package was to admit Japanese defeat. He was also charged with sanctioning his son to volunteer for the US. occupational forces in Japan.
Woman Organizer
Mrs. Kikuko Uyeno, an elderly lady who runs the Country Market in Waipahu, violently denied that she had gone to the other islands to organize branches "behind Mr. Tokunaga's back." She said she had gone to buy vegetables for her market. This reporter observed a few counters of vegetables in her shop.
Mr. Tokunaga stated that while he was president and when he permitted his son to go to Japan, he realized that Japan had lost the war. However, he continued to lead his Victory Club.
Because of the restraint put on shipment of relief packages to Japan, the Hissho Kai is losing membership. Now it permits individuals to send relief packages. Added to this, the expose of this organization by the Hawaii Times is reported to have reduced its membership.
Discrimination at Fault
Mrs. Uyeno strongly condemned AJAs and alien Japanese residents who she said contributed $50,000 to the US during the last war to bomb Japan. What she meant was evidently the purchase of war bonds. Mrs. Uyeno, as did Mr. Sunabe, said 25 per cent of the Hissho Kai membership is citizens. She gave discrimination as one of the basic reasons for citizens joining this organization. She recounted in detail the various discrimination she had suffered because of her ancestry.
When this reporter reminded her of the war record of the AJAs, she simply said to let her believe and go along on her own way. In a year to five years, she said, we would find out who had actually won the war.