WHAT DOES "NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY" MEAN?
Nearly 30 years have passed since we started the rally against "February 11 (2.11) as National Foundation Day". The cause of the affairs was as follows "February 11", the date set for "National Foundation Day", was originally "Kigensetsu" before "Kigensetsu" was contrived by the Meiji government as the date when the enthronement of the mythical Emperor Jinmu took place at Kashihara, Nara. This was done to intentionally give mythological provenance and authority to Tenno's (emperor) despotec rule. Accordingly, there is no scientific and historical basis for the date.
Furthermore, in the period before and during the War, "Kigensetsu" was used to impose on the people the historical view based on the Imperial Family, to inculcate on the people the idea of being LOYAL TO THE TENNO, and PATRIOTIC TO THE NATION, and to coerce the people into militarism to take part in the wars of aggression in Asia. It is quite natural that following the end of the War, "Kigensetsu" was abolished, as being in complete conflict with democratic provision of the present Constitution which stipulates the people's sovereignty, freedom of thought and study, and separation of politics and religion.
In 1966 the government and its-supporting circle, in an attempt to deify Tenno and make him head of the state, legislated for "Kigensetsu" under the new name of "National Foundation Day", in defiance of strong opposition by the people. This action was an infringement of the Articles of peace and democracy principle in the Constitution. Therefore, we never accept any conspiracy told of "the day of 2.11", in order not to repeat the 50 years ago-evil history.
