The Research Of Koa Association In Japan

In the middle of the 19th century,with the continuous invasion of western powers in Asia,Japan successively produced the thought of " historical viewpoint of imperial" and "overseas expansion theory",and later formed the thought of Japanese Asianism marked by Sonetoshitora's "Koa theory".On the basis of Asianism,the first asianist group with official background-the Koa Association-was established in Japan in 1880.With a clear purpose,a systematic organization and operation system,the association has carried out many political and cultural activities during its existence.The study of the association is helpful to explore whether the spontaneous groups of Japanese social elites at that time had substantial influence on eastern Asian international relations.This paper aims to make a detailed analysis of the formation background of early Asianism,the establishment process and main activities of the Koa Association,and the whole process of the Koa Association changing its name and ceasing to exist.On this basis,it tries to make a judgment on the nature of the Koa Association.Established with the aim of "uniting Asian countries,rejuvenating Asia's recession,and resisting western aggression",the Koa Association has established chapters in Kobe,Osaka and Fukuoka.Most of its members are Meiji government officials and military sources.Its members are mainly divided into the leadership and the performer group,the leadership is composed of senior Meiji government officials,the performer group is mainly military sources and intellectuals.The leadership advocated following the Meiji government's policy of external expansion and establishing a longitudinal Asian order dominated by Japan.Officials advocate a moderate foreign policy and a lateral Asian order of "equality" among Asian countries.But the performers were not sincere.When China and Korea clashed with Japan's fundamental interests,they did their best to spy for Japan.The main activities of the Koa Association include: holding regular meetings and sodalities,issuing transactions,establishing Chinese language schools,sending correspondents and engaging in political activities.The essence of the Koa Association is to cultivate mandarin-speaking spies and spy on China and Korea by attracting their officers and social elites,so as to serve the Meiji government's Asian expansion strategy.Under the control of the Meiji government and the Japanese military,Koa Association would help the Meiji government to carry out the policy of aggression and expansion,deceive its Asian neighbors with the "united Asian resistance to Europe" concept of Asianism,and attempt to integrate its neighbors into the eastern Asian international relations system dominated by Japan,so as to serve Japanese core interests.It has not been able to promote the development of China-Japan relations,let alone realize the so-called "great cause of revitalizing ",because it has invaded Asia in the name of "revitalizing Asia".