Dialogue to the Future: Interviews with a New Generation of Researchers in the AJI

The 12^th Interview

Interview with Dr. Ryo TSUNODA

――First of all, could you tell me what led you to decide on a career as a researcher? And please tell us about your current research theme

Tsunoda: Well, currently I am researching the Senyukai (戦友会), War Veterans’ Associations established by former Japanese army personnel. I hadn’t thought about becoming a researcher until I entered the master’s program, but seeing the work of my senior doctoral students and professors in the master's program really impressed me. Watching them write their doctoral dissertations and turn them into books up close, I strongly felt that I wanted to author a book myself.

——I see. Have you always had a strong interest in books?

Tsunoda: I think I had a vague idea that I wanted to do something that would keep my name in the public eye. At first, I didn’t imagine myself as a future writer, but seeing the seniors and professors around me actively publishing their works—my supervisor even released four books during my six years as a graduate student—inspired me to give it a shot. I felt encouraged to continue my research and write a book of my own.

——It is great that you were inspired to turn your research into a book. You specialize in the postwar history of organizations related to the former Imperial Japanese Army. What motivated you to choose this subject for your graduate school research? Can you give us some details about how this happened?

Tsunoda: Originally, I was really interested in stories about the Kamikaze (Special Attack Force) and collected a lot of newspaper articles. Under these circumstances, I was curious about what kind of people they were, as well as wanting to read the words of those who actually experienced the war. During the summer vacation of my first year as a master’s student, I came across the bulletin of an organization founded to commemorate the Kamikaze troops in the Yasukuni Shrine Library, which contains numerous materials related to war veterans. When I read it, I found that the present organization had been handed down from actual war veterans to those who had not experienced the war, and that the former had a slightly different understanding of the meaning of “Kamikaze.” I found this very interesting, and it led me to write my master’s thesis on this subject. This led me to become curious about what kind of veterans’ associations existed in the Army and Navy and what kind of discussions are being held. So, in my doctoral thesis, I studied Kaikosha, mutual aid organizations that hold social gatherings among ex-Army officers.

――Thank you. Certainly, it is interesting to understand intuitively that the universal story of battles and Kamikaze attacks is actually the sum of individual experiences shared by those who survived the war. Have you had a long-standing interest in topics related to war?

Tsunoda: Well, yes. To tell you the truth, I was hoping to get some money to cover my vacation travel expenses from my parents. To achieve that purpose, it was better to say, “I want to go to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum” or “to a museum of Kamikaze” to learn history than to just say, “I want to go on a trip during summer vacation.” And it worked. They were willing to pay for it. However, in the process of visiting the museums, I became interested in why they had to die and how we dealt with their history.

――Although you initially had the tacit purpose of enjoying your summer vacation, visiting history museums turned out to be the inspiration for your current research interest. You must appreciate your parents for helping you! In your research, you study historical materials concerning Kaikosha and interview people involved in related organizations. Has anything left a lasting impression on you from that experience?

Tsunoda: Certainly. At the time, the office of the memorial group for the suicide attack units where I conducted my first interview was located in the basement of the Yushukan building at Yasukuni Shrine. When I approached a member for the interview, I found that most of the members were former Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel who had been born after the war. They seemed rather disengaged, saying, “We don’t have anything to say about it.” I remember feeling quite nervous because of the location, specifically the basement of Yasukuni Shrine. However, when I finally met with one member, he was very kind and open to the conversation. Also, his attitude was reassuring, likely shaped by his experiences as a former SDF officer, and it turned out to be a very meaningful time for me.

――I didn’t know that there was a place like that in the basement of the Yushukan building. I can imagine how nervous you must have been speaking with a former Self-Defense Force officer in such an environment. What questions did you ask, and what stories did you hear?

Tsunoda: I usually read the bulletins and other materials from various organizations, and I would often ask them about information that wasn't clear from those materials. At times, I would find that I was more familiar with the organization than its members were because I had studied the materials in detail. However, interacting with the organization's members has sparked my interest in pursuing further research.

――So, you developed your research based on a combination of reading materials and meeting people who were actually involved in memorial activities. You published The Postwar History of Ex-army Officers: Transformation from Reflection of Army Officers to Historical Revisionism (Shinyosha, written in Japanese) last year (2024). We previously introduced it on the Asia Japan Research Institute website. What has the response been?

Tsunoda: I would like to thank AJI for acknowledging my work. My book has been featured in newspapers and various publications, and it has received several reviews at academic conferences. Additionally, I received positive feedback in all the book reviews, which made me very happy after all the effort I put into my research to get it published.

――That‘s great. Do you have anything you would like readers to pay attention to when reading your book?

Tsunoda: After World War II, former army officers often engaged in heated arguments that sometimes involved harsh words. These exchanges were not merely verbal disputes; rather, they reflected a deeper confrontational dynamic rooted in the experiences of the war. I hope readers find this aspect interesting. Additionally, I have included many of these stories in the footnotes, and I encourage readers to explore those sections as well.

——That's interesting. Even in the face of confrontations, we must consider the historical context rather than just immediate feelings and ideas. Now, I'd like to move on to my next question. As a senior researcher currently engaged in activities at the AJI, have you noticed any changes in your research activities due to the international environment?

Tsunoda: Yes, I have. This international environment of the AJI has prompted me to think about how to present my research and the history of Japan to a global audience. It has also provided an opportunity to re-evaluate my work. Moreover, I was able to establish new networks with overseas researchers studying Japan during an international workshop. It was very meaningful for me.

——As you just mentioned, last year (October 2024), you organized an international workshop entitled, “The Paradoxes of Postwar Japan: Japan’s ‘Peace Constitution,’ the JSDF, and Society.” What are your expectations for the future international dissemination of your research?

Tsunoda: After publishing the book, I was frequently asked about the distinctive features of stories shared by former Japanese soldiers compared to those from other countries, such as the United States and Germany. This comparative perspective interests me as well, and I would like to conduct a comparative study since there is extensive research available on veterans in the United States.

——I am sure that making international comparisons would add new insights to the war and postwar experiences of former Japanese soldiers. Can you tell us what aspects of your current research you find interesting?

Tsunoda: I find it very interesting that new connections can be made through disseminating my research outputs. My research network is steadily growing as many people recognize me as a result of publishing my results in the book. I have become more acquainted with various researchers from multiple fields, such as history, military history, and sociology. At the same time, I am inspired by the achievements of such people to develop my research output further and further.

――It sounds wonderful. The publication of your book has provided a strong springboard for future research. What plans do you have for your next research?

Tsunoda: Since discovering how rewarding and enjoyable it can be to publish a book; I am now working on my next project based on the feedback I received from book reviews. I expect to write the next book within a few years. In terms of my research theme, I would like to continue exploring how Japanese society has perceived military personnel and the army, and how these perceptions have impacted the lives of former military personnel. This aspect has often been overlooked, as the primary focus in Japanese society regarding the war has been on the transmission of war experiences across different generations since the end of World War II.

――That is a fascinating. Studying not only the memories of war experiences but also the collective perception of the army as a foundation for those memories would be very interesting. I am looking forward to reading your next book. Thank you very much for today’s interview.