Tower of Peace in Miyazaki

Built in 1938, the Hakkō Ichiu Tower in the Miyazaki prefecture was meant to embody the Japanese spirit. The stone reliefs of the Tower, as well as the carving ‘Hakkō Ichiu’ represent a world under Japanese rule. As a result of the Second World War, the slogan was removed. In the 1960s, Hakkō Ichiu was to be re-added to the Tower, only now to be interpreted as Japan’s goal for world peace. However, especially locals of Miyazaki see the return of the slogan as a return to the militarist past. So far, a decision whether or not the slogan should be removed or re-interpreted and used to teach Japan’s violent history, has been achieved between the government and private actors.