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ll； they had always been Japan's most stalwart traditionalists。 Now they were branded reactionaries； for they vigorously opposed all that the Meiji Restoration sought to create。 I know that you are well aware that since 1582； when Toyotomi Hideoshi became shogun； only samurai were allowed to wear two swords … the katana was the samurai's province alone。 Now this was all changed。 The Military Conscription Act forbade the wearing of the katana and； by creating a national army posed of 'moners'； effectively did away with the class barrier that had exalted the samurai since its inception in A。D。 792。'
For a time they strolled by the side of the lake； its pure chill blue contrasting with the pink…white of the blossoms。 Toy sailboats drifted across the water； their white sails billowing； their tiny captains running gleefully at the verge of the land to keep up with their progress。
'However； the samurai were not so easily beaten；' the Colonel said。 The miniature sails； moving so steadfastly over the water； recalled to him perfect prints out of Japan's internecine past。 'A great majority of them fought back directly and； when they were defeated； they formed societies。 The main one was called the Genyosha … the Dark Ocean Society … but there were others such as the Kokuryukai … the Black Dragon
Society。 These societies； which are quite active today； are reactionary organizations that believe strongly in imperialism and a manifest destiny for Japan upon the Asian shore。
'Now the Genyosha was born in Fukuoka and is based there still。 But since that part of Kyushu is this country's closest approach to the continent； it's not very surprising that the Genyosha should be most virulent there。'
Nicholas thought of the Mongol invasions； of the violently nationalistic feelings that must have been nurtured there by such precipitous incursions。 And this led him back to thoughts of Satsugai。
They found a bench beside the water； sat down。 On the far side of the lake a child held a bunch of colourful balloons and； farther away； over the massive treetops； he could see plastered against the sky the quivering fragile presence of a box kite； it was painted in the image of a fire…breathing dragon。
'Having failed in their bid to overthrow the Meiji regime overtly； the members of the Genyosha next set about subverting the Restoration covertly； from within。 They were clever men。 They knew that the Meiji oligarchy； which propounded industrialization； would need economic expansion in order to fuel this。 To them； this must involve the exploitation and eventual subjugation of China。
'Working within the prescribed political framework of the new Japanese society； the men of the Genyosha sought to make allies in the highest levels of government。 They made their intensive target the members of the General Staff； where a reactionary philosophy was the norm rather than the exception。
'They were aided in this by the uping general election of 1882。 The Genyosha made deals with the incumbents。 In return for their seeing that these politicians were returned to office； the society was assured that this regime would follow a vigorously imperialistic foreign policy。 Accordingly； the Genyosha hired toughs； importing them into each district of the country。 Beatings were not unmon。 It was an election of fear。'
Two American Army officers passed by with their families in tow； they wore their uniforms like a badge of honour； treading the ground like the conquering heroes they were。 Perhaps they saw where they were； what went on around them； but surely they understood none of it。
'With the implementation of this policy and the success of Japanese expansion into Manchuria and Shanghai came the vested interests of the Japanese businessman abroad。 A growing economy was now crucial to Japan and its rate of growth was prodigious。 Out of this cauldron rose the four enormous industrial bines prising the zaibatsu。'
'Then Kansatsu was right when he said that economics must take as much responsibility as militarism for Japan's road to the war；' Nicholas observed thoughtfully。
The Colonel nodded。 'In many ways； Japan was a primitive nation by world standards； the Tokugawas had seen to that。 But； on the other hand； they understood perhaps better than any others the purity of their country。 But I'm very much afraid it's one of the things that MacArthur missed。 Oh； he knew enough about the culture to leave the Emperor just where he had always been despite the hue and cry that he be tried and executed as a war criminal。 You see； quite apart from the fact that； from the first； the Emperor had done all in his power to aid the Americans after the war； MacArthur was well aware that any attempt to dethrone him would throw Japan into utter chaos； it was a tradition that even the mighty shoguns dared not tamper with。
'Yet also from the first the Americans propounded the myth that the 'guiding force behind the Japanese war effort came entirely from the military。' He licked at his sticky fingers； took out his pipe。 'Nothing could have been further from the truth。 It was the members of the zaibatsu who backed the country into a corner from which war became the only viable economic alternative。'
'But what about the Japanese people as a whole？' Nicholas asked。 'Surely they did not want war。'
The Colonel placed his pipe； unlit； between his teeth。 He looked up； watching the gentle bobbing of the laden boughs in the wind。 'Unfortunately there is a long history here of the people being led。 It es from being so long in a feudal society； of giving blind obedience to the Emperor； the shogun； the daimyo。 It's inbred。' He sat upright； half facing his son on the bench； one hand holding the bowl of his pipe。 'It's not surprising； then； to learn that there was little concerted antiwar sentiment just before the war。 In fact； the Social Democrat Party； who had been openly antimilitaristic in their stand when Japan invaded Manchuria； lost much of their constituency in the 1932 general election。 It was the tiny but ineradicable munist Party that became the lone Japanese voice raised against imperialism during that time。 It was little more than a reed in a hurricane； the zaibatsu and the Genyosha had efficiently manipulated key individuals in both the government and the media； war became inevitable。'
They both looked up at the sound of running feet。 To their left a pair of uniformed policemen rushed down stone steps three at a time； their arms spread wide on either side for balance。 People looked up。 There was a harsh cry。 Children turned； the toy sailboats rocked unattended and unwatched。 Several of the American officers hesitated for an instant before taking off after the police。 Nicholas and the Colonel stood up and began to drift with the crowd around the left side of the lake。
There was a tour of intervening cherry trees and the foliage was so lush that they could not make out what was happening behind it。
A crowd had formed by the time they arrived； having cut through the grass so as to bypass the crowded steps。 Taking Nicholas by the arm； the Colonel shouldered his way through the throng。 Already； at the edges； there was some pushing and shoving。 The scuffling was b