Poonam Sharma
In recent years, an alarming academic and cultural trend has gained momentum . The deliberate erasure of national heroes and patriotic narratives from textbooks and public discourse. This phenomenon isn’t confined to any single country. It’s becoming part of a global movement led largely by left-leaning intellectuals who view nationalism as outdated, even dangerous.
Japan is now witnessing this very trend unfold with the mysterious disappearance of Ambassador Chitoku from its school textbooks. Once hailed as a visionary statesman and the architect of Japan’s unbroken imperial legacy .Chitoku is now reduced to a vague mention — often simply called “the king of the Horse Inn.”
But why is this happening? Who benefits from rewriting Japan’s proud history, and what does it say about the broader global war on national identity?
Chitoku: The Forgotten Architect of Japanese Continuity
Ambassador Chitoku lived in the 6th–7th century — a turbulent time when the foundations of modern Japan were being laid. In 592 AD the only emperor in Japanese history to be assassinated in a political coup. The so-called “Spring Emperor,” was killed. Chitoku, who witnessed the aftermath, was personally devastated — the emperor was his uncle.
In response, Chitoku did not seek vengeance. Instead, he sought reform. His greatest contribution was the creation of a governance model rooted in morality, harmony, and centralized authority, designed to prevent future bloodshed and instability. This laid the groundwork for Japan’s unique political system.
As a result, Japan is the only nation in the world with a continuous imperial lineage spanning over 2000 years. Unlike Europe and China, where dynasties collapsed and regimes changed repeatedly, Japan’s imperial house has endured — largely thanks to Chitoku’s vision.
The 17-Article Constitution: A National Treasure
Chitoku’s most enduring legacy is the 17-Article Constitution, written in 604 AD. Though not a constitution in the modern legal sense, it was a profound political and ethical manifesto. Article 1 begins with: “Harmony is to be valued,” — a reflection of Japan’s cultural emphasis on unity over division.
The Constitution promotes loyalty to the emperor, ethical governance, and cooperation . All values that sustained the nation through wars, disasters, and modernization. And yet, modern Japanese students are rarely taught about it.
From page 179 of The Heroic Story of Ambassador Chitoku History Textbooks Don’t Tell You, the Constitution is explored in detail. Readers discover not just ancient wisdom but a political philosophy that shaped Japan’s identity for millennia.
The Leftist War on Nationalism
The sidelining of Chitoku is no accident. It is part of a larger ideological war waged by leftist academics and policymakers across the world. In this worldview, nationalism is portrayed as synonymous with fascism, bigotry, and colonialism — even when the nationalism in question is based on cultural pride, moral tradition, and continuity.
These left-leaning groups promote a “globalist” or “post-national” ideology, arguing that patriotism must be replaced with cosmopolitanism and transnational governance. To achieve this, they target national symbols, rewrite history, and undermine any narrative that fosters pride in a country’s past.
Ambassador Chitoku is a symbol of Japanese identity, unity, and moral governance stands in direct opposition to this worldview. To erase him is to disconnect modern Japanese citizens from their roots, to foster self-doubt, and to create a generation alienated from its history.
This self-deprecation, as explained around page 230 of the book, is not just tragic — it’s deliberate. It reflects a disturbing pattern visible in countries like the United States, where Founding Fathers are vilified, and in Europe, where national traditions are dismissed in favor of supranational ideologies.
National Pride Is Not Extremism
It’s critical to understand that nationalism, in its healthy form, is not extremism. Ambassador Chitoku’s vision of Japan was never based on conquest or exclusion, but on harmony, ethics, and continuity. He sought to prevent the horrors of fratricidal war and lay the foundation for a peaceful, unified nation.
Yet even this brand of moral nationalism is now under attack.
In Japan, the desire to preserve continuity, imperial tradition, and cultural pride is painted by some as ultra-conservative or even dangerous. But in reality, it’s what kept the nation stable for centuries. Japan’s peaceful evolution — without regime overthrows, without imperial collapse — is unique. And it deserves recognition.
Reclaiming Chitoku and National Memory
The book The Heroic Story of Ambassador Chitoku is an effort to fight back against this cultural amnesia. From the assassination of the Spring Emperor to the crafting of the 17-Article Constitution, it outlines how Chitoku saved Japan from internal collapse and defined its future.
It reminds us that history isn’t just facts — it’s memory, identity, and inspiration.
By erasing Chitoku, we don’t just lose a man. We lose a vision of what Japan can be — a nation grounded in harmony, moral leadership, and unity. The erasure of such a figure isn’t academic neutrality — it’s cultural sabotage.
Conclusion
Ambassador Chitoku’s disappearance from Japanese textbooks is a symptom of a broader, global push to weaken nationalism, spearheaded by leftist academics who confuse patriotism with prejudice. But the truth remains. without Chitoku, there might not be a Japan as we know it today.
Now is the time to reclaim our history . Not with blind pride, but with clear eyes and respect for the legacy that built our nations. Chitoku is not just a figure of the past. He is a beacon for the future.
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