Encyclopedia of Shinto

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カテゴリー1： 7. Concepts and Doctrines
カテゴリー2： Basic Terms
Title
Aikokushin
Text
A compound word that refers to having attachment to one's nation and perceiving one's destiny as identical to that of the nation. The word has taken root as a translation of the word "patriotism." The original meaning of the term is a simple and peaceful love for, or attachment to, one's homeland and family, but sometimes this sentiment has an aspect that is related to exclusionist movements or to its manipulation by the power of the totalitarian state. Modern Japanese aikokushin germinated at the end of the eighteenth century as an exclusionist movement (jōi undō, literally "expel the barbarians") in response to powerful western countries' incursions into Asia. Aikokushin was emphasized after the Meiji restoration in order to strengthen the newly unified nation-state. After Japan's defeat in World War II, however, along with the decline in national consciousness, patriotism has become weaker.
— Fukui Yoshihiko

Pronunciation in Japanese/用語音声

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