BLACK DRAGON SOCIETY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 224, 21 September 1945, Page 5

BLACK DRAGON SOCIETY

INTERVIEW WITH LEADER

Reed. J. 45 p.m. Tokio, Sep.. 20 The 72-yeur-old Yoshisa Kuzuu, chief of the Black Dragon Society, interviewed by the Associated Press, said the Society retains its headquarters in Tokio, where former membe.s stiil visit him as individuals, but this had nothing to do with poii.ics. Kuzuu said he was astonished to learn that the foreigner regards the Black Dragon Society as a powerful, dangerous crgt>xsaiion. Those, rumours were prcoably due to the fact that the Society was the oldest in the country and was active in the RussoJapanese War and also in China affairs. United States immigration problems and disarmament, hence foreigners p.obably suspected the Society had something to do with the outbreak of the last war. The organisation had ICOO members eight years ago, when he took over the leadership. The Society under his guidance practically abandoned political activity and concen rated on welfare woik. It was not a secret organisation and met only to discuss foreign problems. It was disolved on August 18, but he

was maintaining the offices because he was interested in new methods of farming. He wanted to spread innovations in Japanese agriculture. Kuzuu said the Society's most powerful rival was the Toa Dobunkai, “whe. e foreign affairs were studied.” Young fanatical patriots started similar organisations which died because of lack of sustained interest. Kuzuu asserted that he was unable to supply a membershin list because the Black Dragon Society was ••informal.” It depended on contributions for finances. Kuzuu said he had seen and heard nothing of an underground movement in Japan to-day. The Associated Press points out that the disclosure that the Black Dragon Society was still using its headquarters came the day after Higashi kun! told interviewers that he hoped secret groups would disband, otherwise the Government would enforce their dissolution. Many Japanese told the correspondent the Society blackjacked contributions by threats of terrorism.