Editing Nobusuke Kishi (section)

==National Defense Brotherhood==
{{Main|National Defense Brotherhood}}
After the fall of the Tōjō cabinet, Kishi temporarily withdrew from frontline politics, reinventing himself as a key figure in the civilian "continue the war" (''kōsenha'') faction while working in the background to foment a new political movement dedicated to prolonging the war. Between January and March 1945 Kishi held meetings with several close associates such as [[Ryōichi Sasakawa]], a preeminent fascist political fixer; [[Yoshio Kodama]], a prominent rightist deeply involved in Japan's criminal underworld; [[Mamoru Shigemitsu]], the then-Foreign Minister; and party politician and future prime minister [[Ichirō Hatoyama]].{{sfn|Levidis|2023|pp=11-12}} Out of these meetings came a plan to form a new [[Reform bureaucrats|renovationist]] political movement aimed at further mobilizing the Japanese population for a final, decisive confrontation with the Allies.
[[File:Sasakawa_and_Kodama.png|thumb|right|200px|The political fixers [[Ryōichi Sasakawa]] (left) and [[Yoshio Kodama]] (right), were instrumental in the establishment and operation of Kishi's "National Defense Brotherhood". Pictured while in captivity at [[Sugamo Prison]], March 1946.]]
Kishi's plans coincided with the dissolution of the [[Imperial Rule Assistance Political Association]] (IRAPA) in March 1945. Out of the IRAPA's disbandment emerged two political associations: the mainstream [[Greater Japan Political Association]] (''Dai Nippon Seijikai''), led by General [[Jirō Minami]], and Kishi's anti-mainstream [[National Defense Brotherhood]] (''Gokoku Dōshikai''). Some 32 Diet members jumped ship to join Kishi's new association by the end of March.{{sfn|Levidis|2023|pp=13}}

Under Kishi's guidance, the Dōshikai advocated the mass evacuation and dispersion of the urban population and industrial base to the countryside to avoid the increasingly devastating effects of US aerial bombardment, the further rationalization of the economy in line with Kishi's technocratic worldview, and systematic preparation for a "decisive battle" (''kessen'') with the Americans on Japanese soil that would reverse the tide of the war and reignite popular support for his [[Total war|Total War]] ideology.{{sfn|Levidis|2023|pp=8-9, 16-17}}

The Dōshikai soon came into conflict with the new government of Prime Minister [[Kantarō Suzuki]], who had grave doubts about how much longer the war could be sustained without bringing about a revolution, and sought to suppress Kishi's nascent political movement.{{sfn|Levidis|2023|pp=23-26}} Excluded from the cabinet, members of the Dōshikai were limited to occasionally haranguing against Suzuki's policies during Diet debates.{{sfn|Levidis|2023|pp=24-26}}

In any case, events rapidly overtook Kishi's new movement, and the war came to an end just a few months after the Dōshikai's formation. With Emperor Hirohito's announcement of Japan's surrender on 15 August, the "continue the war" movement came to an end. That same day, Kishi and his followers met in an undisclosed office and agreed to formally disband the Dōshikai.{{sfn|Levidis|2023|pp=28-29}}