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Taken from https://ookaminami.kakurezato.com/eva-fascism.html and translated using the DeepL translator. 

Work of original author: totoropen (Minami '''Ooka'''.) <font color=red>''' DO NOT REPRODUCE UNDER CC-BY-SA'''</font>

{{translation}}


"A Study of "Fascism of Love and Illusion
The Relationship between Murakami Ryu's SF Political and Economic Novels and "Eva
December 30, 1997 and January 8, 1998

　 The novel "Fascism of Love and Illusion" by Ryu Murakami is a "science fiction political and economic novel" that depicts the "activities" of the "Hunting Company," a political association that thoroughly rejects the weak and weak democracy and aims to establish a dictatorial and fascist society. The story is set in Japan, which is in the midst of a crisis of global depression and a sense of extreme stagnation, and the political organization "Hunting Company" engages in both open and closed conspiracy, violence, and terrorism.
　"Hideaki Anno, the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion, has said in various interviews that he borrowed some of the names of the characters from this novel. However, upon reading the novel, it becomes clear that Anno was influenced by it to a great extent, not only in the names of the characters, but also in the way he sees things, the way he thinks, the props he uses, and the settings of the scenes.

　Here, I would like to consider the influence of this novel on Evangelion, as well as the work itself, "Fascism of Love and Illusion.


　The political organization "Hunting Company" is a powerful fascist group, headed by the charismatic hunter Toji Suzuhara and represented by Kensuke Aida (Zero). Both the novel and the "Hunting Company" begin with the meeting of these two men. Of course, the names of Toji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida in Eva are taken from these two main characters. The names of Koichi Dogi, the brain of the hunting company, and Shiro Tokita, the first sponsor, are also used in the supporting cast of Eva. But that's not all.
　The novel repeatedly presents the episode of "overcoming one's father," which is one of the major themes underlying Eva. To begin with, the setting of the novel raises the issue of "the state of Japan itself," and the story is about "a weak woman who is overrun by a strong man, the United States. That is the state of Japan from the end of the war to the present," Toji and his friends believe. Toji and his colleagues believe that "this is the state of Japan from the end of World War II to the present," and their strong feeling that Japanese people cannot live with pride in such a country is the driving force behind the nationalists and fascists who gather at the "Hunting Company. For them, the U.S. is truly a "powerful father. It is a symbol of paternity. The "hunting party" is supported by the belief that Japan will not be able to gain independence unless it overcomes the presence of the mighty United States.

　On the other hand, Toji sees in Masaomi Manda, the prime minister who has established a revolutionary government, the image of a father, a chieftain, and a king. "What have you given up?" Toji asks Manda. "Toji feels that his father has given up fighting a huge enemy and is smiling thinly, signs of shame covering his face, that's you. The father who can't control his pride is waiting to be stabbed to death, there is no way to understand him, the only way is to hug him or kill him. It's a Greek tragedy," said Toji. It's a Greek tragedy," Toji decides, "I'm going to rape Mother Japan and kill Father. It's like Shinji Ikari from Evangelion. "I hate my father" and "I want my father to praise me and understand me". Shinji's complicated feelings towards his father, Gendou, can be seen there.

　As an aside, Manda says to Toji, "You are like a magnetic force. "You have a kind of magnetism about you. You will attract people to you. But I'm sure that the people who come to you are all scum and dregs, and you know that better than anyone. I thought that this was actually the very feeling and sentiment of Gendo Ikari, who is leading NERV and confronting the Secret Society Seele. Deep down, Gendou doesn't trust anyone, not only Misato Katsuragi, the chief of operations, but also the scientist Ritsuko Akagi, her mother Dr. Naoko Akagi, his right-hand man Kozo Fuyutsuki, the second-in-command, and even his son Shinji, whom he seems to think of as nothing more than pawns in a chess game. Except for one person, his late wife, Yui Ikari. Well, this is an aside.

　In addition to these major themes, one of the key words in the novel that comes up again and again is "scenario. "Is everything according to the scenario?" "It's not in the scenario", "The scenario doesn't change".... "All of The Hunting Company's plots and sabotage are carried out according to carefully crafted scenarios. Violent acts are carried out based on scenarios and information. "Scenario" is one of the key words in "Evangelion. "While pretending to follow the scenario of Seele, Gendou actually has his own scenario, and in the end, Gendou tries to proceed according to his own scenario.

　Another thing that should not be overlooked is the concept and image of the "self in others". In the novel, Zero's girlfriend, Fruit, says, "I've been thinking lately that you can only find yourself in other people," and "There are three Zeros: the Zero you know, the Zero I know, and the Zero himself. "There are three Zeros: the Zero you know, the Zero I know, and Zero himself," Zero's girlfriend, Fruit, says to Toji. This is a question that suggests that there are many images of oneself that exist in the consciousness of others (third parties), and that each of them is different from the others. "This question has appeared many times in "Evangelion. It appears many times in "Evangelion," in the scene where Shinji explores his inner self and goes through a lot of trial and error. The influence of the novel can be seen in this scene as well.

　By the way, it was the commercial film (CF) that brought Toji Suzuhara and his "hunting company" to the world. "The video "The Hunter" is about 11 minutes long and uses computer graphics to create an animation that expresses "afterimages. Zero edited this video and used it for a TV spot commercial for a fashion manufacturer. In the commercial, Toji Suzuhara repeatedly appeals, "The world belongs to strong people. In CF, Toji Suzuhara repeatedly appeals, "The world belongs to strong people. We must unite...". The business community, frustrated by the incompetent government that has no solution to the economic panic, says, "It is clear to everyone that we need a government with strong conviction and will. The business community, frustrated by the government's inability to provide any solutions, defends CF, saying, "It is clear to everyone that we need a government with strong conviction and will, and that strong leadership and unity are what Japan needs more than anything. Toji becomes a charismatic star, greeted with strong dislike and enthusiastic support, and the strategy of the CF image and the situation of the economic crisis are so realistic that they seem to foreshadow Japan today. (This novel was serialized in the Shukan Gendai from January 1984 to March 1986, published in book form in August 1987, and in paperback in August 1990.

　The most important point of this novel is its realism based on abundant data and expertise in political economy, but the realistic and scary nature of the plots, secret operations, and terrorist attacks that the "hunting company" launches one after another is also one of the "charms" that keep attracting readers.

　First, the left-wing extremists and right-wing gangsters who attacked the "Hunting Company" are crushed by systematic terrorist bombings and killings. Then, in order to disrupt the leftist camp, they assassinate the chairman of the parliamentary task force of the New Socialist Party. In each case, the executing force is the private army "Cro-Magnon," an underground organization of the Hunting Company. In addition, Tokita, who wants to leave the Hunting Company, is given a psychotic drug called tryptamine, which puts him into a delirious state and makes him a cripple. His sympathizer, a psychiatrist, gives his full cooperation. Furthermore, Tokita's entire fortune is legally seized by the Hunting Company. He treats the honest union chairman who leads the strike at the bio-food factory as if they are on friendly terms, but just before he is to address the union rally, he makes him take a psychotropic drug that causes him to go insane. In this way, they would systematically create a state of confusion in which there was no leader, and then coercively and violently crush the workers' strike. The editor-in-chief of a scandalous magazine is made to look like he died in an accident in order to take over the magazine, and the leader of a leftist terrorist organization is interrogated with a truth serum in order to get information before he is killed. They also injected the prime minister of a revolutionary government with a virulent drug to make him dementia.

　By this time, the power of the "Hunting Company" and "Cro-Magnon" as thoroughly violent devices was already widely known and feared throughout Japan. "How many journalists, labor union activists, and politicians who challenged the Hunting Company were threatened, killed, or turned into cripples? The groundwork for the dictatorship of fear was steadily being laid.

　As I read the story, I felt a chill run down my spine. Anyway, the process of terrorism and torture is described in minute detail and with great specificity. In particular, the scenes where people who are considered useless or a hindrance to the "hunting company" are driven insane by drugs, I was truly frightened by how easy it is for people to have a mental breakdown.

　Reading the novel, I felt discomfort, disgust, and fear of the "work" of the fascists who, based on their "arrogance" and "logic of the powerful," try to toy with human beings so easily. However, it is hard to deny that the description of these fascists slowly expanding their power and destroying the existing common sense and system aroused my excitement and interest, and I was excited to read the book. I had a strong interest in how he would bring people to their knees and control them, and how he would gather the hearts of the people to fascism. Or is it that there is actually an unconscious expectation of fascism in me? While the "work" of the "hunting company" is indeed fiercely uncomfortable, disgusting, and frightening, the argument that they (Toji Suzuhara) are trying to make, "reviewing Japan being overrun by the U.S.," is also persuasive. Of course, I have no sympathy for their approach.

　"Pride is different. I have pride. As typified by this line, the word "pride" appears many times in the novel. This is undoubtedly one of the key words in this story. What does it take for a human being to live with pride? "Through the political form of "fascism" and the actions of those who adhere to it, "Fascism of Love and Illusion" asks the reader the question, "What should be the way of human life?　.


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