Japan, Germany, and Italy are usually referred to as the notorious totalitarian states until the end of the WWII. Among these states, Japan and Germany has often come to the subject, regarding comparative studies on the formation of national consciousness. In contrast, such comparative studies of Japan and Italy has been less explored than expected.

This report aims to fill this lacuna. Circumscribing the period between the Russo-Japanese war and the WWI, I would like to focus on the readings for children, such as the famous magazine Il giornalino della domenica in Italy and Shonen Sekai series in Japan. The reason why I focused the above-mentioned period and materials is that boys and girls, for example, at the age of 6-15 in this period would spend their youths in 1920’s, many of whom became member of Balilla or militaristic young Japanese. In other word, what kind of national consciousness they had specifically assimilated during their childhood would be crucial in considering the mental ground for young people to stand for and to take part in the fascistic movement in the near future.

Comparatively analyzing the materials, this report concludes by suggesting the relevance of national consciousness to nationalism and fascism. It also argues difference and similarity of the formation of national consciousness between Japan and Italy.