In Japan in those days, calm discussions were possible only within the academic circle of history, but there was no academic freedom outside the circle, and the government, politicians, shintoists and newspapers attacked the impiety of scholars.
当時の日本では、歴史学界内部に限れば冷静な議論が可能であったが、一歩外に出れば学問の自由は存在せず、政府、政治家、神道家、新聞が、学者の不敬を格好の攻撃材料とした。