The purpose of this article is to analyze reactions to World War I and democratic concepts by Houtokukai, a moral education association in Japan. The goal of Houtokukai was to realize the goals of “Kyouiku Chokugo” (The Imperial Manuscript on Education). Houtokukai adjusted their concepts and strategies to the changes occurring in Japanese society. However, Houtokukai opposed democratic concepts and movements because it believed that the right to sovereignty in Imperial Japan belonged to the Emperor alone.