Hasegawa Nyozekan
Encyclopedia
was the pen-name of Hasegawa Manjirō, a Japanese
social critic, and journalist
in the Taishō
and Shōwa period
s Japan
. He was one of the most important and widely-read supporters of liberalism
and democracy
in inter-war Japan.
, as the son of Yamada Tokujirō. He was adopted into his paternal grandmother's family, and took their name of Hasegawa. Nyozekan was a student of the Tokyo Hōgakuin legal school (now part of Chuo University
. He graduated in 1898 with a degree in criminal law
. He was hired by Kuga Katsunan
as a journalist in 1903, for the newspaper Nihon. In 1907, he was scouted by Miyake Setsurei
and changed to the Nihon oyobi Nihonjin ("Japan and the Japanese") magazine. A few years later, he returned to newspaper journalism by changing jobs to the Osaka Asahi Shimbun
.
His writings reveal his leftist political leanings, and in 1918, he resigned in protest after the newspaper was censured by the government.
In 1919, Nyozekan and fellow liberal journalist Oyama Ikuo founded the political magazine Warera ("We"), in which they sought to promote political reform and social democracy
, while combating Japan's ever growing militarism
and ultranationalism. In 1932, he published one of his most important works, Nihon fuashizumu hihan ("Critique of Japanese Fascism"), an analysis of the growing phenomena of "Japanese fascism
”.
Increasing government repression and application of the Peace Preservation Law
s in the mid-1930s, resulted in Nyozekan’s arrest and a brief period in prison. This prompted Nyozekan to change to more subdued style, arguing that the Japanese people and national culture were inherently liberal, rational and democratic, and comparable to British classical liberalism
. Although he was forced to keep a low profile, he did not compromise his opposition to militarism and totalitarianism
.
Surprisingly to some, although Hasegawa wrote essays protesting that journalism must remain neutral and above politics, he also wrote in favor of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
, in which he saw the potential for the favorable development of Asia economically and culturally under Asian, rather than European influence.
In 1946, Hasegawa became a member of the House of Peers
for its last session before the abolition of the Meiji Constitution
. In 1947, he was elected to the Japan Art Academy
, and in 1948 he was awarded the Order of Culture
by the Japanese government.
His grave is at the temple of Seirin-ji in Bunkyō, Tokyo
.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
social critic, and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
in the Taishō
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
and Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
s Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was one of the most important and widely-read supporters of liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
in inter-war Japan.
Biography
Nyozekan was born in the Fukagawa district of TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, as the son of Yamada Tokujirō. He was adopted into his paternal grandmother's family, and took their name of Hasegawa. Nyozekan was a student of the Tokyo Hōgakuin legal school (now part of Chuo University
Chuo University
Chuo University is a one of the Japanese leading universities. Thus it is competitive in several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:The university has been ranked 27th, 25th, 34th during 2008-2010 respectively in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai.-Research...
. He graduated in 1898 with a degree in criminal law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
. He was hired by Kuga Katsunan
Kuga Katsunan
-External links:*...
as a journalist in 1903, for the newspaper Nihon. In 1907, he was scouted by Miyake Setsurei
Miyake Setsurei
was a famous philosopher and author from Japan. He graduated from the University of Tokyo's Department of Philosophy in 1883. He helped found the Society for Political Education and its magazine "Nihonjin" . In 1907 the Nihonjin Magazine was renamed "Nihon Oyobi Nihonjin"...
and changed to the Nihon oyobi Nihonjin ("Japan and the Japanese") magazine. A few years later, he returned to newspaper journalism by changing jobs to the Osaka Asahi Shimbun
Asahi Shimbun
The is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
.
His writings reveal his leftist political leanings, and in 1918, he resigned in protest after the newspaper was censured by the government.
In 1919, Nyozekan and fellow liberal journalist Oyama Ikuo founded the political magazine Warera ("We"), in which they sought to promote political reform and social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
, while combating Japan's ever growing militarism
Japanese militarism
refers to the ideology in the Empire of Japan that militarism should dominate the political and social life of the nation, and that the strength of the military is equal to the strength of a nation.-Rise of militarism :...
and ultranationalism. In 1932, he published one of his most important works, Nihon fuashizumu hihan ("Critique of Japanese Fascism"), an analysis of the growing phenomena of "Japanese fascism
Japanese fascism
Statism in Shōwa Japan was a political syncretism of Japanese right-wing political ideologies, developed over a period of time from the Meiji Restoration...
”.
Increasing government repression and application of the Peace Preservation Law
Peace Preservation Law
The Public Security Preservation Laws were a series of laws enacted during the Empire of Japan. Collectively, the laws were designed to suppress political dissent.-the Safety Preservation Law of 1894:...
s in the mid-1930s, resulted in Nyozekan’s arrest and a brief period in prison. This prompted Nyozekan to change to more subdued style, arguing that the Japanese people and national culture were inherently liberal, rational and democratic, and comparable to British classical liberalism
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
. Although he was forced to keep a low profile, he did not compromise his opposition to militarism and totalitarianism
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible...
.
Surprisingly to some, although Hasegawa wrote essays protesting that journalism must remain neutral and above politics, he also wrote in favor of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was a concept created and promulgated during the Shōwa era by the government and military of the Empire of Japan. It represented the desire to create a self-sufficient "bloc of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of Western powers"...
, in which he saw the potential for the favorable development of Asia economically and culturally under Asian, rather than European influence.
In 1946, Hasegawa became a member of the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
for its last session before the abolition of the Meiji Constitution
Meiji Constitution
The ', known informally as the ', was the organic law of the Japanese empire, in force from November 29, 1890 until May 2, 1947.-Outline:...
. In 1947, he was elected to the Japan Art Academy
Japan Art Academy
is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of Education on art-related issues, and promotes art is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of...
, and in 1948 he was awarded the Order of Culture
Order of Culture
The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature or culture; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life...
by the Japanese government.
His grave is at the temple of Seirin-ji in Bunkyō, Tokyo
Bunkyo, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. Situated in the middle of the ward area, Bunkyō is a residential and educational center. Beginning in the Meiji period, literati like Natsume Sōseki, as well as scholars and politicians have lived there...
.