March 15 incident
Encyclopedia
was a crackdown on socialists
and communists
by the Japanese government in 1928. Among those who were arrested in the incident was Marxist economist Kawakami Hajime
.
. During the February 1928 General Election, which was the first held in Japan following the passage of universal male suffrage
, the Japan Communist Party was very visible in its support of the legal socialist and labor-oriented political parties. Alarmed by gains these parties made in the Diet of Japan
, the conservative government of Prime Minister
Giichi Tanaka (which had retained its majority by only one seat) evoked the provisions of the 1925 Peace Preservation Law
s and ordered the mass arrest
of known communists and suspected communist sympathizers. The arrests occurred throughout Japan, and a total of 1652 people were apprehended.
starting from 15 June 1932, with sentencing on 2 July 1932. These public trials were carefully staged to publicize the inner workings of the secretive Japan Communist Party, and with its connections with the labor movement and other left-wing political parties revealed, the government was able to order the dissolution of the Rōdō Nōmintō (Labor-Farmer Party), the Zen Nihon Musan Seinen Dōmei (All-Japan Proletarian Youth League) and the Nihon Rōdō Kumiai Hyōgikai (Council of Japanese Labor Unions). The defendants in the trials were all found guilty and sentenced to stiff jail terms; however, those who recanted their communist ideology were then pardoned or given much reduced terms. This was the beginning of the tenkō
policy designed to reintegrate former leftists into mainstream society. Perhaps more importantly, as a consequence of these trials, Prime Minister Tanaka was able to force through legislation which added the provision for the death penalty to the already draconian Peace Preservation Laws.
Writer Kobayashi Takiji
later wrote March 15, 1928 based on this incident.
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and communists
Japanese Communist Party
The Japanese Communist Party is a left-wing political party in Japan.The JCP advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy and peace, and opposition to militarism...
by the Japanese government in 1928. Among those who were arrested in the incident was Marxist economist Kawakami Hajime
Kawakami Hajime
was a Japanese Marxist economist of the Taishō and early Shōwa periods.Born in Yamaguchi, he graduated from Tokyo Imperial University. After writing for Yomiuri shimbun, he earned an economics professorship at Kyoto Imperial University. Increasingly inclined toward Marxism, he participated in the...
.
Background
Although the Japan Communist Party had been outlawed and forced underground immediately after its foundation in 1922, it continued to gather strength and membership in the volatile social and economic climate of Japan in the 1920sTaisho 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...
. During the February 1928 General Election, which was the first held in Japan following the passage of universal male suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
, the Japan Communist Party was very visible in its support of the legal socialist and labor-oriented political parties. Alarmed by gains these parties made in the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
, the conservative government of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Giichi Tanaka (which had retained its majority by only one seat) evoked the provisions of the 1925 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 and ordered the mass arrest
Mass arrest
A mass arrest occurs when the police apprehend large numbers of suspects at once. This sometimes occurs at illegal protests. Some mass arrests are also used in an effort combat gang activity. This is sometimes controversial, and lawsuits sometimes result...
of known communists and suspected communist sympathizers. The arrests occurred throughout Japan, and a total of 1652 people were apprehended.
Consequences
About 500 of those arrested were eventually prosecuted, in a series of open trials held by the Tokyo District CourtTokyo District Court
is a district court located at 1-1-4 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. -References:...
starting from 15 June 1932, with sentencing on 2 July 1932. These public trials were carefully staged to publicize the inner workings of the secretive Japan Communist Party, and with its connections with the labor movement and other left-wing political parties revealed, the government was able to order the dissolution of the Rōdō Nōmintō (Labor-Farmer Party), the Zen Nihon Musan Seinen Dōmei (All-Japan Proletarian Youth League) and the Nihon Rōdō Kumiai Hyōgikai (Council of Japanese Labor Unions). The defendants in the trials were all found guilty and sentenced to stiff jail terms; however, those who recanted their communist ideology were then pardoned or given much reduced terms. This was the beginning of the tenkō
Tenko
Tenko may refer to:*Tenko , a BBC television drama*Princess Tenko, a Japanese magician, upon whom the cartoon Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic was based...
policy designed to reintegrate former leftists into mainstream society. Perhaps more importantly, as a consequence of these trials, Prime Minister Tanaka was able to force through legislation which added the provision for the death penalty to the already draconian Peace Preservation Laws.
Writer Kobayashi Takiji
Kobayashi Takiji
was a Japanese author of proletarian literature.-Biography:Kobayashi was born in Odate, Akita, Japan and was brought up in Otaru, Hokkaidō. After graduating from the Otaru School of Higher Learning, which is the current Otaru University of Commerce, he worked at the Otaru branch of Hokkaido...
later wrote March 15, 1928 based on this incident.