Kazuo Asukata

Politician. Born in Yokohama. Graduated from Meiji University in 1937 (Showa 12) and became a lawyer. After World War II, he participated in the formation of the Japan Socialist Party, and after serving as a member of the Yokohama City Council and the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1953 (Showa 28). In 1960, he exposed in the Diet the fact that American U-2 spy planes were also stationed at Atsugi Air Base, and pursued the government. In 1963, he was elected mayor of Yokohama, and during his 15 years in office, he implemented policies to realize direct democracy through resident participation, while also achieving many accomplishments as a leader among progressive leaders, such as blocking the shipment of American military tanks to Vietnam by using the provisions of the 1972 Road Transport Law as a shield. In 1974, while still mayor, he became vice-chairman as a "trump card" for the revival of the Socialist Party, and in 1977 he became chairman. In 1981, he was elected for a third term as chairman in the first election open to all party members, but he was unable to accomplish his goal of revitalizing the party. In 1983, he took responsibility for the party's defeat in the House of Councillors election and resigned as chairman, subsequently retiring from politics.

[Satoru Ito]

"Memoirs of Kazuo Asukata - The Fluctuations of Life" (1987, Asahi Shimbun) by Kazuo Asukata ; "The Unruly Chairman" (1978, Gakuyo Shobo) by Kazuyoshi Kitaoka.

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

政治家。横浜生まれ。1937年（昭和12）明治大学を卒業し、弁護士となる。第二次世界大戦後の日本社会党結成に参加し、横浜市議会議員、神奈川県議会議員を経て、1953年（昭和28）衆議院議員に当選。1960年、アメリカのスパイ機U2が厚木基地にも配置されていることを国会で暴露し政府を追及した。1963年横浜市長に当選、15年間の在任中、住民参加による直接民主主義実現のための施策を行う一方、1972年道路運送法の規定を盾にアメリカ軍戦車のベトナム向け搬出を阻止するなど、革新首長のリーダー的存在として多くの実績をあげた。1974年社会党再生の「切り札」として市長のまま副委員長となり、1977年には委員長に就任した。1981年全党員による初の委員長選挙で3選されたが、党再生の課題を果たせぬまま、1983年参議院選挙敗北の責任をとって委員長を辞任、続いて政界を引退した。

［伊藤　悟］

『飛鳥田一雄著『飛鳥田一雄回想録――生々流転』（1987・朝日新聞社）』▽『北岡和義著『べらんめえ委員長』（1978・学陽書房）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例