Akira Kazami

Politician. Born in Mitsukaido (Joso City), Toyota County, Ibaraki Prefecture. Enrolled in Waseda University in 1905 (Meiji 38) and attended Sugiura Shigetake's Shokojuku. Joined Osaka Asahi in 1913 (Taisho 2). Worked as a reporter for Kokusai Tsushin and Shinano Mainichi. Ran for the first general election in 1928 (Showa 3) but lost. First elected in 1930, affiliated with the Minseito Party. Joined the National Alliance in 1932, left in 1936 and became an independent. Became Chief Secretary of the first Konoe Fumimaro Cabinet in 1937, and was active in the anti-expansion camp against the Sino-Japanese War. In 1940, as Minister of Justice in the second Konoe Cabinet, he promoted the New Order Movement, but resigned after five months. He did not run in the 1942 Imperial Rule Assistance Election, and instead became a farmer. After World War II, he was banned from holding public office, but was lifted in 1951 (Showa 26). In 1952, he was elected to the House of Representatives. Although he was initially an independent, he worked hard to establish the National Alliance for the Protection of the Constitution and the National Conference for the Restoration of Diplomatic Relations between Japan, China, and the Soviet Union, and joined the Left Socialist Party in 1955. In 1960, he took part in the anti-Security Treaty movement. In addition to his books, such as Konoe Cabinet (1951), he has also written magazine articles for Sekai, Chuokoron, and other publications.

[Yuji Odabe]

"The Konoe Cabinet" (Chuko Bunko) ▽ "Kazami Akira and His Times" by Suda Yoshikazu (1965, Misuzu Shobo) ▽ "Kazami Akira's Diary and Related Documents 1936-1947" edited by Kitagawa Kenzo et al. (2008, Misuzu Shobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

政治家。茨城県豊田郡水海道(みつかいどう)（常総(じょうそう)市）生まれ。1905年（明治38）早稲田(わせだ)大学入学、杉浦重剛(すぎうらしげたけ)の称好塾へ入る。1913年（大正2）大阪朝日へ入社。国際通信、信濃(しなの)毎日と記者生活を送る。1928年（昭和3）第1回普通選挙に立候補するが落選。1930年に初当選、民政党に所属。1932年国民同盟に参加、1936年脱退し無所属となる。1937年第一次近衛文麿(このえふみまろ)内閣書記官長となり、日中戦争に対し不拡大派として活動する。1940年第二次近衛内閣では法相として新体制運動を推進するが5か月で辞任。1942年翼賛選挙では出馬せず、農夫となる。第二次世界大戦後、公職追放となり、1951年（昭和26）解除。1952年衆議院議員当選。当初無所属であったが、憲法擁護国民連合や、日中・日ソ国交回復国民会議の結成などに尽力し、1955年左派社会党に入党。1960年安保反対闘争に参加。著書『近衛内閣』（1951）などのほか、『世界』『中央公論』などに雑誌論文がある。

［小田部雄次］

『『近衛内閣』（中公文庫）』▽『須田禎一著『風見章とその時代』（1965・みすず書房）』▽『北河賢三他編『風見章日記・関係資料1936―1947』（2008・みすず書房）』

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