Yoshitsune Kashiwagi

Christian thinker. Pastor of the United Church of Christ in Japan. Born into a Buddhist family in Yoita Domain, Echigo Province (Niigata Prefecture). Graduated from Tokyo Normal School in 1878 (Meiji 11). While working at an elementary school in Gunma Prefecture in 1884, he was baptized by Ebina Danjo at Annaka Church. Graduated from Doshisha Normal School in 1889. After teaching at Doshisha Preparatory School, Kumamoto English School, and Doshisha Girls' School, he worked on editing Doshisha Bungaku in 1893, criticizing Inoue Tetsujiro's nationalism and the Imperial Rescript on Education. In 1897, he became pastor of Annaka Church, and the following year, in 1898, he founded Jomo Kyokai Geppo. He remained in Annaka for the rest of his life, engaging in local evangelism as well as political and social criticism. His criticism of the times was sharp and wide-ranging, covering topics such as the Ashio Copper Mine Pollution Incident, the abolition of prostitution, unliberated burakumin, and the massacre of Koreans. After the Russo-Japanese War he consistently advocated non-war. During the Manchurian Incident he advocated withdrawal of troops and attacked the military, which led to the monthly newsletter being banned on many occasions. In 1935 (Showa 10), he retired as pastor of Annaka Church, and the following year, in 1936, the monthly newsletter was discontinued with issue 459. He continued to call for non-war, peace, and freedom of religion throughout his life, from a position that was devoutly based on "the faith of fools."

[Kiyohiro Takano March 19, 2018]

"Kashiwagi Gienshu, edited by Itani Ryuichi, 4 volumes, discontinued at volume 2 (1970-1972, Miraisha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

キリスト教思想家。日本組合基督(キリスト)教会牧師。越後(えちご)国（新潟県）与板(よいた)藩の仏門出身。1878年（明治11）東京師範学校卒業。1884年群馬県下の小学校在職中、安中(あんなか)教会で海老名弾正(えびなだんじょう)より受洗。1889年同志社普通学校卒業。同志社予備校、熊本英語学校、同女学校の教職を経て、1893年『同志社文学』の編集に従事、井上哲次郎の国家主義および教育勅語を批判する。1897年安中教会牧師となり翌1898年『上毛(じょうもう)教界月報』を創刊。以後、終生安中にとどまり地域伝道とともに政治・社会批判を展開した。足尾鉱毒事件、廃娼(はいしょう)問題、未解放部落問題、朝鮮人虐殺問題など時代批判の筆鋒(ひっぽう)は鋭く広範囲に及んだ。日露戦争以降は一貫して非戦を主張した。満州事変には撤兵論を唱え軍部攻撃を行ったため月報はしばしば発禁となる。1935年（昭和10）安中教会牧師引退、翌1936年月報を459号で廃刊。「愚俗の信」に徹する立場から生涯、非戦、平和、信仰の自由を訴え続けた。

［高野清弘　2018年3月19日］

『伊谷隆一編『柏木義円集』全4巻、2巻にて中絶（1970～1972・未来社）』

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