Kawai Incident

Japanese: 河合事件 - かわいじけん

This was an incident in which the liberal Kawai Eijiro, a professor at the Faculty of Economics of the Imperial University of Tokyo, was subjected to ideological oppression. After returning from studying in Germany in 1933, Kawai Eijiro, a professor at the Faculty of Economics of the Imperial University of Tokyo, strengthened his stance against fascism. His criticism of the Emperor Organ Theory Incident and his public criticism of the military during the February 26 Incident led to him coming under attack from right-wingers such as Minoda Muneyoshi, who had long advocated the expulsion of left-wing and liberal forces within the Imperial University. In October 1938, four of Kawai's books, including Revised Principles of Social Policy and Criticism of Fascism, were banned for promoting anti-military and anti-war ideology. This prompted the new president, Hiraga Yuzuru, to decide to punish Kawai in connection with resolving factional conflicts within the Faculty of Economics. In January 1939, he submitted a petition to the Higher Civil Service Disciplinary Committee for Kawai's suspension, and Kawai was suspended (Hiraga purge).

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

自由主義者河合栄治郎が思想弾圧を受けた事件。東京帝大経済学部教授河合栄治郎は，1933年ドイツ留学より帰国後ファシズム批判の姿勢を強め，天皇機関説事件の時の批評や二･二六事件に際して軍部批判を公にしたことによって，かねてから帝国大学内の左翼･自由主義勢力の排撃を主張していた蓑田胸喜など右翼の攻撃を受けるようになった。38年10月，河合の著作《改訂社会政策原理》《ファシズム批判》など4冊が反軍･反戦思想の宣伝を理由に発売禁止処分にされたことを契機に，新総長平賀譲は，経済学部内の派閥対立問題の解決とからめて河合の処分を決意し，39年1月河合の休職を文官高等分限委員会に具申し，河合は休職処分となった(平賀粛学)。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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