Kondo Eizo

Social activist. Born in Tokyo. After graduating from elementary school, he worked as an apprentice at a pharmacy. At age 19, he went to the US and graduated from California Agricultural College while working there. He returned to Japan in 1910 (Meiji 43), but returned three times after 1913 (Taisho 2). While in the US, he met Katayama Sen and entered the socialist movement. He returned to Japan in 1914 with the intention of founding the Japanese Communist Party. In May 1921, he attended the Comintern's Far Eastern Committee in Shanghai as a Japanese representative, but was arrested in Shimonoseki on the way back. After his release, in August, he formed the Gyominkai Communist Party with Takatsu Seido and other members of the Gyominkai. In July 1922, he participated in the founding of the Japanese Communist Party. In June 1923, just before the First Communist Party Incident, he defected to the Soviet Union and became a standing committee member of Profintern. After returning to Japan in 1926, he severed ties with the Japanese Communist Party, and in 1928 (Showa 3), he joined the Japan Labor-Farmer Party and the Japan Mass Party. He then converted to national socialism, and in 1932, he formed the New Japan Citizens' Alliance with Shimonaka Yasaburo and others. After the war, he organized the National War Victims Foundation, and devoted himself to welfare work for the physically disabled. He consistently placed more importance on movement than theory, and placed greater respect on the vital and physical aspects of human beings.

[Kenzo Kitagawa]

"Kondo Eizo Autobiography" edited by the Institute of Humanities, Doshisha University (1970, Hiei Shobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

社会運動家。東京市生まれ。小学校卒業後、薬屋に丁稚(でっち)奉公。19歳で渡米、働きながらカリフォルニア農学校を卒業。1910年（明治43）帰国するが、13年（大正2）以後も三度渡米。滞米中に片山潜(せん)と知り合い社会主義運動に入る。日本共産党結成を企図して19年に帰国。21年5月、上海(シャンハイ)のコミンテルン極東部委員会に日本代表として出席するが、帰途下関(しものせき)で検挙。釈放後8月、高津正道(たかつせいどう)ら暁民会(ぎょうみんかい)のメンバーと「暁民共産党」を結成。22年7月日本共産党創立に参加。23年6月第一次共産党事件の直前にソ連に亡命、プロフィンテルン常任委員となる。26年帰国ののち、日本共産党との関係を絶ち、28年（昭和3）日本労農党、日本大衆党に参加。その後、国家社会主義に転向、32年には下中弥三郎(しもなかやさぶろう)らと新日本国民同盟を結成。戦後は全国戦災者事業団を組織、身体障害者福祉事業に力を注いだ。一貫して理論よりも運動を重視し、また人間の生命的・身体的な側面をより尊重した。

［北河賢三］

『同志社大学人文科学研究所編『近藤栄蔵自伝』（1970・ひえい書房）』

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