Vigilante group - Jikeidan

A private security group formed to protect themselves from fires, theft, etc. The vigilante groups at the time of the Great Kanto Earthquake are particularly famous. Following the rice riots of 1918 (Taisho 7), the police began to organize the people, instructing residents to form vigilante groups in various places under the slogan "self-defense and self-policing." Based on this premise, when the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred in September 1923 and rumors of Korean riots spread, vigilante groups were formed in various places, armed with bamboo spears, clubs, Japanese swords, and crowbars, and conducted checkpoints on passersby. With the official approval of the military and police, they massacred several thousand Koreans. The number of vigilante groups is said to be 1,145 in Tokyo, 634 in Kanagawa, 300 in Saitama, 366 in Chiba, 326 in Ibaraki, 469 in Gunma, and 16 in Tochigi. The core of these organizations were the youth groups, veterans' associations, and firefighting societies of each town and village, and many of them were organized from the top down by the police. The authorities appreciated their "autonomous" role. In recent years, on the occasion of International Anti-War Day in 1969 (Showa 44) and Prime Minister Eisaku Sato's visit to the United States, vigilante groups were formed in various parts of Tokyo to deal with street actions by radical students.

[Sumio Ohirakata]

"The Truth of History: The Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre of Koreans," compiled by the Executive Committee for the 50th Anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake Korean Victims Memorial Event and the Investigation Committee (1975, Gendaishi Publishing Co., Ltd.)" ▽ "The Great Kanto Earthquake, by Kang Deok-sang (Chuko Shinsho)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

火災・盗難などから自らを守るために組織された民間の警備団体。とくに、関東大震災時の自警団が有名。1918年（大正7）の米騒動を契機として、警察は民衆の組織化に着手し、「自衛自警」をスローガンに、各地で自警組織を結成するよう住民を指導した。これを前提として、23年9月関東大震災が発生し朝鮮人暴動の流言が流布されるや、各所に自警団がつくられ、竹槍(たけやり)、棍棒(こんぼう)、日本刀、鳶口(とびぐち)などで武装して通行人を検問。軍隊・警察の公認下で数千人の朝鮮人を虐殺した。自警団の数は、東京1145、神奈川634、埼玉300、千葉366、茨城326、群馬469、栃木16に及ぶという。組織の中核は、各町村の青年団、在郷軍人会、消防組で、警察が上から組織したものが多い。当局側はその「自治」的役割を評価した。なお、近年では、1969年（昭和44）の国際反戦デーと佐藤栄作(えいさく)首相の訪米に際して、過激派学生の街頭行動に対処するため、東京各地に自警団が結成されたことがある。

［大日方純夫］

『関東大震災50周年朝鮮人犠牲者追悼行事実行委員会・調査委員会編『歴史の真実――関東大震災と朝鮮人虐殺』（1975・現代史出版会）』▽『姜徳相著『関東大震災』（中公新書）』

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