Japan Federation of Bar Associations

A democratic lawyers' group from the Taisho to Heisei periods. In 1921 (Taisho 10), triggered by an investigation and protest movement against the human rights violations that occurred during the Kawasaki-Mitsubishi shipyard dispute in Kobe, Yamazaki Kesaya, Fuse Tatsuji, Yoshida Ichisaburo and others founded the group in August of the same year with the aim of freedom and democracy. In addition to being active in investigating and defending labor and tenant disputes across the country, the group investigated and protested against the massacre of Koreans and socialists during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Under the Peace Preservation Law, the group fought against oppression and for the protection of rights through public trial struggles and victim relief efforts in the March 15 Incident of 1928 (Showa 3), but the oppression directly affected the group itself, and in 1958, its activities were suspended with the arrest of key members. In November 1945, the group was re-established with Susumu Kamimura as its Secretary-General. It took the lead in the democratic movement, such as democratizing the judiciary and supporting the labor movement, and in particular in the Mitaka and Matsukawa cases, it used all of its strength to wage mass legal battles. Since then, it has been active in the defense of the Constitution and human rights.

[Fujio Ogino]

"The Story of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Prewar and Postwar Editions" (1976, Nippon Hyoronsha)" ▽ "The Story of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Across the Century, Volumes 1 and 2" (2002, Nippon Hyoronsha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大正～平成期の民主的弁護士団体。1921年（大正10）神戸の川崎・三菱(みつびし)造船所争議に際しての人権蹂躙(じゅうりん)事件に対する調査と抗議の運動を契機に、山崎今朝弥(けさや)、布施辰治(ふせたつじ)、吉田市三郎(いちさぶろう)らによって自由と民主主義を目ざして同年8月に創立された。各地の労働争議、小作争議事件の調査や弁護に活躍するほか、23年の関東大震災では朝鮮人や社会主義者虐殺の調査や抗議運動を行う。治安維持法下においては、28年（昭和3）の三・一五事件などの公判闘争や犠牲者救援などを通じて弾圧反対、権利擁護のために戦うが、弾圧は直接団にも及び、33年主要団員の検挙により活動は中断させられる。45年11月上村進(かみむらすすむ)を幹事長に再建。司法の民主化や労働運動の支援など民主主義運動の先頭にたち、とくに三鷹(みたか)事件や松川(まつかわ)事件には団の総力をあげて大衆的な裁判闘争を展開した。以来、護憲・人権擁護の立場からの運動を繰り広げている。

［荻野富士夫］

『自由法曹団編『自由法曹団物語　戦前編・戦後編』（1976・日本評論社）』▽『自由法曹団編『自由法曹団物語――世紀をこえて　上巻・下巻』（2002・日本評論社）』

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