Food May Day

This is the nickname of the People's Rice Acquisition Rally held in front of the Imperial Palace on May 19, 1946 (Showa 21). In the midst of the severe food shortage after the war, the Central May Day was revived for the first time in 11 years on May 1, 1946, gathering 500,000 people. The executive committee decided to hold a food May Day to acquire rice. First, on May 12, Communist Party members and others held a "Give us rice, ward residents' rally" in Setagaya, Tokyo, and the demonstrators, holding red flags, passed through Sakashita Gate for the first time and stormed into the Imperial Household Ministry. Then, on May 19, 250,000 people gathered in front of the Imperial Palace. The rally resolved to immediately form a democratic front, passed a petition to the emperor regarding the food problem, and moved on to a demonstration march. At that time, the placard incident occurred (Communist Party member Matsushima Matsutaro was charged with lèse majesté for carrying a placard that read "I am eating tarafuku, the people of Nanji will starve to death," which caused a problem and led to a problem. Representative Tokuda Kyuichi and others split into three groups and brought petitions and resolutions to the Imperial Household Ministry, the Prime Minister's Official Residence, and the Metropolitan Police Department. Yoshida Shigeru refused to meet with them, but gave up on forming a cabinet. However, on the following day, the 20th, MacArthur issued a statement saying, "Violent demonstrations will not be tolerated." Encouraged by this, Yoshida began forming a cabinet again, and on the 22nd, he inaugurated the First Yoshida Cabinet.

[Akira Miyazaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1946年（昭和21）5月19日の宮城(きゅうじょう)前広場での飯米獲得人民大会の通称。敗戦後の深刻な食糧難のなかで、46年5月1日、11年ぶりの復活中央メーデーが50万人を集めて行われた。その実行委員会は、飯米獲得のための食糧メーデー開催を決定。まず5月12日東京・世田谷で共産党員などが中心になって「米よこせ区民大会」を開き、そのデモ隊が赤旗を掲げ、初めて坂下門をくぐり、宮内省に押しかけた。そして5月19日、25万人が宮城前広場に集まった。大会は民主戦線即時結成を決議、また食糧問題に関する天皇への上奏文を可決、デモ行進に移った。その際、プラカード事件（共産党員松島松太郎が「朕はタラフク食ってるぞナンジ人民飢えて死ね」というプラカードを持っていたことが問題になり不敬罪で起訴された）が起こる。代表の徳田球一らは三つに分かれ、宮内省、首相官邸、警視庁へそれぞれ上奏文、決議文を持参した。吉田茂は面会は拒否したものの、組閣を断念した。しかし、翌20日、マッカーサーは「暴民デモ許さず」の声明を発した。それに力を得た吉田は再度組閣にかかり、22日、第一次吉田内閣を発足させたのである。

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