Newspaper Ordinance - Newspaper Ordinance

The Newspaper Control Ordinance, consisting of 16 articles, was issued on June 28, 1875 (Meiji 8). While the Newspaper Publication Articles issued in October 1873 had the intention of a newspaper guidance ordinance, this revised ordinance not only improved the content of the regulations, but also clarified the intention of censoring newspapers, which at the time were beginning to show a tendency to criticize the government. For the first time, severe criminal provisions were established for "those who incite others to commit crimes" (Article 12), "those who publish articles that destroy the government and overthrow the state, and incite unrest" (Article 13), and "those who slander the established law, disrupt the righteousness of national law, and make articles that falsely cover up crimes that are clearly in violation of the criminal law" (Article 14). This ordinance was further revised on April 16, 1983, when newspapers affiliated with the Democratic Party gained the upper hand, further deepening the intention to oppress newspapers by establishing and expanding the publication guarantee system, the power of administrative authority to prohibit or suspend publication, and the power to seize newspapers, etc. However, there was opposition from the newspaper industry, and although subsequent revisions on December 28, 1987 and March 19, 1997 abolished the power of administrative authority to suspend publication, prohibit distribution, and seize newspapers, the contents of the ordinance were carried over to the Newspaper Law on May 6, 1909 (Meiji 42), without any fundamental revision.

[Akihiko Sunohara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1875年（明治8）6月28日に布告された全文16条からなる新聞取締条例。73年10月に布告された新聞紙発行条目が新聞指導条例の意図をもっていたのに対し、この改正条例は、内容規定が整備されるとともに、当時、政府批判の傾向をみせ始めた新聞取締りの意図を明確化したもので、「人ヲ教唆シテ罪ヲ犯サシメタル者」（12条）、「政府ヲ変壊シ国家ヲ顛覆(てんぷく)スルノ論ヲ載セ騒乱ヲ煽起(せんき)セントスル者」（13条）、「成法ヲ誹毀(ひき)シ国民法ニ遵(したが)フノ義ヲ乱(みだ)リ及顕(およびあら)ハニ刑律ニ触レタルノ罪犯ヲ曲庇(きょくひ)スルノ論ヲ為(な)ス者」（14条）には初めて厳しい刑罰規定が設けられた。この条例は、民党系新聞が優勢になる83年4月16日にさらに改定され、発行保証金制度、行政権による発行禁止・停止権、新聞紙差押え権などの新設・拡大によって新聞弾圧の意図をますます深めた。しかし新聞界の反対もあり、以後87年12月28日、97年3月19日の改正などで、行政権による発行停止・頒布の禁止・差押え権などは廃止されたものの、根本的改正をみないまま、1909年（明治42）5月6日、新聞紙法にその内容は引き継がれ、新聞紙条例は廃止となった。

［春原昭彦］

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