Light of the House - Ienohikari

This magazine was launched in April 1925 (Taisho 14) by the Central Association of Industrial Cooperatives to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of the Industrial Cooperative Law, and was aimed at rural families. At the time, 70-80% of the members were farmers, and the aim of the magazine was to educate these members and their families about the industrial cooperative movement and improve rural life. It was initially distributed through industrial cooperatives, and from 1947 (Showa 22) through agricultural cooperatives. By 1931 (Showa 6), the magazine had sold over 100,000 copies, and in 1933, a campaign was launched to distribute it to one million copies, and by 1944, the number of copies printed had exceeded 1.5 million. In May of the same year, the Ie no Hikari Kyokai (Incorporated Association) was established and became the publisher. After World War II, the association made a fresh start with new officers, launched a movement to improve living standards and a rural reading movement, and in 1947 launched the general magazine Chiji (Jijyo) to serve as a "companion" to the rural intellectual class. As a result of several three-year campaigns to popularize "Ie no Hikari" and "Chijyo", the number of copies printed for "Ie no Hikari" exceeded 1.8 million in 1964. In the same year, "Kodomo no Hikari" (now "Chagurin") was launched. Publication of books such as "Nihon Nogyo Nenkan" (Japanese Agriculture Yearbook) was also active.

[Hideo Kyotani]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1925年（大正14）4月、産業組合法公布25年を記念して産業組合中央会によって創刊された農村家庭向けの雑誌。当時組合員の構成は70～80％が農業従事者であり、その組合員と家庭に産業組合運動の教育を施し、農村生活の向上を目ざすのが主旨であった。当初は産業組合、1947年（昭和22）以降は農業協同組合の組織を通じて配布され、1931年（昭和6）には10万部を突破、1933年に100万部普及運動を行い、1944年には印刷部数150万を超えた。同年5月社団法人家の光協会が設立され発行元となった。第二次世界大戦後、協会は役員を一新して再出発し、生活改善運動、農村読書運動を展開し、1947年には農村知識層の「伴侶(はんりょ)」たるべく総合雑誌『地上』を創刊した。数次にわたる『家の光』『地上』普及三か年計画運動を実施した結果、1964年には『家の光』の印刷部数は180万を突破。同年『こどもの光』（現在の『ちゃぐりん』）を創刊した。『日本農業年鑑』など書籍の出版も活発である。

［京谷秀夫］

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