Senaga Kamejiro - Senaga Kamejiro

Okinawan activist and politician. Born in Tomigusuku Village, Okinawa Prefecture (now Tomigusuku City). After attending Junten Junior High School, he entered the Seventh High School, but was expelled for participating in the Social Science Research Association. He was imprisoned for violating the Peace Preservation Law. He later served in the military in China, but also engaged in anti-war activities within the military. After World War II, he formed the Okinawa People's Party in 1947 (Showa 22), became its secretary-general, and was at the forefront of the Okinawa reversion movement. In March 1952, after winning the first Ryukyu Legislative Assembly election, he refused to take an oath to the United States at the inauguration ceremony. In October 1954, he was arrested and imprisoned (2 years) for harboring a communist. He was elected mayor of Naha in December 1956, but was exiled the following year, and suffered oppression from the United States. In 1969, he was awarded the Joliot-Curie Peace Prize. Elected to the House of Representatives in November 1970. Affectionately known as "Kame-san." In 1973, after Okinawa was returned to mainland Japan, he became the first prefectural chairman and central vice-chairman of the People's Party when the Party merged with the Japanese Communist Party. He later served as the party's general chairman of the Diet members' group, among other positions. He retired from politics in 1990 (Heisei 2). His books include "Okinawa People's Party."

[Yuji Odabe]

"Okinawa People's Party" (1970, Shin Nihon Shuppansha) ▽ "Memoirs of Senaga Kamejiro" (1991, Shin Nihon Shuppansha) ▽ "Unyielding - Senaga Kamejiro Diary" edited by the Ryukyu Shimpo (2007~, Ryukyu Shimpo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

沖縄の運動家、政治家。沖縄県豊見城(とみぐすく)村（現豊見城市）に生まれる。順天中学を経て第七高等学校に入学したが、社会科学研究会などに参加し、放校となる。治安維持法違反で投獄される。のち中国で軍務に服するが、軍隊内でも反戦活動を行う。第二次世界大戦後、1947年（昭和22）沖縄人民党を結成、書記長となり、沖縄の本土復帰運動の第一線にたつ。1952年3月、第1回琉球(りゅうきゅう)立法院選挙当選後の就任式でアメリカへの宣誓を拒否。1954年10月には共産主義者隠匿の罪で検挙、投獄（懲役2年）された。1956年12月那覇市長に当選するが翌年に追放されるなど、アメリカの弾圧を受けた。1969年ジョリオ・キュリー平和賞受賞。1970年11月衆議院議員当選。「亀さん」の愛称で親しまれる。沖縄本土復帰後の1973年、人民党と日本共産党の合流と同時に初代県委員長・党中央副委員長となる。その後、同党国会議員団総会長などを務める。1990年（平成2）に政界を引退。著書に『沖縄人民党』などがある。

［小田部雄次］

『『沖縄人民党』（1970・新日本出版社）』▽『『瀬長亀次郎回想録』（1991・新日本出版社）』▽『琉球新報社編『不屈――瀬長亀次郎日記』（2007～　・琉球新報社）』

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