The Great Japanese Society of Genron Hokokukai

A national policy cooperation group of thinkers and critics organized under the guidance and supervision of the Cabinet Information Bureau during the Pacific War. Initially planned as the Greater Japan Thought Patriotic Association, it was later renamed the Greater Japan Genron Patriotic Association and founded on December 23, 1942 (Showa 17). The association's officers were chairman Tokutomi Soho (Iichiro), executive director Kanokogi Kazunobu, and 27 other directors, including Tsukui Tatsuo, Ogushi Toyoo, Okuma Nobuyuki, Takayama Iwao, Kosaka Masaaki, and Ichikawa Fusae. Membership included a wide range of thinkers and critics, primarily members of the former Japan Critics Association (founded in 1940, represented by Tsukui), and as of July 1943, the association had 917 members. Many of its executives were supporters of imperial nationalism, and the organization set out its purpose as "to carry out a holy war based on the true meaning of the national polity...to devote itself to the ideological battle both within and outside the Imperial Court" (Article 3 of the Articles of Incorporation), and played a part in the total war system alongside similar national policy cooperation organizations such as the Japanese Literature Patriotic Association, the Japanese Art Patriotic Association, and the Japan Music and Culture Association, for example, by holding large lectures on the ideological battle to annihilate the United States and Britain, and publishing the "Japanese Thought Series."As soon as Japan was defeated in the war, the organization ceased its activities and was dissolved on August 27, 1945 (Showa 20).

[Yoshimi Uchikawa]

"The History of Oppression of Freedom of Speech" edited by the Japan Federation of Journalists (1949, Ginkgo Shobo)" ▽ "Bloodstained Freedom of Speech" by Hidetoshi Kuroda (1952, Gakufu Shoin)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

太平洋戦争期に内閣情報局の指導・監督のもとに組織された思想家・評論家の国策協力団体。当初、大日本思想報国会の名称で計画されたが、のち大日本言論報国会に改められ、1942年（昭和17）12月23日に創立された。役員は、会長徳富蘇峰(そほう)（猪一郎(いいちろう)）、専務理事鹿子木員信(かのこぎかずのぶ)、理事は津久井竜雄(たつお)、大串兎代夫(おおぐしとよお)、大熊信行(おおくまのぶゆき)、高山岩男、高坂正顕(こうさかまさあき)、市川房枝ら27名。会員には旧日本評論家協会（1940創立、代表津久井）のメンバーを中心に広く思想家・評論家が加わり、43年7月現在で917名。幹部には天皇制国家主義の支持者が多く、「国体ノ本義ニ基キ聖戦貫遂ノタメ……皇国内外ノ思想戦ニ挺身(ていしん)スルコト」（定款3条）を目的に掲げ、たとえば米英撃滅思想戦大講演会を開催したり、『日本思想叢書(そうしょ)』を刊行したりして、日本文学報国会、日本美術報国会、日本音楽文化協会など、同種の国策協力団体と並んで総力戦体制の一翼を担った。敗戦と同時に活動を停止、1945年（昭和20）8月27日に解散した。

［内川芳美］

『日本ジャーナリスト連盟編『言論弾圧史』（1949・銀杏書房）』▽『黒田秀俊著『血ぬられた言論』（1952・学風書院）』

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