Greater Japan Youth Union - Greater Japan Youth Union

A national federation of men's Youth Associations. In the Taisho period, control of the Youth Association by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education became stronger, but by 1924 (Taisho 13), the number of federated Youth Associations at the prefectural level had reached 31, and momentum for the formation of a national organization was building. The government, the Japan Youth Center, and the Youth Association then worked together to form the Greater Japan United Youth Association, which was officially launched in April 1925. The chairman of the Japan Youth Center also served as the chairman, and Ichiki Kitokuro was appointed as the first chairman. Five directors were elected by the delegate meeting from the Youth Association and five from the Japan Youth Center by the chairman. The leaders of the lower-level town and village Youth Associations were influential people in the community, such as town and village mayors and elementary school principals. By 1926, all prefectures had joined, and the organization played a major role as a national leadership organization for the Youth Association. As the wartime system progressed, in April 1939 (Showa 14), it was reorganized into the Greater Japan Youth Association as a stronger controlling organization, and in January 1941 it became the Greater Japan Youth Association, playing a part in the wartime support system.

[Haruo Yamano]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

男子青年団の全国的な連合組織。大正期に入ると内務・文部両省による青年団の統制が強化されていったが、1924年（大正13）には道府県段階の連合青年団が31府県に達し、全国組織結成の気運が高まった。そこで政府、日本青年館、青年団側の三者により大日本連合青年団の結成が進められ、25年4月に正式に発足をみた。理事長は日本青年館理事長が兼任し、初代理事長には一木喜徳郎(いちききとくろう)が就任、本部役員としての理事には、青年団側から5名が代議員会で選出され、日本青年館側から5名が理事長の委嘱により選出された。下部の町村青年団の指導者は町村長や小学校長など地域の有力者がなった。26年には全道府県が加盟を完了し、全国の青年団指導機関として大きな役割を果たした。戦時体制の進展とともに39年（昭和14）4月より強固な統制団体として大日本青年団に改編され、41年1月には大日本青少年団となり、翼賛体制の一翼を担うこととなった。

［山野晴雄］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例