Anti-Russian Comrades Association - Tairo Doushikai

An organization that promoted foreign policy before and after the Russo-Japanese War. On July 25, 1903 (Meiji 36), members of the Imperial Party, the Chusei Club, the Comrades' Meeting Hall, and the Diet Members' Meeting Hall, as well as members of the Korea Association (organized by a part of the former National Alliance Association), met and agreed to unite and tackle the issue of Russia. On August 9, they held a convention to unite their comrades at Kinkikan in Kanda, Tokyo, where they resolved to operate under the name of the Anti-Russian Comrades' Association. At the convention, they argued that the withdrawal of Russian troops from Manchuria (northeastern China) and the opening of the area to other countries was Japan's "calling," and resolved to demand that the government make this a reality. After that, they played a major role in guiding public opinion in favor of a decisive war against Russia through visits by cabinet ministers and speeches. Its leaders were Tomotsune Komuchi (chairman) and Tomofusa Sasa. The group declined after Komuchi's death (June 1905) and was dissolved after the Hibiya Arson Incident.

[Masatoshi Sakata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日露戦争前後の対外硬(たいがいこう)運動組織。1903年（明治36）7月25日、帝国党、中正倶楽部(くらぶ)、同志集会所、議員集会所の各党派所属の代議士および朝鮮協会（旧国民同盟会の一部が組織したもの）員らが会合し、結束して対露問題に取り組むことを申し合わせ、ついで8月9日同志結集の大会を東京・神田(かんだ)錦輝(きんき)館で開催し、席上、対露同志会なる会名で以後活動することを決議した。彼らは同大会において、ロシア軍を満州（中国東北）から撤兵させ、同地を各国に開放させることはわが国の「天職」であると主張し、これらの実現を政府に要求していくことを決議した。以後、閣僚訪問、演説会などを通じて対露決戦への世論誘導に大きな役割を果たした。神鞭知常(こうむちともつね)（委員長）、佐々友房(さっさともふさ)らがリーダーであった。会は神鞭死去（1905年6月）後衰退し、日比谷(ひびや)焼打事件後に解散した。

［酒田正敏］

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