Baibunsha - Baibunsha

A kind of ghostwriting business that brought together socialists who had retreated during the "winter period" following the High Treason Incident, and served as a base for reconstruction while preserving the livelihood and fueling the movement, started by Sakai Toshihiko. It opened in Yotsuya, Tokyo at the end of December 1910 (Meiji 43) and sold a wide range of writing services, from translations to writing graduation theses, congratulatory speeches, advertising copy, and letter writing. It prospered to the point that it expanded into Yurakucho under the sign of "Ukiyo-Kansha," said to be the forerunner of personal counseling. The company's employees included Osugi Sakae, Arahata Kanson, Takabatake Motoyuki, and Yamakawa Hitoshi, and it had special contract writers such as Kamitsukasa Shoken, Toki Zenmaro, and Eto Tekirei. In January 1914 (Taisho 3), it launched the magazine "Luffa no Hana" (Luffa Flowers), which also served as a business guide. It published witty yet satirical articles, biding its time, and in September 1915, it changed its title to "Shin Shakai" (New Society), and "raised the small flag" of the socialist movement. It made an effort to introduce Western movements and to promote socialist ideas, but Takabatake and Endo Tomoshiro, who were drawn toward national socialism, came into conflict with Sakai and others, and the company was dissolved in March 1916. Takahata took over the name, but it soon disappeared.

[Fujio Ogino]

Fujio Ogino, "Sakai Toshihiko in the First Half of the Winter Period" (Japanese History, No. 360, May 1978, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

堺利彦(さかいとしひこ)が大逆(たいぎゃく)事件後の「冬の時代」下、逼塞(ひっそく)した社会主義者を糾合し、生活を保持するとともに運動の火種を守り再建の拠点とした一種の代筆屋。1910年（明治43）12月末に東京・四谷(よつや)に開業、翻訳から卒業論文の代作、祝辞、広告文、手紙の代筆まであらゆる売文を業とし、身の上相談のはしりといわれる浮世顧問の看板を掲げ、有楽(ゆうらく)町に進出するほど繁盛した。大杉栄(さかえ)、荒畑寒村(かんそん)、高畠素之(たかばたけもとゆき)、山川均(ひとし)らを社員とし、特約執筆家として上司小剣(かみつかさしょうけん)や土岐善麿(ときぜんまろ)、江渡狄嶺(えとてきれい)らを擁した。14年（大正3）1月営業案内を兼ねて『へちまの花』を創刊、軽妙ながら風刺のきいた文章を載せて時機をうかがい、15年9月『新社会』と改題、社会主義運動の「小さき旗上げ」を行う。欧米の運動の紹介や社会主義思想の啓蒙(けいもう)的普及に努めるが、国家社会主義に近づいた高畠、遠藤友四郎らが堺らと対立、19年3月社を解散する。名義は高畠が引き継いだが、まもなく自然消滅した。

［荻野富士夫］

『荻野富士夫「〈冬の時代〉前半の堺利彦」（『日本歴史』360号所収・1978年5月・吉川弘文館）』

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