Heiminsha - Heiminsha

A socialist association from the Meiji period. It was founded on October 27, 1903 (Meiji 36) by Sakai Toshihiko and Kotoku Shusui, who had left Yorozuchohosha in opposition to the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, to continue their advocacy of non-war. Many socialists frequented the company's headquarters in Yurakucho, Tokyo, and on November 15, the weekly Heimin Shimbun was published. Although the paper was forced to cease publication on January 29, 1905, it took over the organ of the Chokkodan, led by Kato Tokijiro, called Chokugen, and continued to advocate pacifism and socialism. The company also partnered with the Socialist Association, and in addition to holding socialist speeches and lectures and campaigning in various regions, it also published 15 Heimin Bunko books, including Heiminsha Dojinsha's Introduction to Socialism and Kinoshita Naoe's Pillar of Fire. However, due to government repression, financial difficulties, and internal disunity, the group was dissolved on October 9, 2005.

After this, the socialist camp split into the "Shinkigen" faction, made up of Christian socialists, and the "Hikari" faction, made up of materialistic socialists, but on January 15, 1907, Ishikawa Sanshiro, Nishikawa Mitsujiro, Kotoku Shusui, Sakai Toshihiko, and Takeuchi Kaneshichi from both factions joined forces to re-establish the Heiminsha, which launched the daily newspaper "Heimin Shimbun." However, divisions emerged within the company between those who favored parliamentary policy and those who favored direct action, and government oppression became even more severe, leading to the suspension of publication on April 14, 1907, and the Heiminsha being dissolved as well. Although it was active for a total of just over two years, and only three months after its revival, it left a significant mark on the history of Japanese socialism as a unified organization that put socialism into practice.

[Ryuichi Narita]

"The Heiminsha Era" by Kanson Arahata (1973, Chuokoron-Shinsha)" ▽ "Masao Ohta (ed.), "Meiji Socialism Documents Series 2: Heiminsha Diary: How I Became a Socialist" (1972, Shinsensha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治時代の社会主義結社。日露戦争開戦に反対し萬朝報(よろずちょうほう)社を退社した堺利彦(さかいとしひこ)、幸徳秋水(こうとくしゅうすい)が、非戦の主張を貫くため1903年（明治36）10月27日に設立。東京有楽町の社屋には多くの社会主義者が出入りし、11月15日には週刊『平民新聞』を発刊。同紙は05年1月29日に廃刊を余儀なくされたものの、加藤時次郎の主宰する直行(ちょっこう)団の機関紙『直言(ちょくげん)』を譲り受け、平和主義と社会主義とを主張し続けた。また同社は社会主義協会と提携し、社会主義演説会、講演会の開催や地方遊説のほか、平民社同人編『社会主義入門』、木下尚江(なおえ)『火の柱』など15冊の平民文庫も送り出した。しかし、政府の弾圧に加え、財政難、内部の不統一のため05年10月9日解散した。

　こののち社会主義陣営はキリスト教社会主義者による『新紀元』派と、唯物論的社会主義者による『光』派に分かれたが、1907年1月15日に両派の石川三四郎、西川光二郎(みつじろう)、幸徳秋水、堺利彦、竹内兼七(かねしち)が提携しふたたび平民社がおこされ、日刊『平民新聞』が発刊された。しかし社内で議会政策派と直接行動派の分裂がみられたうえ、政府の弾圧はいっそう厳しくなり、07年4月14日に廃刊、平民社も解散した。通算2年余、再興後はわずか3か月の活動であったが、社会主義の統一的な実践団体として、日本の社会主義史上に大きな足跡を残している。

［成田龍一］

『荒畑寒村著『平民社時代』（1973・中央公論社）』▽『太田雅夫編『明治社会主義資料叢書2　平民社日記　予は如何にして社会主義者となりし乎』（1972・新泉社）』

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