Chuji Machida

A politician from the late Meiji to early Showa periods. Born on March 30, 1863, to a samurai family of the Akita domain. Graduated from the elective course at the Faculty of Law of the Imperial University. After becoming acquainted with Inukai Tsuyoshi, he entered the world of journalism, and after working as a reporter for the Asano Shimbun and Yubin Hochi Shimbun, he founded the Toyo Keizai Shimpo-sha in 1895 (Meiji 28) and became its president, but resigned soon after. He then served as deputy manager of the Bank of Japan and director general of Yamaguchi Bank before entering politics, and since 1912 has been elected to the House of Representatives 10 times. He played an active role as a senior member of the Rikken Kokuminto, Rikken Doshikai, Kenseikai, and Rikken Minseito parties. During this time, he served as president of the Hochi Shimbun. In 1926 (Taisho 15), he served as Minister of Agriculture in the first Wakatsuki Reijiro Cabinet, then Minister of Agriculture in the Hamaguchi Osachi Cabinet and the second Wakatsuki Cabinet, and Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Okada Keisuke Cabinet, where he was involved in regulating rice prices and measures for silkworm and silk. In 1935 (Showa 10), he became president of the Constitutional Democratic Party, and as an elder statesman of party politicians, he resisted the New Establishment Movement, but was unable to resist the tide of the times, and in 1940 the Democratic Party was dissolved and he joined the Imperial Rule Assistance Association. In 1944, he joined the Koiso Kuniaki Cabinet. After the Second World War, in 1945 (Showa 20), he became president of the Japan Progressive Party, but resigned the following year in 1946 due to being purged from public office. He died on November 12, 1946.

[Yasushi Toriumi]

"Matsumura Kenzo, 'The Life of Machida Chuji' (1950, Machida Chuji Biography Publishing Society)" ▽ "Machida Chuji Biography Research Society, editors, 'Machida Chuji' Biography and Historical Materials (1996, Sakurada-kai)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治後期から昭和前期の政治家。文久(ぶんきゅう)3年3月30日秋田藩士の家に生まれる。帝国大学法科大学選科卒業。犬養毅(いぬかいつよし)の知遇を得て言論界に投じ、『朝野新聞』『郵便報知新聞』記者を経て、1895年（明治28）東洋経済新報社を創立、社長となったがまもなく辞任。その後、日本銀行副支配役、山口銀行総理事などを経て政界に入り、1912年以来、衆議院議員当選10回。立憲国民党、立憲同志会、憲政会、立憲民政党の幹部として活躍。この間、報知新聞社長を務めた。1926年（大正15）第一次若槻礼次郎(わかつきれいじろう)内閣の農相、ついで浜口雄幸(はまぐちおさち)内閣、第二次若槻内閣の農相、岡田啓介(けいすけ)内閣の商工相を歴任し、米価調節、蚕糸対策などにあたった。1935年（昭和10）立憲民政党総裁に就任、政党政治家の長老として新体制運動に抵抗したが時流に抗しえず、1940年民政党は解党し大政翼賛会に加わった。1944年小磯国昭(こいそくにあき)内閣に入閣。第二次世界大戦後の1945年（昭和20）日本進歩党総裁となったが、翌1946年公職追放により辞任した。昭和21年11月12日死去。

［鳥海　靖］

『松村謙三著『町田忠治翁伝』（1950・町田忠治翁伝記刊行会）』▽『町田忠治伝記研究会編著『町田忠治』伝記編・史料編（1996・桜田会）』

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