Teisuke Akiyama

Newspaper owner and politician. Born in Okayama Prefecture. Graduated from the law department of Tokyo Imperial University. Worked for a short time at the Board of Audit. In 1893 (Meiji 26), he launched the Niroku Shinpo with financial support from Sakamoto Kin'ya (1865-1923), but suspended publication in 1895 due to financial difficulties. It was relaunched in 1900 (Meiji 33). He gained popularity among the people through sensational campaigns such as attacking the Mitsui zaibatsu and encouraging the free abolition of prostitutes, and had the largest circulation in the Tokyo suburbs. In 1901, he hosted the Great Workers' Social Gathering, said to be the first workers' rally in Japan. In 1902, he was elected to the House of Representatives. However, he was viewed as a threat by the government, and in 1904 he resigned from the Diet due to false rumours that he was a "Russian spy," and the publication of the Niroku Shinpo was also banned. He played an active role as a mastermind in the political world, working hard to establish the Rikken Doshikai (Constitutional Comrades Association) during the Taisho period and the Konoe New Party during the Showa period. He was also deeply involved in the Sino-Japanese issue and engaged in peace negotiations with Chiang Kai-shek.

[Teruo Ariyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

新聞経営者、政治家。岡山県出身。東京帝国大学法科卒業。短期間、会計検査院に勤務。1893年（明治26）坂本金弥（1865―1923）の資金援助を得て『二六新報』を発刊したが、資金難のため1895年休刊。1900年（明治33）再刊した。三井財閥攻撃、娼妓(しょうぎ)自由廃業などの扇情的キャンペーンによって民衆の人気を博し、都下第一の発行部数となる。1901年日本最初の労働者集会といわれる労働者大懇親会を主催。1902年衆議院議員に当選した。しかし政府から危険視され、1904年には「露探(ろたん)」（ロシアのスパイの意）デマにより議員辞職、『二六新報』も発行禁止となった。以後は政界の黒幕として活動し、大正期の立憲同志会設立や昭和期の近衛(このえ)新党などに尽力した。日中問題にも深く関係し、蒋介石(しょうかいせき)との和平工作にも従事した。

［有山輝雄］

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