Kanzo Uchiyama

Owner of Uchiyama Bookstore in Shanghai, and a contributor to the Japan-China friendship movement. Born in Okayama Prefecture. After dropping out of high school, he went to Osaka to work as an apprentice, then worked as a clerk at a kimono shop in Kyoto for 10 years. At the age of 27, he converted to Christianity. In 1913 (Taisho 2), he was introduced to an eye drop company by a pastor, and went to China as a traveling salesman. While promoting medicines, he opened a bookstore in Shanghai with his wife Mikiko. He then devoted himself to running the bookstore, and formed friendships with many Chinese intellectuals, including Lu Xun, becoming a bridge between intellectuals in both countries. He returned to Japan in 1947 (Showa 22), and in 1950 became chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Association, devoting himself to the Japan-China friendship movement. In 1959, he visited China to recuperate from an illness at the invitation of the Chinese side, but died in Beijing.

[Kenzo Kitagawa]

"Kakaroku" by Kanzo Uchiyama (1960, Iwanami Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

上海(シャンハイ)内山書店店主、日中友好運動の功労者。岡山県に生まれる。高等小学校中退後、大阪に出て丁稚(でっち)奉公、ついで京都の呉服店で10年間番頭として生活した。27歳のときキリスト教に入信。1913年（大正2）牧師の紹介で目薬会社に入り、出張員として中国に渡った。薬の宣伝に従事するかたわら、妻の美喜子とともに上海に書店を開いた。その後書店の経営に専念し、魯迅(ろじん／ルーシュン)をはじめ多くの中国の知識人と親交を結び、日中両国知識人交流の掛け橋となった。1947年（昭和22）帰国、1950年には日中友好協会理事長となり、日中友好運動に力を注いだ。1959年中国側の招きで病気療養のため訪中したが、北京(ペキン)で死去した。

［北河賢三］

『内山完造著『花甲録』（1960・岩波書店）』

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