Meirokusha - Meirokusha

Founded in 1873 (Meiji 6), it was Japan's first academic society of leading Western scholars. It was initiated by Mori Arinori, who had returned from the United States, and its original members included Nishimura Shigeki, Tsuda Mamichi, Nishi Amane, Nakamura Masanao (Keiu), Kato Hiroyuki, Mitsukuri Shuhei, Fukuzawa Yukichi, Sugi Koji, and Mitsukuri Rinsho, a total of ten people. Tsuda Sen, Kanda Takahira and others later joined. With the goal of "exchanging opinions, spreading knowledge, and clarifying understanding" (Meirokusha regulations), the society met twice a month to hold research discussions and lectures. To publish these ideas, they published Meiroku Zasshi (first published in March 1874, circulation approx. 3,200), Japan's first enlightened magazine. They presented discourses on a wide range of subjects, from politics, economics, diplomacy, and society to language, religion, education, and science, aimed at the adoption of Western civilization, and guided the trend toward modernization. However, most of the members were bureaucrats and scholars, and played a leading role in the government's modernization policy. Therefore, when the idea of ​​establishing a popularly elected parliament emerged as a criticism of the government's tyranny, they all agreed that it was premature. When the Newspaper Ordinance was revised in 1875 and the Law on Libel and Slander was enacted, which intensified the suppression of free speech, the magazine voluntarily resolved to cease publication (November 1875, issue 43 was the last issue). The Meirokusha itself continued to exist as a salon until around 1910 (Meiji 43), but its enlightened role came to an end with the cessation of publication of the magazine.

[Masaki Hirota]

"Nishida Choju, 'Annotation of the Meiroku Magazines' (included in the 'Meiji Culture Collection, Magazines,' 1929/1955, Nippon Hyoronsha)" ▽ "Miyakawa Toru, 'The Structure of Modern Japanese Thought' (1956, Aoki Shoten) " ▽ "Kanagawa University Institute of Humanities (ed.), 'The Meiroku Magazines and Their Surroundings: The Acceptance of Western Culture, Thought and Language' (2004, Ochanomizu Shobo)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1873年（明治6）に結成された当代一流の洋学者たちによるわが国最初の学術結社。アメリカから帰国の森有礼(ありのり)の首唱になり、当初の社員はほかに西村茂樹(しげき)、津田真道(まみち)、西周(あまね)、中村正直(まさなお)（敬宇）、加藤弘之(ひろゆき)、箕作秋坪(みつくりしゅうへい)、福沢諭吉(ゆきち)、杉亨二(こうじ)、箕作麟祥(りんしょう)の10人で発足、のち津田仙(せん)、神田孝平(たかひら)らが加わる。「意見を交換し知を広め識を明にする」（明六社制規）を目的として毎月2回会合し、研究討論や講演会をもった。またそれらを発表するために、わが国最初の啓蒙(けいもう)雑誌といえる『明六雑誌』（1874年3月創刊、発行部数約3200）を発行し、政治、経済、外交、社会から言語、宗教、教育、科学に至る広範な分野に、西洋文明の摂取のための言説を展開し、文明開化の思潮を指導した。しかし社員のほとんどが官僚学者であって、政府の開化政策を先導する役割を果たした。したがって、政府の専制を批判して登場した民撰(みんせん)議院設立論に対しては、共通して時期尚早論で対処した。75年に新聞紙条例改定、讒謗律(ざんぼうりつ)制定で言論弾圧が強化されると、自主的に廃刊を決議した（1875年11月、第43号が最終号）。明六社そのものはサロンとして1910年（明治43）ごろまで存続するが、その啓蒙的役割は雑誌廃刊とともに終わったといえよう。

［広田昌希］

『西田長寿著『明六雑誌解題』（『明治文化全集雑誌編』所収・1929／1955・日本評論社）』▽『宮川透著『近代日本思想の構造』（1956・青木書店）』▽『神奈川大学人文学研究所編『「明六雑誌」とその周辺　西洋文化の受容・思想と言語』（2004・御茶の水書房）』

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