Morichika Unpei

A socialist of the Meiji period. Born in Okayama Prefecture on January 20, 1881. After graduating from the Prefectural Agricultural School, he worked at the prefectural office and other places, but in 1904 (Meiji 37), he formed the Okayama Iroha Club as a readers' group for the weekly Heimin Shimbun and was dismissed from his post. In 1905, he founded the Osaka Heiminsha, and moved to Tokyo to run the Heiminsha Milk Hall. In February 1903, he participated in the founding of the Japan Socialist Party and became a council member and secretary. In 1907, with the support of Miyatake Gaikotsu, he launched the Osaka Heimin Shimbun (later changing the title to Nihon Heimin Shimbun), and with contributions from Kotoku Shusui, Sakai Toshihiko and others, it took on the appearance of an organ for the direct action movement. After the Red Flag Incident in June 1913, he returned to Tokyo again and lived with Kotoku and continued his activities, but he came into conflict with his comrades, and returned home the following year to dedicate himself to advanced horticulture through greenhouse cultivation and the improvement of rural areas. He was implicated in the High Treason Incident on suspicion of conspiring with Kotoku and Oishi Seinosuke to commit high treason, and was executed on January 24, 1911.

[Fujio Ogino]

"Morichin Unpei" by Kinichi Yoshioka (1961, Nippon Bunkyo Publishing) " "My Father Is Not Angry" by Katsuko Amatsu (1972, Kansai Shoin)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治期の社会主義者。明治14年1月20日岡山県に生まれる。県立農学校卒業後、県庁などに勤務するが、1904年（明治37）週刊『平民新聞』の読者会として岡山いろは倶楽部(クラブ)を結成、免官となる。05年大阪平民社を創設後、上京して平民舎ミルクホールを経営、6年2月日本社会党の結党に参加し評議員兼幹事となる。07年宮武外骨(みやたけがいこつ)の援助で『大阪平民新聞』を創刊（のち『日本平民新聞』と改題）、幸徳秋水(こうとくしゅうすい)や堺利彦(さかいとしひこ)らが寄稿し、直接行動派の機関紙の観を呈する。8年6月の赤旗事件後に再度上京、幸徳方に同居して活動を続けるが、同志と対立し、翌年帰郷、温室栽培による高等園芸と農村の改善に従う。幸徳や大石誠之助(せいのすけ)と大逆(たいぎゃく)を謀議したなどの容疑で大逆事件に連座、明治44年1月24日死刑となる。

［荻野富士夫］

『吉岡金市著『森近運平』（1961・日本文教出版）』▽『天津克子著『父上は怒り給いぬ』（1972・関西書院）』

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