Yamazaki Kesaya

Lawyer. Born in Nagano Prefecture. Graduated from Meiji Law School in 1901 (Meiji 34). Studied in America in 1903, where he became acquainted with socialists such as Kotoku Shusui. Returned to Japan in 1907, became a lawyer, and established the Tokyo Law Office in 1913 (Taisho 2). In 1916, he became the director of the Commoner's Law Office attached to Kato Tokijiro's Commoner's Hospital, and defended most of the socialist cases that occurred in Tokyo during the Taisho period. In 1917, he established the Commoner's University. He participated in the founding of the Japan Socialist League in 1920, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in 1921, and the Japan Fabian Society in 1924. He also published many magazines and books, including the magazine Kaiho (1925-1933), and worked to spread socialist ideas, and was involved in various socialist organizations with the aim of unifying the front of the left-wing camp. He called himself the "American Earl" and was known for his eccentricities and eccentric behavior, making fun of authority and using rhetoric, irony, and metaphors to mock all authority. After Japan lost the war, he became an advisor to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and defended the Mitaka and Matsukawa incidents.

[Kenzo Kitagawa]

"Yamazaki Kesaya" by Eizaburo Morinaga (1972, Kinokuniya Bookstore)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

弁護士。長野県生まれ。1901年（明治34）明治法律学校卒業。03年アメリカに遊学、幸徳秋水ら社会主義者と知り合う。07年帰国、弁護士となり、13年（大正2）東京法律事務所を創立。16年には加藤時次郎の平民病院付設の平民法律所長になり、大正期東京で起きた社会主義者の事件のほとんどを弁護した。17年には平民大学を創立。20年日本社会主義同盟、21年自由法曹団、24年日本フェビアン協会の結成に参加。また雑誌『解放』（1925～33）をはじめ多くの雑誌、単行本を出版し社会主義思想の普及に努め、各種の社会主義団体に関与して左翼陣営の戦線統一を目ざした。「米国伯爵」を自称、反語・皮肉・暗喩(あんゆ)などを駆使して権力を愚弄(ぐろう)し、いっさいの権威を揶揄(やゆ)、奇言・奇行の人として知られた。敗戦後は自由法曹団顧問となり、三鷹(みたか)事件、松川事件を弁護した。

［北河賢三］

『森長英三郎著『山崎今朝弥』（1972・紀伊國屋書店）』

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