Shumei Okawa

The theoretical leader of the Japanese fascist movement. Born in Yamagata Prefecture on December 6, 1886. Graduated from the Fifth High School, he majored in Indian philosophy at the Department of Philosophy of Tokyo Imperial University. He continued to study Indian philosophy, but gradually turned his attention to the current situation in colonial India, and began to place emphasis on the study of colonial history and colonial policy. In 1918 (Taisho 7), he joined the South Manchuria Railway, and the following year worked at the South Manchuria Railway East Asia Economic Research Bureau. In 1920, he became a professor at Takushoku University, where he was in charge of colonial history and colonial policy. While engaged in research and investigations, he formed the Yuzonsha Society with Mitsukawa Kametaro and others in 1913. He left the society due to a difference of opinion with Kita Ikki, but in 1921 he founded the Kochisha Society with the aim of reforming the nation. During this time, he worked to study the Japanese spirit and train leaders at the Japan Social Education Research Institute and the University Dormitory, which was reorganized from it, and deepened his ties with military staff officers. Through these connections, in 1931 (Showa 6), he was involved in the March Incident and October Incident, which were coup plots to establish a military cabinet. In 1932, he organized the Jinmu-kai with the aim of reforming the nation through a mass movement, but was arrested and imprisoned for providing guns and funds to the masterminds of the May 15 Incident. After his release from prison in 1962, he opened an affiliated research institute of the East Asian Economic Research Bureau, known as the Okawa Juku, and in addition to training researchers, he devoted himself to writing, publishing many books including "The 2,600-Year History of Japan." In December 1945 (Showa 20), he was arrested on suspicion of being a Class A war criminal, but was acquitted due to mental disorders while incarcerated at Sugamo. He also completed a Japanese translation of the Quran while hospitalized at the Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital. He died on December 24, 1957.

[Kenzo Kitagawa]

"The Collected Works of Okawa Shumei, edited by Hashikawa Bunzo (1975, Chikuma Shobo)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本ファシズム運動の理論的指導者。明治19年12月6日山形県に生まれる。第五高等学校卒業、東京帝国大学哲学科でインド哲学を専攻。その後もインド哲学の研究を続けたが、しだいに植民地インドの現状にも目を向け、植民史、植民政策の研究に重点を置くようになった。1918年（大正7）満鉄に入社、翌年から満鉄東亜経済調査局に勤務。また20年には拓殖大学教授となり、植民史、植民政策などを担当した。研究、調査に従事するかたわら、18年には満川亀太郎らとともに猶存社(ゆうぞんしゃ)を結成。北一輝(きたいっき)との意見対立がもとで脱退したが、24年には行地社(こうちしゃ)を創立して国家改造を目ざした。この間、日本社会教育研究所、およびこれを改組した大学寮で日本精神の研究、指導者の養成に努め、軍部幕僚将校との結び付きを深めていった。この結び付きから、31年（昭和6）には、軍部内閣樹立のクーデター計画事件である三月事件、十月事件に関与した。32年には大衆運動による国家改造を目ざして神武会を組織したが、五・一五事件の首謀者に拳銃(けんじゅう)と資金を提供したため逮捕され、下獄した。37年に出獄したのちは、大川塾と称された東亜経済調査局付属研究所を開設し、研究要員の育成にあたるほか、著作活動に力を注ぎ、『日本二千六百年史』をはじめ数多くの著書を刊行した。45年（昭和20）12月A級戦犯容疑で逮捕されたが、巣鴨(すがも)収容中に精神障害をおこし免訴となった。なお、都立松沢病院入院中にコーランの邦訳を完成させた。昭和32年12月24日死去。

［北河賢三］

『橋川文三編『大川周明集』（1975・筑摩書房）』

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