Suzuki Mosaburo
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese journalist, essayist, and socialist
leader.
He was born in Gamagori
, Aichi Prefecture
, to a family descended from medieval hatamoto
; however, his father had lost the family's fortune, and as a result Suzuki was forced to work his way through school. He attended Waseda University
and graduated with a degree in politics and economics in 1915. After graduation, he wrote for several newspapers, including the Hochi Shimbun, Taisho Nichi Nichi Shimbun, and Mainichi Shimbun
, becoming well known as a business writer.
In 1918, Suzuki was sent to Siberia
as a coorespondent. He witnessed the military plot that led to the Japanese intervention in Siberia, and was later known as a consistent opponent of Japan's war efforts. Afterwards, Suzuki returned to the Soviet Union
several times, and gradually developed a socialist worldview based on his Soviet experiences and his memories of his impoverished childhood.
As Japan became increasingly militarist, Suzuki devoted most of his energies to the socialist movement starting around 1928. With Kato Kanju, he formed the Proletarian Workers' Conference in 1936 and the Japan Proletarian Party
in 1937. However, Suzuki became an increasingly prominent target of the government, and he was arrested in 1937. Until the end of World War II
, he refrained from most public political activity.
Following Japan's surrender in 1945, the Japan Socialist Party was formed, and Suzuki, still known as a prominent left-wing leader, joined the party. In 1946, he won a seat in the House of Representatives; he became party secretary in 1949 and chairman in 1951. As chairman of the lower house's Budget Committee in 1948, Suzuki passed a veto over Katayama Tetsu's proposed budget, which later led to the downfall of the cabinet. Later, in his inaugural speech as party chairman, he famously said "Young men, do not take up arms," which caused a huge political stir and became a rallying cry of the pacifist movement in Japan, although it was only intended to rebuke Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru's attempt to secure aid from the United States
to rebuild the military of Japan
.
After the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty that year, the Socialist Party split into left and right wings. Suzuki remained chairman of the left wing, which had only 16 seats in the House of Representatives; in the 1955 elections, it jumped to 89 seats, thanks to support from the General Council of Trade Unions and popular support from a war-weary electorate that largely agreed with the party's principle of unarmed neutrality.
The two socialist parties reunited that year to form a united front against the emerging Liberal Democratic Party
, but crippling defeats in 1957 and 1958 reignited the left-right tension within the Socialist Party. In 1960, right-wing leaders such as Nishio Suehiro left the party and formed the Democratic Socialist Party
. Taking responsibility for the party's collapse, Suzuki resigned as chairman.
During the 1960s, Suzuki gradually pressed the Socialist Party to the left, but it continued to languish as Japan's economic recovery sped up. He retired from politics in 1967 and died in 1970.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese journalist, essayist, and socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
leader.
He was born in Gamagori
Gamagori, Aichi
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 81,767 and the population density of 1,400 persons per km². The total area was 56.81 km².-Geography:...
, Aichi Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...
, to a family descended from medieval hatamoto
Hatamoto
A was a samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the shogunates in Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred to as gokenin. However, in the Edo period, hatamoto were the upper vassals of the Tokugawa...
; however, his father had lost the family's fortune, and as a result Suzuki was forced to work his way through school. He attended Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
and graduated with a degree in politics and economics in 1915. After graduation, he wrote for several newspapers, including the Hochi Shimbun, Taisho Nichi Nichi Shimbun, and Mainichi Shimbun
Mainichi Shimbun
The is one of the major newspapers in Japan, published by .-History:The history of the Mainichi Shimbun begins with founding of two papers during the Meiji period. The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun was founded first, in 1872. The Mainichi claims that it is the oldest existing Japanese daily newspaper...
, becoming well known as a business writer.
In 1918, Suzuki was sent to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
as a coorespondent. He witnessed the military plot that led to the Japanese intervention in Siberia, and was later known as a consistent opponent of Japan's war efforts. Afterwards, Suzuki returned to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
several times, and gradually developed a socialist worldview based on his Soviet experiences and his memories of his impoverished childhood.
As Japan became increasingly militarist, Suzuki devoted most of his energies to the socialist movement starting around 1928. With Kato Kanju, he formed the Proletarian Workers' Conference in 1936 and the Japan Proletarian Party
Japan Proletarian Party
' was a short-lived leftist political party in early Shōwa period Japan.The Nihon Musantō was founded by Suzuki Mosaburo and Kato Kanju in March 1937, as a political wing of the labor union movement...
in 1937. However, Suzuki became an increasingly prominent target of the government, and he was arrested in 1937. Until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he refrained from most public political activity.
Following Japan's surrender in 1945, the Japan Socialist Party was formed, and Suzuki, still known as a prominent left-wing leader, joined the party. In 1946, he won a seat in the House of Representatives; he became party secretary in 1949 and chairman in 1951. As chairman of the lower house's Budget Committee in 1948, Suzuki passed a veto over Katayama Tetsu's proposed budget, which later led to the downfall of the cabinet. Later, in his inaugural speech as party chairman, he famously said "Young men, do not take up arms," which caused a huge political stir and became a rallying cry of the pacifist movement in Japan, although it was only intended to rebuke Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru's attempt to secure aid from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to rebuild the military of Japan
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
.
After the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty that year, the Socialist Party split into left and right wings. Suzuki remained chairman of the left wing, which had only 16 seats in the House of Representatives; in the 1955 elections, it jumped to 89 seats, thanks to support from the General Council of Trade Unions and popular support from a war-weary electorate that largely agreed with the party's principle of unarmed neutrality.
The two socialist parties reunited that year to form a united front against the emerging Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
, but crippling defeats in 1957 and 1958 reignited the left-right tension within the Socialist Party. In 1960, right-wing leaders such as Nishio Suehiro left the party and formed the Democratic Socialist Party
Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)
The was a social democratic party in Japan.- History :The Democratic Socialist Party was established in 1960 by a breakaway group of the Japan Socialist Party. It was made up of many members of the former Rightist Socialist Party of Japan, a moderate social-democratic faction that existed...
. Taking responsibility for the party's collapse, Suzuki resigned as chairman.
During the 1960s, Suzuki gradually pressed the Socialist Party to the left, but it continued to languish as Japan's economic recovery sped up. He retired from politics in 1967 and died in 1970.