Tokutomi Soho
Encyclopedia
was the pen-name of a journalist and historian active from late Meiji period
through mid-Shōwa period
Japan
. His real name was Tokutomi Iichirō. He was the older brother of noted author Tokutomi Roka
.
, Higo province
(present day Kumamoto prefecture
to a samurai
- ranked family just before the Meiji Restoration
. He studied Eigaku (English studies) at the Kumamoto Yogakko, and later at the Doshisha (subsequently Doshisha University
) in Kyoto
. He left school without graduating, but later wrote of his gratitude to the school's principal, Joseph Hardy Neesima
.
Following a period back in Kumamoto, where he started a local newspaper
, Sohō moved to Tokyo
. In 1887, he established the Min'yusha publishing company, which printed Japan's first general news magazine, the Kokumin no Tomo ("The People's Friend") from 1887-1898. This magazine was highly influential in the politics of Meiji period Japan. In addition to this news magazine, the Min'yusha also published a magazine of family issues, Katei zasshi ("Home Journal", 1892–1898), an English language
version of the Kokumin no Tomo, ("The Far East", 1896–1898), and an influential newspaper, the Kokumin shimbun (1890–1929).
Sohō was initially a champion of liberal democracy
and populism
, as he felt that a free, open and democratic social and political order in emulation of the western nations in general, and the United States
in particular would enable Japan to modernize and strength itself in the shortest possible time. His newspapers and magazines were a thorn in the side of the government during the first administration of Matsukata Masayoshi
, criticizing the numerous corruption scandals of the time. However, following the First Sino-Japanese War
and the Triple Intervention
, his political views moved to the right of the political spectrum. By the second half of the 1890s, he came to be regarded as a conservative champion of the Meiji oligarchy
, and was a close confidant of Prime Ministers
Yamagata Aritomo
and Katsura Tarō
. By 1905, the Kokumin Shimbun was regarded as a government mouthpiece, and as such, its offices were targets of protesters during the Hibiya riots
.
In 1910, Sohō founded the Keijo Nippo, one of the major Japanese newspapers in Korea under Japanese rule
.
While overseeing these publications as general editor, Sohō contributed some 350 articles, on diverse subjects ranging from international affairs, to history, biography and literature. He also compiled Kinsei Nihon Kokumin shi ("A History of Early Modern Japan"), which was published in 100 volumes over a period from 1918-1952. He was awarded the Order of Culture
by the Japanese government in 1943.
Sohō was viewed with suspicion by the American occupation authorities
, and was held under arrest during the occupation of Japan from December 1945 to August 1947 as a Class A War Criminal. The charges never came to trial (partly because of his age—he was 82 at the time), and he spent the time under house arrest
at his villa in Atami
. He continued to live in Atami until his death.
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
through mid-Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
Japan
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...
. His real name was Tokutomi Iichirō. He was the older brother of noted author Tokutomi Roka
Kenjiro Tokutomi
was a Japanese writer and philosopher. He was the younger brother of historian Tokutomi Sohō. He wrote novels under the pseudonym of Roka Tokutomi , many of which were translated into a number of languages including English, French, and German. He corresponded with Leo Tolstoy...
.
Biography
Sohō was born in MinamataMinamata, Kumamoto
is a city located in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. It is on the west coast of Kyūshū. The city was founded on April 1, 1949.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 27,856 and the density of 171 persons per km²...
, Higo province
Higo Province
Higo Province was an old province of Japan in the area that is today Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. It was sometimes called , with Hizen Province. Higo bordered on Chikugo, Bungo, Hyūga, Ōsumi, and Satsuma Provinces....
(present day Kumamoto prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
to a samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
- ranked family just before the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. He studied Eigaku (English studies) at the Kumamoto Yogakko, and later at the Doshisha (subsequently Doshisha University
Doshisha University
, or is a prestigious private university in Kyoto, Japan. The university has approximately 27,000 students on three campuses, in faculties of theology, letters, law, commerce, economics, policy, and engineering...
) in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. He left school without graduating, but later wrote of his gratitude to the school's principal, Joseph Hardy Neesima
Joseph Hardy Neesima
was a Japanese educator of the Meiji era, the founder of Doshisha University and Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts.Neesima was born in Edo , the son of a retainer of the Itakura clan of Annaka...
.
Following a period back in Kumamoto, where he started a local newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, Sohō moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. In 1887, he established the Min'yusha publishing company, which printed Japan's first general news magazine, the Kokumin no Tomo ("The People's Friend") from 1887-1898. This magazine was highly influential in the politics of Meiji period Japan. In addition to this news magazine, the Min'yusha also published a magazine of family issues, Katei zasshi ("Home Journal", 1892–1898), an English language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
version of the Kokumin no Tomo, ("The Far East", 1896–1898), and an influential newspaper, the Kokumin shimbun (1890–1929).
Sohō was initially a champion of liberal democracy
Liberal democracy
Liberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
and populism
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
, as he felt that a free, open and democratic social and political order in emulation of the western nations in general, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in particular would enable Japan to modernize and strength itself in the shortest possible time. His newspapers and magazines were a thorn in the side of the government during the first administration of Matsukata Masayoshi
Matsukata Masayoshi
Prince was a Japanese politician and the 4th and 6th Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:...
, criticizing the numerous corruption scandals of the time. However, following the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
and the Triple Intervention
Triple Intervention
The was a diplomatic intervention by Russia, Germany, and France on 23 April 1895 over the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed between Japan and Qing dynasty China that ended the First Sino-Japanese War.-Treaty of Shimonoseki:...
, his political views moved to the right of the political spectrum. By the second half of the 1890s, he came to be regarded as a conservative champion of the Meiji oligarchy
Meiji oligarchy
The Meiji oligarchy was the name used to describe the new ruling class of Meiji period Japan. In Japanese, the Meiji oligarchy is called the ....
, and was a close confidant of Prime Ministers
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Yamagata Aritomo
Yamagata Aritomo
Field Marshal Prince , also known as Yamagata Kyōsuke, was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and twice Prime Minister of Japan. He is considered one of the architects of the military and political foundations of early modern Japan. Yamagata Aritomo can be seen as the father of Japanese...
and Katsura Tarō
Katsura Taro
Prince , was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, politician and three-time Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:Katsura was born into a samurai family from Hagi, Chōshū Domain...
. By 1905, the Kokumin Shimbun was regarded as a government mouthpiece, and as such, its offices were targets of protesters during the Hibiya riots
Hibiya riots
' was a major city-wide riot which erupted in Tokyo on 5 September 1905 in protest of the terms of the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905....
.
In 1910, Sohō founded the Keijo Nippo, one of the major Japanese newspapers in Korea under Japanese rule
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
.
While overseeing these publications as general editor, Sohō contributed some 350 articles, on diverse subjects ranging from international affairs, to history, biography and literature. He also compiled Kinsei Nihon Kokumin shi ("A History of Early Modern Japan"), which was published in 100 volumes over a period from 1918-1952. He was awarded the Order of Culture
Order of Culture
The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature or culture; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life...
by the Japanese government in 1943.
Sohō was viewed with suspicion by the American occupation authorities
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
, and was held under arrest during the occupation of Japan from December 1945 to August 1947 as a Class A War Criminal. The charges never came to trial (partly because of his age—he was 82 at the time), and he spent the time under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
at his villa in Atami
Atami, Shizuoka
is a city located in the eastern end of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2010, the city has an estimated population of 39,755 and a population density of 645 people per km². The total area is 61.56 km².-Geography:...
. He continued to live in Atami until his death.