Yoriyasu Arima
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese politician before and during World War II
. His wife was the daughter of Prince Takeda Tsunehisa
.
as a son of the former daimyo
of Kurume Domain
(now part of Fukuoka Prefecture
). He studied agricultural science
at the Tokyo Imperial University, and later became a professor there.
Attracted to the agrarian movement and radical political ideas, Arima founded the Nihon Nomin Kumiai (Japan Farmer's Union) together with Kagawa Toyohiko. He was active various social programmes, including the establishment and support of night school
, women's education, farmer's rights and the rights of the burakumin
and was chairman of a cultural association aimed at improving education and cultural awareness in rural areas.
Arima was elected to the House of Representatives
in the Diet of Japan
in 1924 under the Rikken Seiyukai
party. In 1929, after he succeeded his father to the title of hakushaku (count
) under the kazoku
peerage system, he was nominated to the House of Peers
.
Arima was a close personal friend of Fumimaro Konoe
, and when Konoe became Prime Minister of Japan
in 1937, Arima was requested to serve as his Minister of Agriculture
. He also participated in Konoe's Showa Studies Society
"Brain trust".
In 1936, Arima helped organize the Tokyo Senators baseball
team, and built a baseball stadium located where the present Korakuen Stadium
in Tokyo is now located. Despite pressure from the Japanese military to ban the “western sport” Arima helped sustain it during the war years, and later helped to revive professional baseball
in Japan in the postwar period.
In 1940, Arima became head of the "Taisei Yokusankai
" organization, but resigned after five months due to opposition from the militarist faction in the government.
In the post-war period, he was active in promoting horse racing
and was one of the founders of the Nakayama Racecourse
. He died in 1957 of acute pneumonia
. The Arima Kinen
horserace was named in his honor.
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...
. His wife was the daughter of Prince Takeda Tsunehisa
Prince Takeda Tsunehisa
was the founder of the Takeda-no-miya collateral branch of Japanese Imperial Family.- Biography :Prince Takeda Tsunehisa was the eldest son of Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa and thus the brother of Prince Kitashirakawa Naruhisa...
.
Biography
Arima was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; 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...
as a son of the former daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Kurume Domain
Kurume Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, ruled by the Arima clan. It was located in Chikugo Province .The Arima clan became viscounts in the Meiji era.-List of lords:* Arima clan 1620-1871...
(now part of Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
). He studied agricultural science
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
at the Tokyo Imperial University, and later became a professor there.
Attracted to the agrarian movement and radical political ideas, Arima founded the Nihon Nomin Kumiai (Japan Farmer's Union) together with Kagawa Toyohiko. He was active various social programmes, including the establishment and support of night school
Night School
Night School is a school that holds classes in the evening or at night, and is usually intended for continuing and adult learning and to accommodate people who work during the day.Night School may also refer to:...
, women's education, farmer's rights and the rights of the burakumin
Burakumin
are a Japanese social minority group. The burakumin are one of the main minority groups in Japan, along with the Ainu of Hokkaidō, the Ryukyuans of Okinawa and Japanese residents of Korean and Chinese descent....
and was chairman of a cultural association aimed at improving education and cultural awareness in rural areas.
Arima was elected to the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
in the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
in 1924 under the Rikken Seiyukai
Rikken Seiyukai
The was one of the main political parties in the pre-war Empire of Japan. It was also known simply as the ‘Seiyūkai'Founded on September 15, 1900 by Itō Hirobumi , the Seiyūkai was a pro-government alliance of bureaucrats and former members of the Kenseitō. The Seiyūkai was the most powerful...
party. In 1929, after he succeeded his father to the title of hakushaku (count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
) under the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage system, he was nominated to the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
.
Arima was a close personal friend of Fumimaro Konoe
Fumimaro Konoe
Prince was a politician in the Empire of Japan who served as the 34th, 38th and 39th Prime Minister of Japan and founder/leader of the Taisei Yokusankai.- Early life :...
, and when Konoe became Prime Minister of Japan
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...
in 1937, Arima was requested to serve as his Minister of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)
The ' a cabinet ministry in the government of Japan responsible for oversight of the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries. Its acronym is MAFF.-History:...
. He also participated in Konoe's Showa Studies Society
Showa Studies Society
The was a political think tank in the pre-war Empire of Japan. -History and Background:The Shōwa Kenkyūkai was established in October 1930 as an informal organization led by Ryūnosuke Gotō, with the original intent of reviewing and assessing issues with the Meiji Constitution and the current...
"Brain trust".
In 1936, Arima helped organize the Tokyo Senators baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team, and built a baseball stadium located where the present Korakuen Stadium
Korakuen Stadium
was a stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Completed in 1937, it was primarily used for baseball and was home to the Yomiuri Giants until 1988 when they moved next door, to the Tokyo Dome, which sits on the site of the Velodrome. The ballpark had a capacity of 50,000 people. In 1942 Korakuen Stadium played...
in Tokyo is now located. Despite pressure from the Japanese military to ban the “western sport” Arima helped sustain it during the war years, and later helped to revive professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
in Japan in the postwar period.
In 1940, Arima became head of the "Taisei Yokusankai
Taisei Yokusankai
The was Japan's para-fascist organization created by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe on October 12, 1940 to promote the goals of his Shintaisei movement...
" organization, but resigned after five months due to opposition from the militarist faction in the government.
In the post-war period, he was active in promoting horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and was one of the founders of the Nakayama Racecourse
Nakayama Racecourse
is located in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. It is used for horse racing. It has a capacity of 165,676. It was built in 1990. It has 15,944 seats.-Physical attributes:Nakayama Race Course has two grass courses, a dirt course, and a jump course....
. He died in 1957 of acute pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. The Arima Kinen
Arima Kinen
The Arima Kinen is a Grade I flat horse race in Japan open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,500 metres at Nakayama Racecourse, and it takes place annually in late December...
horserace was named in his honor.