Kyuichi Tokuda

Kyuichi Tokuda

Portrait of Kyuichi Tokuda (ca. 1952)
Chair of the Japanese Communist Party
In office
1945–1953
Preceded by Toshihiko Sakai
Succeeded by Sanzo Nosaka
Personal details
Born (1894-09-12)September 12, 1894
Okinawa
Died October 14, 1953(1953-10-14) (aged 59)
China
Political party Japanese Communist Party

Kyuichi Tokuda (徳田 球一 Tokuda Kyūichi, September 12, 1894 - October 14, 1953) was a Japanese politician and first chairman of the Japanese Communist Party from 1945 until his death in 1953.

Biography

Kyuichi Tokuda was born in 1894 to a poor family in Okinawa. He worked as a substitute teacher before studying law in 1918 at Nihon University. He graduated in 1920, and became a lawyer. Tokuda went to Moscow and Petrograd to take part in the Congress of Revolutionary Organizations and Peoples of the Far East. He joined the Japanese Communist Party following his return to Japan. He was elected a member of its central committee. In 1925, he traveled to Moscow, where he took part in the ECCI. In February 1928, he was the candidate of the Workers' and Farmers' Party in the parliamentary elections. In March 1928, he was arrested and was sentenced to ten years at hard labor but was not released until on October 1945, a month after the end of World War II.[1] While in prison, it was reported that Tokuda was branded. He was quoted as saying "I, myself was branded at Abashiri prison, and lost the use of my right arm as a result."[2] One of his hands became deformed from a police beating.*[3]

He was held in Fuchu Prison when he was released. It was reported that when he walked out of Fuchu Prison, he was immediately hoisted to the shoulders of a cheering crowd of Communists and Koreans shouting "Banzai for the release of the fighters of the people's front."[4] Tokuda told correspondents that he looked for vast changes in Japan's political and economic life in the next 12 months, some of them directly involving the Emperor.[5] Tokuda was quoted as saying "The imperial system is the root of all evils". He also was quoted as saying "Militarism, bureaucracy and the rulership of our moneyed interests rests solely on the antiquated monarchy.". He went on to say "The emperor must go before Japan can even begin to fulfill the terms of the Potsdam declaration. We do not care whether he is executed, exiled or retired that will be up to the people's decision but the present imperial government is constitutionally unable to convert Japan into what the United Nations demand." and that "The United States probably fears the prospects of a Communist Japan, but Americans will find it is the only way to attain the Potsdam aims. What we propose is a Communist nation entirely free of any foreign influences to work out our current problems by the will of the people." He proposed that "We first need a true represntative peoples Parliament abolishing the present Diet and peerage system. All males and females, 18 and up will vote. We will gladly assume Japan's responsibilities as stated in the surrender instrument and accept Gen. MacArhtur's orders and guidance." He continued "We expect all the people's parties, proletarian organizations and labor unions to join with us in a popular front which will be overwhelmingly powerful at the polls."[6] In Oct 1945, at Macarthur's headquarters, demonstrators cheered Kyuichi Tokuda as he extended thanks for the release of political prisoners to an officer representing Gen. MacArthur's chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Richard K. Sutherland.[7] Kyuichi Tokuda declared his intention to lead a movement to overthrow the emperor and the powerful ruling families of Japan, and asserted that he would lead a campaign for a republic and redistribution of the land.[8]

In July 1948, Tokuda survived an assassination attempt while giving a speech in Saga, Kyushu.[9] The assassin was Ichiro Koga, a 27-year-old coal miner, who used a homemade grenade. Tokuda was wounded, but survived.[10]

He became the secretary-general of JCP. He was elected to the House of representatives three times in a row. In 1950, he was purged by the Occupation authorities. He fled to Beijing.[11] In a newspaper published in June 1950, appeared a rumor that Tokuda fled from Japan with Soviet Lt. Gen. Kuzma Derevyanko.[12] Tokuda died in Communist China in October 1953.[13]

Tokuda was noted for his fierce oratory, and for being "a tough, uncompromising fighter, popular with the workers.[14]

Works

See also

Further Reading

References

  1. ↑ Milorad M. Drachkovitch (December 1, 1986). Biographical Dictionary of the Comintern. Hoover Institution Press. pp. 472–473.
  2. ↑ "EMACIATED INTELLECTUALS LEAVE PRISON CAMPS". The Age. Oct 10, 1945.
  3. ↑ Mark Gayn (Dec 15, 1989). Japan Diary. Tuttle Publishing. p. 16.
  4. ↑ "REMOVE HIROHITO IS CRY OF FREED JAP COMMUNISTS". Toronto Daily Star. Oct 10, 1945.
  5. ↑ "Japanese Reds Enjoy Freedom For First Time". Berkeley Daily Gazette. Dec 15, 1945.
  6. ↑ "Japanese Diet Called Farce". The Tuscaloosa News. Oct 5, 1945.
  7. ↑ "Nippon Communists March Through Allied-Ruled Tokyo, Ask Removal of Jap Emperor". The Bulletin. Oct 10, 1945.
  8. ↑ "BAN FREEDOM FOR JAP REDS". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Oct 3, 1945.
  9. ↑ "PRESSURE FROM LEFT INCREASES IN JAPAN". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Jul 21, 1948.
  10. ↑ "Assassin Hits Japanese Red". Eugene Register-Guard. Jul 20, 1948.
  11. ↑ Frédéric, Louis (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 975.
  12. ↑ "Red Parliament Members Fight Purge in Japan". The Owosso Argus-Press. Jun 8, 1950.
  13. ↑ Milorad M. Drachkovitch (December 1, 1986). Biographical Dictionary of the Comintern. Hoover Institution Press. pp. 472–473.
  14. ↑ "Leaders of Japan Communist Party". The Age. Jun 6, 1950.

External links

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