Sekirankai

The Sekirankai (赤らん会; Red Wave Society) was a Japanese socialist women's organization active in 1921. Members of an anarchist group established the organization in April 1921. Prominent feminists Yamakawa Kikue and Noe Itō were advisers for the group, which participated in that year's May Day activities, published the magazine Omedetashi, held seminars and lectures, and distributed anti-war leaflets to the army. Their manifesto condemned capitalism, arguing that it turned women into slaves and prostitutes. The Sekirankai was the first women's socialist association and clashed with Shin Fujin Kyōkai (the New Women's Association). The organization dissolved eight months after its creation.

History

The Sekirankai was formed at time in Imperial Japan when socialist thought gained enough momentum to be expressed publicly. At the time, Article 5 of the restrictive Peace Preservation Law prohibited women from attending political meetings or joining political organizations.

The Sekirankai was founded in April 1921 from an anarchist group established by Sakai Magara, Kutsumi Fusako, Hashiura Haruno, and Akizuki Shizue. It was the first women's socialist association.[1] Advisers for the organization were Yamakawa Kikue and Noe Itō. The society had about 42 members, 17 of whom were active.[2] As members of the Sekirankai had personal ties with Nihon Shakai Shugi Dōmei (Japan Socialist League), the organization has been referred to as the "women's office" of the league.[1]

The Sekirankai sought to overthrow the capitalist system. Their platform stated "We will fight any form of oppression that keeps us and our brothers and sisters in ignorance, poverty, and positions of subordination." One of the first activities of the organization was to plan for that year's May Day. The previous year's May Day activities, held in Tokyo's Ueno Park, were Japan's first public celebration of May Day and were estimated to include 5000 people. Yamakawa Kikue drafted a manifesto for the group, Fujin ni Gekisu (Manifesto to Women), that was made into leaflets to be distributed at the event.[2]

Japan's first Labor Day in 1920
May Day is the day for the proletarians, for us workers who are oppressed. For centuries and centuries, women and workers have endured together a history of oppression and ignorance. But the dawn is approaching. The morning gong that was struck in Russia signals the first step in the victory that will minute by minute banish the darkness of capitalism from the face of the earth. Sisters, listen to the power of women that is embodied in that sound of the gong. Let us exert the utmost of our strength and, together with our brothers, strike the gong that will signal the liberation of the proletarians of Japan. Women who are awake, join the May Day march!

The Sekirankai is a women's organization that plans to participate in the enterprise to destroy the capitalist society and build a socialist society. The capitalist society turns us into slaves at home and oppresses us as wages slaves outside the home. It turns many of our sisters into prostitutes. Its imperialistic ambitions rob us of our beloved fathers, children, sweethearts, and brothers and turn them into cannon fodder. It forces them and proletarians of other countries to brutally kill each other. It is a society that, for the sake of its greedy profiteers, crushes and sacrifices our youth, health, talents, all chance for happiness, even our lives, and feels no compassion. The Sekirankai declares all-out war on this cruel, shameless society. Women who wish to be liberated, join the Sekirankai!

Socialism offers the only way to save mankind from the oppressions and abuses of capitalism. Sisters who love justice and morality, join the socialist movement!
— Manifesto drafted for the society by Yamakawa Kikue[3]

In the manifesto, Yamakawa decried capitalism for engendering imperialism, framing the problems of capitalism from a woman's perspective.[4]

About 20 women members of the Sekirankai marched during the May Day activities. They carried red and black flags that were made by Hashiura Haruko[5] and smaller flags painted with "R. W." for Red Wave. They paraded through the political meeting.[1] All of the women were arrested.[5] Sensational accounts of the event from journalists resulted in government restrictions on the organization's movements.[1]

In June 1921, members of the Sekirankai held a lecture on women's issues at Kanda Seinen Kaikan. Yamakawa Kikue, Itō Noe, Kutsumi Fusako Fujimori Seikichi, Sakai Magara, Eguchi Kan, and Ishikawa Sanshirō were lecturers at the meeting. In July, the Sekirankai held a five-day seminar and published the magazine Omedetashi (Auspicious Magazine). The Sekirankai were also critical of their fellow Japanese women's organization, Shin Fujin Kyōkai (New Women's Association), formed in 1920. Yamakawa offered harsh criticisms in an article for the July 1921 issue of Taiyō, "The New Women's Association and the Red Wave Society".[4] She wrote there that "Revolution is essential for women. Only the Sekirankai can provide the answer."[6] In October 1921, they participated in the Guntai Sekka Jiken (Communization of the Army Incident) and distributed anti-war leaflets to the army through the mail.[6]

By the end of 1921, the activities of the Sekirankai had come to a halt. A lack of alliances with other women's groups, government oppression, and public criticism all contributed to the dissolution of the organization in December, only eight months after it was founded. Many members of the organization went on to form spin-off groups such as the discussion group Suiyōkai (Wednesday Society) and the organization Yōkakai (Eighth Day Society).[7]

Members

  • Sakai Magara, daughter of Toshihiko Sakai
  • Kutsumi Fusako
  • Hashiura Haruka
  • Akizuki Shizue
  • Kitagawa Chiyo[8]
  • Hashiura Oriku[9]
  • Iwasa Shige[1]
  • Takasu Tayoko[1]
  • Takano Chiyo[1]
  • Takeuchi Hide[1]
  • Nakamura Miki[1]
  • Hashiura Riku[1]
  • Yoshikawa Kazuko[1]
  • Watanabe Kō[1]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Tokuza 1999, p. 65.
  2. 1 2 Mackie 2002, p. 102.
  3. ↑ Hane 1988, pp. 126–127.
  4. 1 2 Molony, Barbara (November 2000). "Women's Rights, Feminism, and Suffragism in Japan, 1870-1925". Pacific Historical Review. 69 (4): 653–654. JSTOR 3641228. doi:10.2307/3641228.
  5. 1 2 Mackie 2002, p. 103.
  6. 1 2 Tokuza 1999, p. 66.
  7. ↑ Tokuza 1999, pp. 66–67.
  8. ↑ Dollase, Hiromi Tsuchiya (2012). "Ribbons undone: the shōjo story debates in prewar Japan". Girl Reading Girl in Japan. Routledge. p. 90. ISBN 1-135-24795-1.
  9. ↑ Hane 1988, p. 131.

References

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