Japan Social Movement Essay

Submitted By Kuangyujack1
Words: 1297
Pages: 6

Katayama describes the socialism movement in the early twentieth centry. Itō Noe narrates her opinion and effort to appeal women to fight against old customs and fight for their own right and position.
It is true that there are many differences between their movement, however i can still find some common points. First of all, Katayama and Itō Noe, they all face the social injustice as both Katayama and Itō Noe face the restraint from the government. For Marxian socialism, they are experiencing the great suppress from the government. The government uses any method to control or arrest the leader of the movement as Katayama described, "but the government wanted to arrest all socialists known to the authorities, especially on occasions when the Emperor or the Crown Prince went out." Government warns and monitors the socialism in order to prevent their further action. Even katayama himself experiences the situation :"At one time there were two policemen always after me; one at the back of my house and the other opposite my house as a janitor in the school." Not only Marxian socialism, but also feminist anarchism faces the same condition. At the beginning of Modern Rebels, the author introduces three famous women movement leader. Unfortunately, all of them died in prison. Itō Noe has described the rascality from the police " The police of Japan act so brutally. They grab fragile women and beat and kick them." The government gives great repress on women movement. However, unlike Marxian socialism, which also gains support from many class of society, the feminist anarchism has faced disagreement not only from the government but also the male and some female who stick to old rules. Katayama has described that at the flourishing time of Marxian socialism, they have even made meeting for women. Reversely, when Itō Noe invokes women to fight for their own right, the male class who is described as self-willed does not give too much support.

Inevitablely, there are still many differences between katayama and Itō Noe. Katayama and Itō Noe have different opinions on labor organization and class struggle. The socialism support the labor organization and they lead the organization and have co-operation with the labor union. The socialism help the labor organization , for example "We formed a non-political organization, called Shakai Shugi Kyokai (Socialist Association). Under this name we held Socialist meetings, of course, charging admission. Slowly but steadily our members increased and soon these began to take part in the meetings." and "With the co-operation of the Iron Workers' Union, whose secretary I was, the said Niroku, whose owner and manager was a personal friend of mine, announced in its columns a working men's social meeting, to be held at Mukoshima Park on the 3rd of April, 1901, one of the four Japanese national holidays. ". However, from Itō Noe's point of view, she is partly agreeing with the labor movement and she considers labor movement as some of its point are wrong. Itō Noe supports that all workers should be organized in order to fight for their own right. But Itō Noe thinks that the movement is not "a serious, self-conscious operation" which can not cause the great influence among the workers. She points out that the labor organization should encourage worker to be aware of capitalism's deception and help workers to set their own faith. She also believes that the labor organization should set the specific target such as asking company to dissolving the problem of starving. Last but not least, she indicates that the organization should correct the opinion of right to life. She shows that "The right to life!The most important and the most essential business in life is to honor the right to life. We must not engage in such a pathetic act as to beg others to grant us what is inherently ours, the right to life." For katayama, he pays more attention on the feeling of individual worker. Katayama thinks it is more