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Sōhyō

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The General Council of Trade Unions of Japan (日本労働組合総評議会, Nihon Rōdōkumiai Sōhyōgikai), often abbreviated to Sōhyō (総評), was a left-leaning union confederation. Founded in 1950, it was the largest labor federation in Japan for several decades.[1]

Origins

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In the immediate aftermath of Japan's defeat in World War II, the United States-led Allied Occupation of Japan issued directives legalizing labor unions, which were then protected by the new Constitution of Japan promulgated in 1947. In the early postwar years, numerous labor unions formed in industries throughout Japan, many of which were under the influence of the Japan Communist Party. However, in 1950, following the advent of the global Cold War, and taking advantage of the sense of crisis precipitated by the sudden outbreak of the Korean War, conservative Japanese government and business leaders launched, with the tacit approval of US Occupation authorities, a "Red Purge" to remove communists and suspected communists from government and private-sector jobs. As part of the purge, Japanese conservatives fomented "democracy cells" within the established, Communist Party-dominated labor unions. As these unions collapsed amid the purge, the cells emerged and joined with some affiliates of the Japanese Federation of Labour to form a new labor federation, the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan, or Sōhyō.[1][2]

Early militancy

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Conservatives hoped that the new federation would be more moderate than the federations controlled by the Communist Party, which had been extremely militant. However, Sōhyō rapidly fell under the sway of the Japan Socialist Party and took the lead in organizing an escalating series of increasingly large and contentious labor actions over the course of the 1950s, and increasingly became involved in political protests as well.[1]

On May 1, 1952, Sōhyō spearheaded a nationwide day of protest against the perceived one-sided nature of the Peace Treaty ending the Occupation of Japan. Although most of these activities were peaceful, a violent clash between protesters and police outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo led to several deaths and injuries and became remembered as "Bloody May Day."[3]

Over the rest of the 1950s, Sōhyō became actively involved in a number of political and social movements, including movements to ban nuclear weapons and against US military bases in Japan. It also led a large number of strikes for higher wages across many different industries. Sōhyō's period of militancy culminated in 1960 when it took a leading role in the massive Anpo protests against revision of the US Japan Security Treaty, as well as the large-scale strike at the Miike Coal Mine in northern Kyushu. As part of the anti-Security Treaty Struggle, Sōhyō organized a nationwide general strike that involved 6.4 million workers and remains the largest recorded strike in Japanese history. However, both these efforts ended in disastrous defeats, and thereafter Sōhyō increasingly retreated from contentious strikes in favor of more moderate workplace actions.[4]

Merger to form Rengo

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A large portion of Sōhyō merged with the more conservative Japanese Confederation of Labor (Domei)[5] and other unions to form Rengo in 1987. Rengo was formally launched in 1989.[6] Some elements of Sōhyō instead joined one of two new federations: the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), and the National Trade Union Council (Zenrokyo).[7]

Affiliates

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The following unions were affiliated:

Union Abbreviation Founded[7] Left Reason not affiliated Membership (1958)[8] Membership (1970)[9] Membership (1985)[7]
Alcohol Monopoly Workers' Union Arukorusenbai 1952 1,278 1,056 443
All Finance Bureau Labour Union Zenzaimu 1954 1975 Merged into Kokkororen N/A 5,339 N/A
All Hokkaido Development Bureau Employees' Union Zenkaihatsu 1951 1975 Merged into Kokkororen N/A 11,050 N/A
All International Trade and Industry Ministry Workers' Union Zenshoko 1946 1975 Merged into Kokkororen 8,803 10,791 N/A
All Japan Construction Industry Workers' Union 1971 1989 Disaffiliated N/A N/A 3,000
All Japan Day Workers' Union Zennichijiro 1947 1989 Transferred to Zenroren 150,339 153,068 67,386
All-Japan Express Workers' Union Zennitsu 1946 1968 Merged into Unyuroren 67,920 69,489 N/A
All Japan Federation of Hotel Workers' Unions Hoteruroren 1948 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A N/A 12,383
All Japan Federation of Metal Miners' Unions Zenko 1947 1982 Merged into Hitetsukinzokuroren 57,000 31,984 N/A
All-Japan Federation of Municipal Traffic Workers' Unions Toshikotsu 1947 1989 Transferred to Rengo 46,601 66,237 48,028
All Japan Federation of Non-Ferrous Metal Workers' Unions Hitetsukinzokuroren 1982 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A N/A 16,477
All Japan Federation of Water Transport Workers' Unions Zenkairen 1947 1989 Transferred to Rengo 4,931 8,505 7,949
All Japan Garrison Forces Labour Union Zenchuro 1946 1989 Transferred to Rengo 81,753 25,320
All Japan Glass and Bottle Makers' Union Zenshoro 1972 Merged into Kagakudomei N/A 9,668 N/A
All Japan Harbour Workers' Union Zenkowan 1946 1989 Disaffiliated 20,261 28,214 22,124
All Japan National Hospital Workers' Union Zeniro 1948 1957 Merged into Irokyo 24,159 N/A N/A
All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union Jichiro 1954 1989 Transferred to Sohyo 437,931 836,090 1,267,021
All-Japan Telecommunication Workers' Union Zendentsu 1950 1989 Transferred to Sohyo 152,039 232,519 276,686
All Japan Transport and General Workers' Union Unyuippan 1950 1989 Transferred to Zenroren 12,655 14,409 16,267
All Judiciary Administration Employees' Union Zenshiho 1947 1975 Merged into Kokkororen 16,630 12,564 N/A
All Kyushu Electric Power Workers' Union Zenkyuden N/A 3,212
All Labour Ministry Workers' Union Zenrodo 1949 1975 Merged into Kokkororen 13,255 19,732 N/A
All Minting Bureau Workers' Union Zenzohei 1946 1989 Transferred to Rengo 1,597 1,790 1,444
All Monopoly Corporation Workers' Union Zensenbai 1949 1987 Dissolved 39,729 37,938 30,219
All Radio Wave Control Agency Workers' Union Zendempa 1951 1975 Merged into Kokkororen 2,800 2,456 N/A
All Transportation Workers' Union Zenunyu 1962 1975 Merged into Kokkororen N/A 5,790 N/A
Audit Board Employees' Union Kaikenro 1946 1989 Disaffiliated N/A 1,120 1,055
Construction Ministry Workers' Union Zenkenro 1949 1975 Merged into Kokkororen N/A 12,564 N/A
Council of Special Governmental Corporations Workers' Unions Seirokyo 1960 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A 10,161 21,479
Education Ministry Employees' Union Monbushokuso 1975 Merged into Kokkororen 1,635 1,914 N/A
Finance Ministry Employees' Union Okurashokuso 1,800 1,985
General Federation of Private Railway Workers' Unions of Japan Shitetsusroren 1947 1989 Transferred to Rengo 134,374 253,259 197,045
Government Printing Bureau Workers' Union Zeninsatsu 1947 1989 Transferred to Rengo 7,340 7,499 6,215
International Telecommunications Corporation Workers' Union Kokusai Den-Den 1953 3,063 3,212 4,637
Japan Agriculture and Forestry Ministry Workers' Unions Zennorin 1958 1975 Merged into Kokkororen 106,000 50,613 N/A
Japan Broadcasting Labour Union Nipporo 1948 1989 Merged into NHK Roren 7,000 13,326 12,876
Japan Coal Miners' Union Tanro 1950 1989 Transferred to Rengo 200,441 54,648 11,449
Japan Council of Medical Workers' Unions Irokyo 1957 1989 Transferred to Zenroren N/A 65,646 144,161
Japan Customs Employees' Union Zenzeikan 1975 Merged into Kokkororen N/A 1,190 N/A
Japan Electric Power Industry Workers' Union Densan 3,000 1,517 2,626
Japanese Federation of Chemical Industry Workers' Unions Kagakudomei 1951 1989 Transferred to Rengo 41,644 32,963
Japanese Federation of Iron and Steel Workers' Unions Tekkororen 1951 1989 Transferred to Rengo 120,722 208,905 211,886
Japanese Federation of Synthetic Chemistry Workers' Unions Gokaroren 1950 1989 Transferred to Rengo 97,657 118,615 112,798
Japan Federation of National Public Service Employees' Unions Kokkororen 1975 1989 Transferred to Zenroren N/A N/A 136,570
Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers' Unions Shinbun Rōren 1950 1989 Disaffiliated 27,056 38,057 41,961
Japan Federation of Textile and Clothing Workers' Unions Seniroren 1948 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A 19,550 7,903
Japan Postal Transportation Labour Union Nittei N/A 3,916
Japan Postal Workers' Union Zentei 1946 1989 Transferred to Rengo 218,013 239,600 171,606
Japan Teachers' Union Nikkyoso 1947 1989 Transferred to Rengo 593,117 547,311 667,443
Japan Tobacco and Allied Workers' Union Zentabako 1985 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A N/A 27,599
Justice Ministry Employees' Union Zenhomu 1947 1975 Merged into Kokkororen N/A 7,657 N/A
Liaison Council of Housing Industry Workers' Unions Jutakurokyo 1969 1973 Disaffiliated N/A N/A
National Council of Japanese Electric Powers Workers Zendenryoku 1965 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A 4,351 2,626
National Federation of Automobile Transport Workers Zenjiko 1947 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A 58,577 56,541
National Federation of Paper and Pulp Industry Workers' Unions Kamiparoren 1947 1988 Merged into Kamiparengo 47,707 58,003 26,147
National Federation of Passenger Automobile Workers' Unions Zenryororen 17,027 N/A N/A
National Federation of Printing and Publishing Industry Workers' Unions Zeninsoren 1953 1989 Transferred to Zenroren 16,538 18,700 13,376
National Federation of Rubber Industry Workers' Unions Gomuroren 1965 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A 23,460 49,294
National Federation of Water Supply Workers' Unions Zensuido 1951 1989 Transferred to Sohyo 13,796 28,561 36,797
National Forest Workers' Union of Japan Zenrinya 1959 1989 Merged into Sinrinroren N/A 63,777 37,984
National Lumber Industry Workers' Union Zenmokuro N/A 11,961
National Procurement Agency Workers' Union Zenchotatsu 2,502 N/A
National Railway Locomotive Engineers' Union Doryokusha 1951 1985 Disaffiliated N/A 61,650 N/A
National Railway Workers' Union Kokuro 1946 1989 Transferred to Zenrokyo 368,605 275,615 187,530
National Tax Collectors' Union Zenkokuzei 1958 1975 Merged into Kokkororen 31,896 3,209 N/A
National Telecommunications Mutual Aid Association Workers' Union Densairo N/A 8,098
National Trade Union of Metal and Engineering Workers Zenkokukinzoku 1947 1989 Merged into Kinzokukikai 91,000 212,929 155,799
National Union of General Workers Zenkokuippan 1955 1989 Transferred to Rengo N/A 104,345 121,042
Okinawa Public Service Workers' Union Okinawakankoro 1975 Merged into Kokkororen N/A 7,080 N/A
Transportation Ministry Maritime Workers' Union Zenkaiji 2,130 N/A N/A
Union of Employees of the Harbour Construction Board Zenkoken 1975 Merged into Kokkororen 4,350 4,193 N/A
Welfare Ministry Employees' Union Koseishokuso 3,697 2,926 3,413[10]

Leadership

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Presidents

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1950: Takeo Muto
1953: Totaro Fujita
1956: Yukitaka Haraguchi
1958: Ōta Kaoru
1966: Toshikatsu Horii
1970: Makoto Ichikawa
1978: Motofumi Makieda
1983: Takeshi Kurokawa

General Secretaries

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1950: Zengoro Shimagami
1951: Minoru Takano
1955: Akira Iwai
1970: Shogo Oki
1976: Mitsuo Tomizuka
1983: Eikichi Makoto

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-6749-8442-4.
  2. ^ Levine, Solomon B. (1954). "Prospects of Japanese Labor". Far Eastern Survey. 23 (5): 107–110. doi:10.2307/3024094. JSTOR 3024094.
  3. ^ Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-6749-8442-4.
  4. ^ Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 134–44. ISBN 978-0-6749-8442-4.
  5. ^ The Japan Times EDITORIAL - Rengo's uphill battle October 31, 2005 Retrieved on August 15 2012
  6. ^ Rengo website Rengo 2010 website Archived 2012-02-06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on August 2012
  7. ^ a b c Seifert, Wolfgang (13 March 2013). Gewerkschaften in der japanischen Politik von 1970 bis 1990. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. ISBN 9783322899309.
  8. ^ Directory of Labor Organizations, Asia and Australasia. Washington DC: United States Department of Labor. 1958.
  9. ^ Labor Law and Practice in Japan. Washington DC: United States Department of Labor. 1970.
  10. ^ Figure is for 1980
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