Thread by @BenMcGrath1917

On Nov. 15, 1903, #Japan's first socialist newspaper was launched, the Heimin Shimbun (平民新聞). In existence for over a year, it was published to oppose the Russo-Japanese War, which began in February 1904. #socialism #NoWar #反戦 #전쟁반대
1/12

Contributors to the paper included an eclectic mix of various socialists and pacifists, including Kōtoku Shūsui, who played a leading role and later became a prominent anarchist. Following a rigged trial, he was executed by the state in 1911.
2/12

The writing staff's understanding of Marxism was limited, as indicated by the name of the paper itself, heimin (commoner, or non-elite), demonstrating they were not fully aware of the central role the working class plays in socialism. But they were drawn to internationalism
3/12

When the Russo-Japanese war began Heimin Shimbun wrote, "According to the Japanese govt, the responsibility lies entirely with Russia, while the Russian govt insists that all the blame lies with Japan...However, all the blame lies with the govts rather than with the people."
4/12

As part of its efforts to reach an audience outside of Japan, the Heimin Shimbun published an English-language column. This included the publication of "A Letter to Russian Socialists" first in Japanese on March 13, 1904 and in English a week later.
5/12

The letter stated that "to socialists there is no barrier of race, territory, or nationality. We are comrades, brothers and sisters, and have no reason to fight each other...patriotism and militarism are our common enemies."
6/12

The Heimin Shimbun also published news stories on the socialist movement around the world for Japanese readers to follow in addition to reaching out to Japanese workers. The government cracked down on the paper, jailing writers and harassing newspaper stands that sold it.
7/12

On Nov. 13, 1904, Heimin Shimbun published a Japanese translation of the Communist Manifesto, by Kōtoku and Sakai Toshihiko, later a founder of the Japanese Communist Party. The govt then initiated its final repression of the paper. The last issue appeared on Jan. 29, 1905.
8/12

The staff faced this repression unaware of the root cause. The paper, with a circulation of a few thousand, wrote in late Nov. 1904, "We do not know what has made the government so nervous again, but we cannot doubt that there must be some special reason for this change."
9/12

The reason for the repression was the Japanese government's intense fear that socialism would take hold among the working class. The socialist movement faced severe repression in the next decades, with countless left-wing figures jailed, executed, or murdered by police.
10/12

These historical lessons are important for socialists today, as the US intensifies its war against Russia and plans for war against China. To oppose this, socialists must have a firm understanding of Marxism as well as an orientation to the international working class.
11/12

Today, the allies of the working class in the US, Japan, and Europe (including Ukraine) are the working classes in Russia and China. Build an international socialist movement against war! #socialism #NoWar #反戦 #전쟁반대
12/12
wsws.org/en/special/pag…