矯正施設における図書館活動：Prison Library in Japan-Past and present

一過去と現在一

抄録

I Period of the Severe Penalty (1868~1890)
The feudal age in Japan, what is called Shongunate era was overthrown in 1868. The Meiji restoration made a new start. However, the feudal vestiges were stubbornly remain in the prison. Severe punishment had yet been done generally. Therefore the activity of the prison libraries were poor.
II Period of the Prison Reform (1891~1920)
The revision of a disadvantage treaty between foreign countries and Japan has been taken a long time. Japanese government and people desired eagerly to be succeeded its revision.
Prison reform was also required. Dr. Shigejiro Ogawa, the chief member of the prison bureau, accomplished his purpose with the support of the nation.
He has been ordered to go Germany for studies of the prison law. He legislated the prison law following the examples of German prison law. The feature of Japanese prison law as well as German’s was to put the prisoners in solitude and gave the ethical correction to the prisoners. In those days, the prison libraries gave them moral and religeous materials, and few vocational books.
III Period of the Fducational Penalty (1921~1945)
Dr. Eiichi Makino has developed the idea of “Zweckstrafe” of von Liszt. His theory is called “Theory of Educational Penalty”. He brought up many famous men from his tuition. Especially, Dr. Akira Masaki, the chief member of the correctional. bureau, achieved various revision with the theory of educational penalty. The prison libraries prepared many edifying books in addition to ethical materials. In 1940, there were 580,000 volumes in the prison libraries of Japan.
IV Period after II World War (1946~)
After II World War, America influenced to Japan in many points. Libraries in Japan have been advanced by American system. Prison Libraries were also developed remarkably. The hereditary heads of the educational section (Mr. Umeda, Mr. Kikuchi and Mr. Soejima) contributed constantly to prison libraries and many famous librarians supported their work cooperately.
On the other hand, the special library of correction has been built by Dr. Masaki. The correctional museum is now establishing by Mr. Akazuka.