2024 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 108-131
Abstract: This paper focusses moralistic concept, mental-physical exercise and settlement development, and their impacts of altruistic social thoughts for mutually beneficially in 1910-1940 in Japan, especially practices by the “Seijo” proposed by Dr. Akiyoshi Bessho in Osaka. Studies of social symbiosis or multi-cultural in urban sociology as typically in Chicago schools in 1930s had been little referred in terms of practical social policy in Japan society prior to world-war-Ⅱ, though knowledge of biological symbiosis had been widely introduced in research and education even in early Meiji era. The idea and concept “kyousei” appear popular in Japan in the mid-80s later than the age of social conflicts of severe environmental-disruption so-called Kogai, notwithstanding sharp discourse of deep ecology beyond human-centered self-fulfillment in the developed western societies started in 70s. The oriental alternative philosophies transformed in various streams of Buddhism and native religions have produced social actions so-called Seiza, Itto, Kyousei, Seijo, Kosei-in and others in Japan early modern era (1910-1940). The Seijo association to advocate mutual benefits in terms of physio-psychological exercise in forest-garden, had indicated simplified lifestyles harmony with nature, by cultivation, natural food nutrition, meditation, education, lodging, and settlement in exploited areas more than 80 thousand square meters.
