Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to study how the democratic movement in the 1920's developed in the eastern Harima Takasago region in Hyogo prefecture with Giichi Kawai playing a central role. The first democratic movement in Takasago was the campaign against the Mitsubishi Papermill Company's water supply works. This campaign was supported by the vast majority of Takasago people, becoming an uprising against the Mitsubishi Company's 'oppression'. Kawai, the Takasago Doshikai leader, played the major role in the campaign, which further broadened its aims, becoming concerned with reforming the town's politics, upsetting men in high places in Takasago. The allied organization of the Japan Farmers Union was established in May 1923, with Kawai as chairman and Chozo Yukimasa as secretary. This organization, having more than 3, 000 members at its peak, played an important role in forming the Japan Labor and Farmer Party(the JLFP). The eastern Harima branch of the JLFP was founded in January 1927, becoming the center of the labor and farmers' movement in the area. Yukimasa, JLFP candidate for the Hyogo Prefectural assembly, won in the first general election in 1927. His victory marked the climax of the democratic movement in this region.
