Simmel's Influence on Japanese Thought

Abstract

When we try to assess Simmel's influence on Japanese thought, we must take into account not only his sociological, but also his philosophical ideas. However, his influence on Japanese thoght is far stronger in sociology than in philosophy, just as it is the case in the United States. Of course there are some difference between the two countries. In general, Japan has been more exposed to German thought than the United States has ; thus his influence on Japan is stronger not only in sociology but even in philosophy. Simmel's philosophy of life was introduced to Japan since after the World War I together with that of Dilthey and almost all of his philosophical works were translated in to Japanese. It is true that his philosophical thought aroused some interests among sholars and journalists. However, the influence of his philophy on Japanese thought must be said to have been weak in comparison with that of his sociology which gave rise to the appearance of a new current of sociology as a special science in Japan since about 1920. Yasuma Takada published in 1920 his “Principles of Sociology” a book of 1385 pages, in which he justified completely Simmel's attempt delimit the object of sociology and attempted to construct a system of sociology as a special science more substantially than Simmel. Since then the study of formal sociology with Simmel at its center was promoted for several years and came to full bloom in 1923, when Kentaro Komatsu's “Introduction to Sociology” and Teizo Toda's “Plan of Courses of Sociology I” appeared. This trend in favor of Simmel's conception was not without resistance. In 1927 Masamichi Shimmei criticized Simmel's and related views in his “On Formal Sociology” and in the following year Tetsuji Kada also opposed Simmel in his “Introduction to Sociology”. Notwithstanding this, Simmel's influence was not completely lost. Many sociologists followed his example in considering sociology as a special science. However it must be acknowledged that the trend against formal sociology had been more challenging since then and Simmel's influence on Japanese sociology declined steadily until he came to be remembered as a sociologist whose books were refered to but seldom read even by the sociologistss. Since the end of World War II a great change was brought into Japan and with the democratic reform of government and education, the study of sociology was greatly enhanced. However, as to its content, significant shift has been in the direction of the United States, away from the traditional orientation toward Germany. In this changed climate of spirit, it is no wonder that Simmel, along with German sociology in general, has lost influence, thought there are some exceptions. If we compare the present state of Japanese sociology with that of American sociology in regard to Simmel's influence, it becomes clear that there is a remarkable contrast. In spite of the fact that in the '20's, this influence was stronger in Japan than in the United States, today the opposite is true. Whereas Japanese sociology once was strongly influenced by Simmel and has lost interest in him, American sociologists have recently renewed an attention to him which had been long absent or dormant. Simmel's influence on American sociology may be said to have been more consistent, though perhaps not as strong as at times in Japan. Simmel's influence is not dead even now in Japan, but despite the fact that it was once great, Japanese sociologists, much to their disadvantage, have left his precious heritage relatively unexplored.