Abstract
In this article, we consider the social context in which jizen (charity) came to be used as a practice for those in need in Japan at the end of the 19th century, and the reason why jizen jigyou (charity work) came to be used as a concept for historical studies since the 1950s. Jizen had been used in some contexts by the end of the 19th century. The Chuou Jizen Kyoukai (Central Association of Charity Work) was established in 1908 to support developing of charities from the viewpoint of making Japan a modern state. After that jizen and jizen jigyou were used as practices to those in need. However, about ten years later, jizen jigyou began to be viewed as an old idea compared with shakai jigyou (social work). Because of these implications, around 1950, Kyuichi Yoshida proposed the concept of charity had dual senses. He thought jizen jigyou was a concept for historical studies. That idea was based on his studies in prewar Japan, in response to Yasoji Kazahaya, and others. Furthermore, we can suppose that he resisted the opinion that shakai jigyou was an old idea compared with shakai fukushi (social welfare).
