2019 Volume 60 Issue 3 Pages 1-13
Home-help services were operationalized mainly in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. This paper clarifies the background factors of such services through the ideas of Yoshimasa Takeuchi, who served as secretary general of the Ueda City Council of Social Welfare. We mainly analyzed primary historical sources, including his three journals (NOTE BOOK, Nisshi:Yoshimasa ki, and Day and Day) and minutes of the city council of social welfare meetings. Results revealed the following about Takeuchi:(1) He was pessimistic about the council’s future and emphasized harmony among people.(2) He promoted people’s understanding by repeatedly dealing with observational tours by the former Ministry of Health and Welfare and local governments, and delivering lectures in many places.(3) He encouraged services by home-helpers and widowed women to be publicized through the radio.(4) He consistently promoted the new life building movement during his days as secretary general of the city council. Takeuchi was aware of the necessity of studying independently and alone. His recognition of the persistent challenges at hand rather than focusing on locality and solidarity also contributed to the promotion of social welfare services. An examination of his predecessors’ achievements and viewpoints should be conducted from many perspectives and in a timely manner using primary historical sources.
