Bunji Kondo and the Establishment of the Concept of Social Security in Japan

: Focusing on the Relevance the “1950 Recommendation”

Abstract

This article reevaluates the struggles of Dr. Bunji Kondo, first by re―examining his intellectual discussions, especially in the early postwar era, then pursuing the struggle’s relevance to the recommendation by the Advisory Council on Social Security in 1950 （the “1950 Recommendation”）, of which he was a drafter.First, the author reviews Dr. Kondo’s discussion about the concept of social security that was raised in his 1952 book. Then the author traces how Dr. Kondo derived his understanding of the sphere of social security, with reference to his systematic explanation of social and other policies, and compares it with the concept of social security in the “1950 Recommendation”. The author also discusses the relationship between the social insurance centrism expressed in the “1950 Recommendation” and Dr. Kondo’s concept of social security. Finally, three circumstances in that era that influenced his discussions are given consideration.

The followings three conclusions are proposed : 1） the sphere of social security in the “1950 Recommendation” embraced the implications of Dr. Kondo’s intellectual discussions of the 1950s, as well as the social necessities of the era, 2） the concept of social insurance centrism was consistent with Dr. Kondo’s theoretical views, and 3） Dr. Kondo’s discussions were influenced by the social conditions of the era.