Historical Studies on the Welfare State Debate in Japan

: Focusing on Juitsu Kitaoka

Abstract

I re―examine the historical development of ideology and thought in Japanese social policy by focusing on Juitsu Kitaoka （1894―1989）. As a member of the Council on Population Problems, he paid special attention to population problems, and led the debate on establishing a welfare state in Japan. He intended to contribute to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions, in sharp contrast to the economic―oriented approach represented by Kazuo Okochi （1905―1984）. This paper will make reference to the complicated academic backgrounds of Kitaoka and Okochi.