A Historical-Sociological Study of Media Politicians and Public Opinion Formation in the Pre-Showa Period

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13904
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 08010:Sociology-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Shirato Kenichiro 筑波大学, 人文社会系, 准教授 (80737015)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: メディア / 世論 / 中野正剛 / 政治のメディア化 / メディア議員

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to clarify the mechanism of public opinion formation and its characteristics during the period from the late 1920s to the late 1930s, focusing on the phenomenon of "media politicians" (former journalists, newspaper owners, and other media-related members) making the greatest inroads into Congress in history. As a case study, this study focuses on Seigo Nakano, a politician from the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun. Seigo Nakano was active as a political journalist, and even after becoming a member of the House of Representatives, he continued to actively engage in public opinion activities through writing and speeches, emphasizing the formation of public opinion. This study focuses on the life of Seigo Nakano to elucidate the evolution and significance of the dynamics between politics and the media.

Free Research Field

メディア史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、戦前のいわゆる大正デモクラシー期から戦中期にかけて増加した「メディア議員」について考察するものである。本研究は、中野正剛という「メディア議員」に着目して「政治のメディア化（メディアの論理により政治が展開される現象）」と世論形成のありようについて解明している。これまで十分に解明されてこなかった政治とメディアの関係を「メディア議員」という観点から、歴史社会学的に考察し、世論形成の構造と世論の意義を再考するものである。