Nanbara Shigeru (1889-1974) and the Intellectual Field between Prewar and Postwar Japan: A Comparative Study

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13414
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 06010:Politics-related
• Research Institution: Soka University
• Principal Investigator: Yuichi Kawaguchi 創価大学, 文学部, 非常勤講師 (10756307)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 南原繁 / 内務省 / 牧民官 / 自治 / 労働組合法案 / 新カント派 / 戦後改革

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to pursue Shigeru Nanbara, who became a bureaucrat in pre-war Japan, studied political philosophy as a scholar during the war and was one of the leaders of post-war reform. Comparisons will also be made between Nanbara's thought and that of other thinkers of his time. In particular, research on Nanbara will address two questions: (i) what were his philosophy during the war, and (ii) what were his experience during his pre-war period as head of Imizu County, Toyama Prefecture?
The results of the study revealed the following. (i) The discourse of Nanbara's political philosophy was compared before, during and after the war, and the significance inherent in his wartime political philosophy was clarified. In this study, Nanbara's thought was also compared with that of other thinkers. (ii) The study clarified in detail Nanbara's words and deeds during his time as head of Imizu County.

Free Research Field

日本政治思想史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果の学術的意義・社会的意義は、第一に、従来の研究が提示した南原繁の政治思想のイメージとは異なったものを新たに提示したことである。南原の政治哲学は必ずしも確固としたものでなく戦前・戦中・戦後の間で揺れ動いたのであり、「洞窟の哲人」という内向きのものではなく他の思想家との対決を通じて生み出された面をもっていた。第二に、意味郡長時代の南原について後年の彼が語り残していなかった政治理念を明らかにし、後年の政治哲学、戦後改革にいたる思想形成の過程として新たな側面を提示した。なお、当時の国内政治情勢や郡情勢と共に追究したため、政治史・郷土史の面でも一定の寄与をなし得る。