Tanaka Shozo
Topic: Paths to Modernisation: Japan, China, Korea · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Paths to Modernisation"
Meaning
Tanaka Shozo (1841–1913) was a farmer's son who taught himself. He joined the Popular Rights Movement and was elected to Japan's first Diet, or parliament. He is remembered for leading Japan's first protest against industrial pollution in 1897. His fight shows that Meiji industrial growth had a human and environmental cost.
Example
The Ashio copper mine was poisoning the Watarase river and the farms along it. In 1897, Tanaka led about 800 villagers in a mass protest, and they forced the government to bring in pollution controls.
Don't confuse with
- Ueki Emori: Both men belonged to the Popular Rights Movement. Ueki is known for his ideas on natural rights. Tanaka is known for the anti-pollution fight at Ashio.
Related concepts
- Meiji economic modernisation
- Zaibatsu
- Ashio mine pollution
- Meiji Constitution
- Fukuzawa Yukichi
- Popular Rights Movement