The Yūaikai, 1912-19: The Rise of Labor in JapanStephen S. Large
Monographs (1972) pp. 1–218
This book on the Yūaikai (Friendly Society) will be of major interest to both historians of modern Japan and specialists in comparative labor history. It is the first in-depth study of a prewar Japanese labor institution in English and as such it is a significant contribution to the field of Japanese studies. The forerunner of the Japan General Federation of Labor, the Yūaikai surmounted many obstacles to build the basis for a potentially strong labor union movement after the complete collapse of efforts to organize Japan’s industrial workers in the Meiji era. Historians will find this volume useful in studying the 1912-19 period in Japanese history, for although the Yūaikai was a labor organization devoted to the goal of trade unions, it was also a broad experiment in social, economic and political change. As such, the Yūaikai had historic significance which transcended its role as a labor group.
1972. xi + 218 pages.
Hardback ¥2,000/$20.00/€20.00.