Devoted Fighters who Stood up for Oppressed Peasants

INOUE Denzo

There are still many people who are being oppressed by authorities around the world. Among them are a number of Japanese who stood strong in the face of oppression. One of them was AMAKUSA Shiro, who launched the Shimabara (Kyushuu) Rebellion in medieval times. He is well-known among Japanese as a good-looking young man whose life ended in tragedy. Another is INOUE Denzo (1854~1918) and others who caused the Chichibu Incident in modern times. However, few people know about Denzo. The background of the incidents has a lot in common with the present day world.

In 2004, a movie directed by KAMIYAMA Seijiro called "Kusa no ran" ("Grassroot Rebellion"), in which the main character was Denzo, was shown. It was created for the 120th anniversary of the Chichibu Incident. The catch copy was "There were great guys in Japan 120 years ago." In 1918, an elderly dying man disclosed to his family that his real name was INOUE Denzo and that he was one of the leaders of the Chichibu Incident and had been sentenced to death.

The Chichibu region in Saitama prefecture is a mountainous area, where peasants lived raising silkworms. They took out loans from moneylenders on account of their sales of raw silk every year and used it to purchase food. But, due to the government's deflationary policy, the price of raw silk dropped sharply, taxes were increased, and they had to depend more on loans from moneylenders. Many peasants went bankrupt due to the unjustly high interest rates being charged, and their lands, which had been passed down from their ancestors, were taken away.

Petitioned for temporary halt of loan repayments, and reduced taxes
At this time the democratic movement was becoming active and speeches were often held at many different locations. The Liberal Party appealed that farmers' poverty was caused by the government's policy of increasing wealth and military power. Denzo and his group subsequently organized the Poverty Party (Konmin-tou). In order to rescue peasants, the party petitioned the government and moneylenders for a 10 year halt of loan repayments and then 40 more years of regular repayments, in addition to reduced taxes. However, the government did not accept their requests. Moreover, moneylenders rejected it and in an opposing move, began harshly collecting loans. The Poverty Party thought there was no way out except to bring down the government.

On 1st November 1884, 3,000 concerned people - including Denzo - led by TASHIRO Eisuke gathered in a shrine compound. The Poverty Party army set their own military rules and strictly warned the army not to harm citizens. However, some people formed a mob and destroyed or set fire to moneylenders' houses. At one time, they occupied the town hall and drove the regiment of military police out, but the Poverty Party army, which had fewer soldiers, was defeated in later battles.

The number of people involved in the revolts was said to have been 10,000. Four thousand were given a guilty verdict and seven leaders were given the death penalty. Denzo, who escaped to Hokkaido, was one of them. Then the government suppressed information about this resistance. However, it was proved by the will of Denzo, who had remained hidden for 30 years, that those involved were not rioters, but devoted fighters for the rights of the weak.

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