In the history of Japan, the rice riots have often occurred due to bad harvests of rice since the Edo period, but we know [ rice riots . ] Is 1918 [ Taisho 7 ] Do you not remember?
The rice riots at this time were a small movement seeking a bargain sale of rice from Toyama women. Spread all over the country and riots occurred. Behind this was the impact of rising prices due to World War I, which caused the lives of ordinary people to suffer, and as a result of the turmoil, the cabinet at that time resigned, leading to the birth of the first political party cabinet, Taisho. Democracy It became a kick.
Background and cause of the rice riots
Due to the booming economy of World War I, the migration of the population from rural areas to urban areas as industrial workers increased, leading to a decrease in agricultural workers and a decrease in rice production.
Changes in eating habits
By this time, people's eating habits will also change.
Even for farmers, in order to increase income from sericulture, etc., from millet foods such as wheat and Japanese millet to rice foods Has changed to. Also, at that time, there weren't many side dishes such as meat and fish as they are now, so it seems that they ate a lot of rice, the staple food.
It was more of a center of rice food than it is now.
Rice price rise
In addition to the decrease in rice production, landowners and merchants began to buy up and sell rice in anticipation of high profits, and the price of rice increased more and more.
In addition, prices other than rice were rising during the Great War, so the lives of ordinary people became more difficult.
So the government interest rate crackdown Rice, iron, coal, cotton thread, paper, dyes, chemicals, fertilizers ] Although it is prohibited to buy up or sell 8 items, the rise in prices could not be suppressed.
By the way, the currently used [rip-off] [rip-off] Words such as [profit] Is the origin.
Price change of rice price
| Year / Month | Rice price * One stone [150 kg] |
| May 1918 | 15 yen |
| June | 20 yen |
| July | 30 yen |
| August 1st | 35 yen |
| August 5 | 40 yen |
| August 9 | 50 yen |
This rate of increase is unusual, and the mass media have all fueled anxiety, so social anxiety will continue to increase.
Siberian intervention
Russian Revolution at the end of World War I Will occur.
Allied side for the purpose of armed interference with this revolution We will jointly dispatch troops from (UK, France, Italy, USA, Japan). This is called Siberian intervention.
Merchants who were the first to obtain information on this dispatch will further accelerate their slack, aiming for soaring supplies in the special war demand. Rice is an important material for war ...
Rice riots
July 23, 1918 In Uozu Town, Toyama Prefecture, the price of rice goes up because the rice is handed over to other areas! ] And 46 people, mainly the wives of the town, started a movement to prevent the outflow of rice.
However, the movement will be disbanded by police crackdowns.
Even so, a similar movement took place again in the prefecture around August 2, but there was no sign that it would spread nationwide.
If it fits in here, it may have been a small local movement, but on August 3, about 300 fishermen's wives rushed to the wealthy rice shop in Nishimizuhashi-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, the same prefecture, and the rice After petitioning for a ban on exports and bargain sales, the police disbanded him.
A similar incident occurred the next day, but this time, not only the petition but also the actual damage such as the destruction of the rice shop will occur. When this happened, the case was taken up by a major newspaper, and on August 5, the Asahi Shimbun [ 200 wife reams started a big movement due to the sharp rise in rice prices. If you don't agree, you threaten to burn your house and kill it. ] To be reported ...
In this way, a small turmoil in Toyama spreads all over the country, and the turmoil spreads to various parts of Okayama prefecture, as well as Wakayama prefecture, Kagawa prefecture, and Ehime prefecture.
Still, it didn't fit, August 10 A large-scale rally is planned in the big cities of Nagoya and Kyoto, and in Nagoya, a crowd of 15,000 to 30,000 gathers in Tsurumai Park, and an incident occurs in which they collide with the police. This caused a turmoil in which the army was dispatched, and eventually it became a big turmoil that spread not only to the Kansai and Tokai regions but also to the Kanto and Kyushu regions.
As you can see from the fact that the army is dispatched, it is actually [ uproar ] Is not a cute thing, but [ riot] It was. At first, he attacked the rice shop, but eventually [ destroy everything that is noticeable . ] And became radical.
As a result, trains, automobiles, stock exchanges, etc., which are not directly related to selling rice, are also attacked . As a result, many people were injured in the people, police, and the military.
This seems to be close to the recent riot in the United States where a black man was killed by a police officer.
At school [ rice riots ], So it is an incident that the image of a little commotion cannot be wiped out, but to match the name with the actual situation [ US riot ] I think that it will be more suitable.
Subsequent effects of the rice riots
When the riots in Toyama were published in newspapers, riots began to occur all over the country.
Originally, it was a riot that pleaded for a bargain sale of rice, but it has evolved into a request for donations and destruction, and even dispatched troops to suppress the riot. By the end of the same year, the riots would subside, but the fact that the riots of the general public had to be stopped by the army instead of the police officers shows the greatness of the US riots.
Due to this series of turmoil, the Terauchi Cabinet at that time was retired.
After the resignation of the Terauchi Cabinet, as a [Principal Minister of the People] who does not have a title, [ Hara Takashi Cabinet ] Was born.
Relationship between Koshien cancellation and rice riots
May 20, 2020 Due to a series of coronaviruses, the Japan High School Baseball Federation has decided to cancel the 102nd National High School Baseball Championship. Following the spring Senbatsu, the summer Koshien was also canceled, which shocked the whole country.
In my personal opinion, children who are aiming for the whole country in sports are not limited to baseball but also in sports such as soccer and tennis, so it seems that only baseball is treated specially. Is it because of your mind?
This cancellation of Koshien is not the first time, but 1918 [rice riot] and , 1941 is [War] Was forced to cancel. I think it's understandable to say that it was canceled due to the war, but [ rice riots ], The question remains as to what exactly it means to cancel.
In conclusion, [ Danger of riots if many people are gathered in this situation ], So it was decided to cancel because the personal safety of Koshien officials could not be guaranteed.
As you can see from the date when the rice riots occurred earlier, do you know that the schedule for Koshien to be held every year is completely covered? In addition, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, where the tournament was held at that time, was also in the midst of a turmoil. In Osaka and Kobe, the turmoil has peaked and we couldn't play a baseball tournament in that situation.
In addition, the cancellation of Koshien due to the new coronavirus in 2020 was decided on May 20, and it was known relatively in advance, but at the time of the rice riots of 1918, the people involved in the tournament were moving on the premise that it will be held until the last minute. It seems that.
In fact, a combination lottery for the tournament was held, and last-minute practice was also held, and it is said that the 14 participating schools had already entered the venue. It was August 14th [ postponed ] Was decided, but it was decided to cancel the Koshien tournament itself because the situation did not subside.
Is there a rice riot in Heisei?
In fact, there has been a rice riot even in recent years.
At this time, there were no riots, but due to the riots all over Japan, [ Heisei rice riots ] Is also called.
Causes of the Heisei rice riot
In 1993 [Heisei 5], rice yield was affected by the cold summer and westerlies. Is significantly reduced Did.
It seems that the yield was less than 8 million tons for the demand of 10 million tons.
At that time, there were many varieties of high-quality branded rice that were vulnerable to cold damage, and the decline in labor and farming motivation due to the anti-reduction policy added to the drastic decrease in domestic distribution of rice.
Government measures
The government will take measures to urgently import rice, but imported rice was very unpopular because foreign rice did not suit the taste of Japanese people and demanded food safety. Due to this urgent import procedure in Japan, the distribution volume of rice decreased internationally, causing the world rice price to soar and causing confusion.
In addition, terrible measures such as giving priority to exporting rice stockpiled in their own country and illegally dumping Thai rice that provided assistance in Japan became a problem. It seems that they sent us the finest rice in Thailand.
After that and influence
The situation was resolved by a good harvest of rice the following year, but as a result of international turmoil, the ban on rice import liberalization, which had been abandoned until now, has to be lifted.
In addition, rice varieties have been improved, and varieties such as Hitomebore, which are resistant to cold damage, have been born. Then, Thai rice became familiar, and the Asian food boom began to occur in the food service industry.
Historically highly acclaimed rice riots
Although it is a riot, it is a rice riot that has driven Koshien to the end, but it is said that it is a historical event that was highly evaluated when it ended.
As I mentioned earlier, the rice riots caused the Terauchi Takeshi Cabinet to collapse, and the first political party cabinet in history with Hara Takashi as Prime Minister was born. Since Terauchi was a soldier, it is said to be a systematic politics, and it is evaluated that Takashi Hara, who was a commoner, realized democratic politics. In fact, he was friendly with " Minister of the People It is also called, and he is a prime minister who is highly evaluated even in modern times.
In addition, the rice riots have stimulated social movements in Japan, and "the rice riots have blossomed the social movements in Japan" . It is also evaluated as. And, because the riot was caused by women who care about Toyama's household budget, sympathetic gaze was gathered for the riot.
It seems that there is a section that is highly evaluated by researchers that the general public stood up and confronted the powerful people and changed the society. Am I the only one who thinks that the riots are valued as a contradiction, even though society has moved for the better?