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民本主義 (みんぽんしゅぎ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
democratic theory of Sakuzō Yoshino ; politics of the people
historical term
Historical term from the Taishō Democracy period. Refers to Yoshino Sakuzō's concept of minponshugi, a form of democracy centered on the people's welfare, distinct from minshushugi (popular sovereignty).
See also: 大正デモクラシー
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Sakuzō Yoshino advocated minponshugi, which became a theoretical pillar of Taishō Democracy.
Kanji 民 people, nation, subjects 義 righteousness, justice, morality Similar words 民みん 主しゅ 主しゅ 義ぎ Minshushugi is the general term for democracy, emphasizing popular sovereignty. Minponshugi, coined by Yoshino, focuses on government for the people rather than by the people, and is a historical concept specific to early 20th-century Japan.
大たい 正しょう デモクラシー Taishō Democracy is the broader political and social movement during the Taishō era (1912–1926). Minponshugi was a key ideological component of this movement.
Etymology Coined by political thinker Yoshino Sakuzō (1878–1933) during the Taishō era. The term combines 民 (people), 本 (basis), and 主義 (principle/doctrine), literally meaning 'people-as-the-basis principle'. It was designed to distinguish his welfare-oriented democratic theory from the more radical minshushugi (popular sovereignty).
