Jotaro Kawakami
Kawakami, Jotaro
Born Jan. 3, 1889, in Tokyo; died Dec. 3, 1965, in Tokyo. Member of Japan’s Social Democratic movement.
Kawakami graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1915. In 1919 he became a professor at Kansai University in Kobe, a lecturer in a workers’ school, and a lawyer. In the 1920’s he began to participate in the Social Democratic movement. He was elected to the Diet (1928–30 and 1936-–2). In late 1945 he was an advisor to the Socialist Party of Japan (SPJ). Beginning in 1951, Kawakami was again a member of the Diet. From 1952 to 1955, when the Socialist Party split into right and left wings, he was chairman of the Right SPJ. From 1961 to 1965, Kawakami served as chairman of the SPJ. In June 1960 he was wounded by a terrorist associated with reactionary circles.