Rodo Sekai

Rodo Sekai

 

(the Workers’ World), the first workers’ newspaper in Japan. Founded in December 1897 as the organ of the Union of Metalworkers and the Society for Assisting the Organization of Trade Unions, it was published biweekly under the editorship of S. Katayama. Its name was changed in January 1902 to Naigai shimpo (Domestic and Foreign News) and in March 1903 to Shakaishugi (Socialism), the name it retained until it was closed down in November 1905. The newspaper played a large role in awakening the class consciousness of the workers and in shaping and developing the workers’ movement in Japan.