{{Infobox union |name = Sanbetsu |location = Japan |affiliations = WFTU |num_members = 1,500,000 (1946) |full_name = |image = 150px |founded = August 1946 |dissolved = 1958 |merged_into = |headquarters = |key_people = |footnotes = }} {{nihongo|'''''Sanbetsu'''''|産別|}} ({{nihongo||全日本産業別労働組合会議|Zen Nippon Sangyo-betsu Rodo Kumiai Kaigi|"All Japan Congress of Industrial Unions"}}) was a Japanese trade union centre between 1946 and 1958. When it was founded in 1946 it emerged as the main force in the Japanese post-war labour movement and led a campaign of militant strikes. However, it suffered a major backlash after only a few months in existence when a planned general strike was aborted. Internal divisions followed, and the organization was never able to recover its initial strength.
==Founding== ''Sanbetsu'' was founded in August 1946. During its early phase it counted with around 1.5 million members.<ref name="p68"/> ''Sanbetsu'' was organized on initiative of the Japanese Communist Party, and the key leaders of the organization were communists. The organization was able to mobilize a large section of white-collar workers in government and civil service sectors.<ref name="p68"/> Salaries in the public sectors were about a half of salaries in the private sector, a fact that enabled the public sector to become a centre of radical trade unionism.<ref name="p1"/> ''Sanbetsu'' also established a foothold in the transportation sector.<ref name="p68">Scalapino, Robert A. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=WrjFsd9S_qIC The Japanese Communist Movement, 1920–1966]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967. p. 68</ref> ''Kokurō'' ('National Railway Workers Union') was an important ''Sanbetsu'' union.<ref name="af">Takemae, Eiji, and Robert Ricketts. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ba5hXsfeyhMC&pg=PA323 The Allied Occupation of Japan]''. New York [u.a.]: Continuum, 2003. p. 323</ref>
==October labour offensive== In October 1946 Sanbetsu launched an offensive wave of strikes.<ref name="p1"/> Over one hundred strikes, involving around 180,000 workers, were organized.<ref>Gordon, Andrew. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=l1OHSEpkbCEC&pg=PA9 The Wages of Affluence: Labor and Management in Postwar Japan]''. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1998. p. 9</ref> The energy, coal mine and electrical equipment industry sectors were centres of strike activity.<ref name="p1">Burkett, Paul, and Martin Hart-Landsberg. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=swyN82Zp_jwC&pg=PA90 Development, Crisis, and Class Struggle: Learning from Japan and East Asia]''. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000. p. 90</ref> The key demands of the "October labour offensive" was establishment of minimum wage based on cost of living, improved retirement-pay system and democratization of the energy industry.<ref>Hein, Laura Elizabeth. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=gb5yfyMoJIYC&pg=PA99 Fueling Growth: The Energy Revolution and Economic Policy in Postwar Japan]''. Harvard East Asian monographs, 147. Cambridge, Mass: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University, 1990. p. 99</ref> In the midst of the October offensive Hosoya Matsuta (deputy general secretary of ''Sanbetsu'') declared that the struggle of the unions was no longer merely economic but also political.<ref name="p55"/><ref name="ge">Gerteis, Christopher. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBiYNdp-esEC&pg=PA20 Gender Struggles Wage-Earning Women and Male-Dominated Unions in Postwar Japan]''. Cambridge, MA [u.a.]: Harvard University Asia Center, 2009. p. 20</ref><ref name="ha1"/> He declared that the unions would topple the Yoshida cabinet through a general strike and establish a popular democratic government.<ref name="p55">Kume, Ikuno. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2UyxLDm75FoC&pg=PA55 Disparaged success: labor politics in postwar Japan]''. 1998. pp. 55-56</ref> Following the October offensive two ''Sanbetsu'' unions, ''Kokurō'' and ''Zentei'' ('Communication Ministry Workers Union'), launched a struggle for higher salaries. During this campaign calls for the overthrow of Yoshida were raised.<ref>Harari, Ehud. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA61 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]''. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 61</ref> By the end of the year, ''Sanbetsu'' was clearly the dominant force in the Japanese labour movement.<ref name="p69"/>
''Sanbetsu'' took part in the Economic Recovery Conference together with other unions and employers' organizations. However, the organization was reluctant to become part of the corporativist system that the Economic Recovery Conference projected.<ref name="p57"/>
==Aborted general strike of 1947== thumb|150px|Ii Yashiro ''Sanbetsu'' planned a major general strike for February 1, 1947.<ref name="p69"/> Hosoya Matsuta and the Kokurō leader Ii Yashiro founded ''Zentō'' ('Joint Strike Action National Committee'), consisting of ''Sanbetsu'', ''Sodomei'', ''Nichirō Kaigi'', the Communist Party and the Japan Socialist Party.<ref name="ge"/> The demand of the strike was improvement of conditions for public sector employees. Four million workers were expected to take part in the strike.<ref name="p1"/> During the preparations for the strike, the political atmosphere was tense. The ''Sanbetsu'' president was severely wounded in an assassination attempt in January 1947.<ref>Flath, David. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=8yXBx1ZkvasC&pg=PA79 The Japanese Economy]''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. p. 79</ref>
However, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers intervened and blocked the strike, claiming that the strike was contrary to the welfare of the Japanese people. The preparations for the strike had led to divisions between communists and non-communists within ''Sanbetsu''. In its aftermath, the failed strike resulted in a political backlash for ''Sanbetsu'' and the Communist Party. Restrictions on union organizing in the public sector was imposed and key communists were fired from their employments. As a result, defections and splits occurred in ''Sanbetsu''.<ref name="p69">Scalapino, Robert A. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=WrjFsd9S_qIC The Japanese Communist Movement, 1920–1966]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967. p. 69</ref>
''Sanbetsu'' opposed Japanese re-entry into the International Labour Organization.<ref>Harari, Ehud. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA80 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]''. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 80</ref>
==Mindō split== In 1948, dissidents of ''Sanbetsu'' founded ''Sanbetsu Mindō'' ('League for the Democratization of Sanbetsu'), opposed to the dominance of the Communist Party in ''Sanbetsu''.<ref>Yamamoto, Mari. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=iyZolPI3Ce4C&pg=PA36 Grassroots Pacifism in Post-War Japan: The Rebirth of a Nation]''. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004. p. 36</ref> Hosoya Matsuta led the rebellion. The ''Mindō'' movement began in ''Kokurō''.<ref name="ha1">Harari, Ehud. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA70 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]''. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 70</ref> The development of the ''Mindō'' movement was actively encouraged by the American occupation authorities. In 1949 the ''Mindō'' movement was expelled from ''Sanbetsu'', but the strength of ''Sanbetsu'' had been severely curtailed by the divisions and expulsions.<ref name="af"/>
==Decline== By 1950, in the aftermath of the feud with ''Mindō'', ''Sanbetsu'' had around 290,000 members.<ref>Harari, Ehud. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA72 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]''. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 72</ref> The All Japan Harbour Workers' Union left ''Sanbetsu'' in February 1950.<ref>Yamamoto, Mari. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=iyZolPI3Ce4C&pg=PA115 Grassroots Pacifism in Post-War Japan: The Rebirth of a Nation]''. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004. p. 115</ref> By 1951, ''Sanbetsu'' membership stood at around 47,000.<ref>Harari, Ehud. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA73 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]''. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 73</ref> In 1953 the combined membership of ''Sanbetsu'' unions was merely 13,000.<ref>Schonberger, Howard B. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=0O7nID3qgaEC&pg=PA131 Aftermath of War: Americans and the Remaking of Japan, 1945-1952]''. Kent, Ohio u.a: Kent State University Press, 1989. p. 131</ref>
''Sanbetsu'' dissolved itself in 1958.<ref name="p57">Kume, Ikuno. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2UyxLDm75FoC&pg=PA57 Disparaged success: labor politics in postwar Japan]''. 1998. p. 57</ref><ref>Gordon, Andrew. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rvmpu_i8q6wC&pg=PA372 The Evolution of Labor Relations in Japan: Heavy Industry, 1853-1955]''. Cambridge, Mass: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University, 1988. p. 372</ref>
==Organizational profile== The organization worked on the basis of the principle "one factory plant, one union", which was the line of the World Federation of Trade Unions.<ref name="p54">Kume, Ikuno. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2UyxLDm75FoC&pg=PA54 Disparaged success: labor politics in postwar Japan]''. 1998. p. 57</ref> ''Sanbetsu'' joined the WFTU in 1950.<ref>Herod, Andrew. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=SqTlKCPvs5wC&pg=PA109 Organizing the Landscape: Geographical Perspectives on Labor Unionism]''. Minneapolis [u.a.]: University of Minnesota Press, 1998. p. 109</ref>
''Sanbetsu'' issued the publication ''Rengo Sensen''.<ref>Yamamoto, Mari. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=iyZolPI3Ce4C&pg=PA40 Grassroots Pacifism in Post-War Japan: The Rebirth of a Nation]''. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004. p. 40</ref>
==Presidents== :1946: Katsumi Kikunami :1947: Sugado :1949: Sukeharu Yoshida :1956: Fukuhei Ichikawa
==References== {{Portal|Organized labour}} {{Reflist}}
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Category:National trade union centers of Japan Category:Trade unions established in 1946 Category:Trade unions disestablished in 1958 Category:World Federation of Trade Unions Category:1946 establishments in Japan Category:1958 disestablishments in Japan