Kobunsha Struggle in the 1970s: Symbol of the Japanese Labor Movement

Kobunsha Struggle in the 1970s: Symbol of the Japanese Labor Movement

Japan in the 1970s was a period of rapid economic growth, during which labor problems became more apparent and labor disputes were more frequent. As companies promoted policies that prioritized management, workers' rights were neglected, and conflicts with labor unions that demanded the withdrawal of layoffs and wage increases intensified. The publishing industry was no exception, and the Kobunsha struggle unfolded against a backdrop of layoffs of union members, deteriorating working conditions, and union splits. The company's "lockout" and "refusal to bargain" became major issues, and the dispute attracted nationwide attention. On the other hand, the courts at the time tended to be conservative, often ruling in favor of state power and capital in labor disputes, and there was a deep-seated "distrust of the judiciary" on the part of the labor movement.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Oka led the defense team in the "Nissei-Yon picket case" during the Kobunsha struggle. In this case, a union member was charged with "arrest" for attempting to draw other union members into a picket line. The defense argued for acquittal based on the "theory of the inadmissibility of illegality," but the result was an unexpected guilty verdict. In response to this verdict, Mr. Oka criticized himself, saying that "acquittal is something to be fought for, and optimism was a mistake," and he keenly felt the difficulty of his defense activities. Nevertheless, he consistently stood on the side of the workers and continued to seek a "fair verdict" while confronting the court. In particular, he clearly criticized Kobunsha's "relationship with organized crime groups" and "union-busting" and highlighted the unfairness of the company's side through court battles.

Mr. Oka's belief was that "we should start from distrust of the courts. He was well aware of the reality that the power structure worked against the workers, and he fought on without compromise. In the end, the court ruled that the company was unfair in the civil case, leading to victory in the overall labor dispute. This victory had a major impact on the labor movement and union activities that followed, and Mr. Oka's activities are regarded as "a symbol of the fight for the protection of workers' rights and social justice.

He was also highly regarded by union members and other lawyers as "no lawyer has ever supported workers as passionately and sincerely as Mr. Oka. In particular, his near gratuitous support for the union, which was struggling financially, impressed many people. The results of the Kobunsha Struggle and his legal activities based on his conviction became an important reference case in the later Japanese labor movement, and left a valuable lesson for the relationship between the judiciary and workers. At a time when the judiciary was conservative, his activities gave courage to many workers, and he remains a symbol of the fight for social justice to this day.