Masakazu Nakai (中井 正一, Nakai Masakazu, alternative romanization Nakai Shōichi [1]) (14 February 1900 - 18 May 1952) was a Japanese aesthetician, film theorist, librarian, and social activist.
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture, Nakai studied philosophy at Kyoto University, particularly aesthetics under Yasukazu Fukuda. [2] He started the dōjinshi Bi hihyō in 1930, which changed its name to Sekai bunka in 1935. [2] He became a lecturer at Kyoto University while being active in left-wing social movements, protesting Japan's tilt towards fascism and promoting popular forms of culture through such concepts at the "logic of the committee." [2]
Nakai co-founded the popular culture tabloid Doyōbi (Saturday) in 1936. However, the magazine was discontinued in 1937 with his arrest for anti-fascist political activity under the Peace Preservation Law. Nakai also lost his university position as a result of the arrest. [2] After World War II, he continued his political activism by teaching philosophy as part of the Hiroshima Culture Movement and by running for governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, only losing by a narrow margin. [3] He was appointed the first Vice Librarian (fukukanchō) of the National Diet Library in 1948. [2]
Masakazu Nakai (中井 正一, Nakai Masakazu, alternative romanization Nakai Shōichi [1]) (14 February 1900 - 18 May 1952) was a Japanese aesthetician, film theorist, librarian, and social activist.
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture, Nakai studied philosophy at Kyoto University, particularly aesthetics under Yasukazu Fukuda. [2] He started the dōjinshi Bi hihyō in 1930, which changed its name to Sekai bunka in 1935. [2] He became a lecturer at Kyoto University while being active in left-wing social movements, protesting Japan's tilt towards fascism and promoting popular forms of culture through such concepts at the "logic of the committee." [2]
Nakai co-founded the popular culture tabloid Doyōbi (Saturday) in 1936. However, the magazine was discontinued in 1937 with his arrest for anti-fascist political activity under the Peace Preservation Law. Nakai also lost his university position as a result of the arrest. [2] After World War II, he continued his political activism by teaching philosophy as part of the Hiroshima Culture Movement and by running for governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, only losing by a narrow margin. [3] He was appointed the first Vice Librarian (fukukanchō) of the National Diet Library in 1948. [2]