# Sōhyō

The General Council of Trade Unions of Japan (日本労働組合総評議会, Nihon Rōdōkumiai Sōhyōgikai), often abbreviated to Sōhyō (総評), was a left-leaning union confederation. Founded in 1950, it was the largest labor federation in Japan for several decades.

## Origins

In the immediate aftermath of Japan's defeat in World War II, the United States-led Allied Occupation of Japan issued directives legalizing labor unions, which were then protected by the new Constitution of Japan promulgated in 1947. In the early postwar years, numerous labor unions formed in industries throughout Japan, many of which were under the influence of the Japan Communist Party. However, in 1950, following the advent of the global Cold War, and taking advantage of the sense of crisis precipitated by the sudden outbreak of the Korean War, conservative Japanese government and business leaders launched, with the tacit approval of US Occupation authorities, a "Red Purge" to remove communists and suspected communists from government and private-sector jobs. As part of the purge, Japanese conservatives fomented "democracy cells" within the established, Communist Party-dominated labor unions. As these unions collapsed amid the purge, the cells emerged and joined with some affiliates of the Japanese Federation of Labour to form a new labor federation, the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan, or Sōhyō.

## Early militancy

Conservatives hoped that the new federation would be more moderate than the federations controlled by the Communist Party, which had been extremely militant. However, Sōhyō rapidly fell under the sway of the Japan Socialist Party and took the lead in organizing an escalating series of increasingly large and contentious labor actions over the course of the 1950s, and increasingly became involved in political protests as well.
On May 1, 1952, Sōhyō spearheaded a nationwide day of protest against the perceived one-sided nature of the Peace Treaty ending the Occupation of Japan. Although most of these activities were peaceful, a violent clash between protesters and police outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo led to several deaths and injuries and became remembered as "Bloody May Day."
Over the rest of the 1950s, Sōhyō became actively involved in a number of political and social movements, including movements to ban nuclear weapons and against US military bases in Japan. It also led a large number of strikes for higher wages across many different industries. Sōhyō's period of militancy culminated in 1960 when it took a leading role in the massive Anpo protests against revision of the US Japan Security Treaty, as well as the large-scale strike at the Miike Coal Mine in northern Kyushu. As part of the anti-Security Treaty Struggle, Sōhyō organized a nationwide general strike that involved 6.4 million workers and remains the largest recorded strike in Japanese history. However, both these efforts ended in disastrous defeats, and thereafter Sōhyō increasingly retreated from contentious strikes in favor of more moderate workplace actions.

## Merger to form Rengo

A large portion of Sōhyō merged with the more conservative Japanese Confederation of Labor (Domei) and other unions to form Rengo in 1987. Rengo was formally launched in 1989. Some elements of Sōhyō instead joined one of two new federations: the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), and the National Trade Union Council (Zenrokyo).

## Affiliates

The following unions were affiliated:
| Union | Abbreviation | Founded | Left | Reason not affiliated | Membership (1958) | Membership (1970) | Membership (1985) |
| Alcohol Monopoly Workers' Union | Arukorusenbai | 1952 | | | 1,278 | 1,056 | 443 |
| All Finance Bureau Labour Union | Zenzaimu | 1954 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | N/A | 5,339 | N/A |
| All Hokkaido Development Bureau Employees' Union | Zenkaihatsu | 1951 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | N/A | 11,050 | N/A |
| All International Trade and Industry Ministry Workers' Union | Zenshoko | 1946 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | 8,803 | 10,791 | N/A |
| All Japan Construction Industry Workers' Union | | 1971 | 1989 | Disaffiliated | N/A | N/A | 3,000 |
| All Japan Day Workers' Union | Zennichijiro | 1947 | 1989 | Transferred to Zenroren | 150,339 | 153,068 | 67,386 |
| All-Japan Express Workers' Union | Zennitsu | 1946 | 1968 | Merged into Unyuroren | 67,920 | 69,489 | N/A |
| All Japan Federation of Hotel Workers' Unions | Hoteruroren | 1948 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | N/A | 12,383 |
| All Japan Federation of Metal Miners' Unions | Zenko | 1947 | 1982 | Merged into Hitetsukinzokuroren | 57,000 | 31,984 | N/A |
| All-Japan Federation of Municipal Traffic Workers' Unions | Toshikotsu | 1947 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 46,601 | 66,237 | 48,028 |
| All Japan Federation of Non-Ferrous Metal Workers' Unions | Hitetsukinzokuroren | 1982 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | N/A | 16,477 |
| All Japan Federation of Water Transport Workers' Unions | Zenkairen | 1947 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 4,931 | 8,505 | 7,949 |
| All Japan Garrison Forces Labour Union | Zenchuro | 1946 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 81,753 | 25,320 | |
| All Japan Glass and Bottle Makers' Union | Zenshoro | | 1972 | Merged into Kagakudomei | N/A | 9,668 | N/A |
| All Japan Harbour Workers' Union | Zenkowan | 1946 | 1989 | Disaffiliated | 20,261 | 28,214 | 22,124 |
| All Japan National Hospital Workers' Union | Zeniro | 1948 | 1957 | Merged into Irokyo | 24,159 | N/A | N/A |
| All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union | Jichiro | 1954 | 1989 | Transferred to Sohyo | 437,931 | 836,090 | 1,267,021 |
| All-Japan Telecommunication Workers' Union | Zendentsu | 1950 | 1989 | Transferred to Sohyo | 152,039 | 232,519 | 276,686 |
| All Japan Transport and General Workers' Union | Unyuippan | 1950 | 1989 | Transferred to Zenroren | 12,655 | 14,409 | 16,267 |
| All Judiciary Administration Employees' Union | Zenshiho | 1947 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | 16,630 | 12,564 | N/A |
| All Kyushu Electric Power Workers' Union | Zenkyuden | | | | N/A | 3,212 | |
| All Labour Ministry Workers' Union | Zenrodo | 1949 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | 13,255 | 19,732 | N/A |
| All Minting Bureau Workers' Union | Zenzohei | 1946 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 1,597 | 1,790 | 1,444 |
| All Monopoly Corporation Workers' Union | Zensenbai | 1949 | 1987 | Dissolved | 39,729 | 37,938 | 30,219 |
| All Radio Wave Control Agency Workers' Union | Zendempa | 1951 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | 2,800 | 2,456 | N/A |
| All Transportation Workers' Union | Zenunyu | 1962 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | N/A | 5,790 | N/A |
| Audit Board Employees' Union | Kaikenro | 1946 | 1989 | Disaffiliated | N/A | 1,120 | 1,055 |
| Construction Ministry Workers' Union | Zenkenro | 1949 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | N/A | 12,564 | N/A |
| Council of Special Governmental Corporations Workers' Unions | Seirokyo | 1960 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | 10,161 | 21,479 |
| Education Ministry Employees' Union | Monbushokuso | | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | 1,635 | 1,914 | N/A |
| Finance Ministry Employees' Union | Okurashokuso | | | | 1,800 | 1,985 | |
| General Federation of Private Railway Workers' Unions of Japan | Shitetsusroren | 1947 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 134,374 | 253,259 | 197,045 |
| Government Printing Bureau Workers' Union | Zeninsatsu | 1947 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 7,340 | 7,499 | 6,215 |
| International Telecommunications Corporation Workers' Union | Kokusai Den-Den | 1953 | | | 3,063 | 3,212 | 4,637 |
| Japan Agriculture and Forestry Ministry Workers' Unions | Zennorin | 1958 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | 106,000 | 50,613 | N/A |
| Japan Broadcasting Labour Union | Nipporo | 1948 | 1989 | Merged into NHK Roren | 7,000 | 13,326 | 12,876 |
| Japan Coal Miners' Union | Tanro | 1950 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 200,441 | 54,648 | 11,449 |
| Japan Council of Medical Workers' Unions | Irokyo | 1957 | 1989 | Transferred to Zenroren | N/A | 65,646 | 144,161 |
| Japan Customs Employees' Union | Zenzeikan | | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | N/A | 1,190 | N/A |
| Japan Electric Power Industry Workers' Union | Densan | | | | 3,000 | 1,517 | 2,626 |
| Japanese Federation of Chemical Industry Workers' Unions | Kagakudomei | 1951 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 41,644 | 32,963 | |
| Japanese Federation of Iron and Steel Workers' Unions | Tekkororen | 1951 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 120,722 | 208,905 | 211,886 |
| Japanese Federation of Synthetic Chemistry Workers' Unions | Gokaroren | 1950 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 97,657 | 118,615 | 112,798 |
| Japan Federation of National Public Service Employees' Unions | Kokkororen | 1975 | 1989 | Transferred to Zenroren | N/A | N/A | 136,570 |
| Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers' Unions | Shinbun Rōren | 1950 | 1989 | Disaffiliated | 27,056 | 38,057 | 41,961 |
| Japan Federation of Textile and Clothing Workers' Unions | Seniroren | 1948 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | 19,550 | 7,903 |
| Japan Postal Transportation Labour Union | Nittei | | | | N/A | 3,916 | |
| Japan Postal Workers' Union | Zentei | 1946 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 218,013 | 239,600 | 171,606 |
| Japan Teachers' Union | Nikkyoso | 1947 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | 593,117 | 547,311 | 667,443 |
| Japan Tobacco and Allied Workers' Union | Zentabako | 1985 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | N/A | 27,599 |
| Justice Ministry Employees' Union | Zenhomu | 1947 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | N/A | 7,657 | N/A |
| Liaison Council of Housing Industry Workers' Unions | Jutakurokyo | 1969 | 1973 | Disaffiliated | N/A | | N/A |
| National Council of Japanese Electric Powers Workers | Zendenryoku | 1965 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | 4,351 | 2,626 |
| National Federation of Automobile Transport Workers | Zenjiko | 1947 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | 58,577 | 56,541 |
| National Federation of Paper and Pulp Industry Workers' Unions | Kamiparoren | 1947 | 1988 | Merged into Kamiparengo | 47,707 | 58,003 | 26,147 |
| National Federation of Passenger Automobile Workers' Unions | Zenryororen | | | | 17,027 | N/A | N/A |
| National Federation of Printing and Publishing Industry Workers' Unions | Zeninsoren | 1953 | 1989 | Transferred to Zenroren | 16,538 | 18,700 | 13,376 |
| National Federation of Rubber Industry Workers' Unions | Gomuroren | 1965 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | 23,460 | 49,294 |
| National Federation of Water Supply Workers' Unions | Zensuido | 1951 | 1989 | Transferred to Sohyo | 13,796 | 28,561 | 36,797 |
| National Forest Workers' Union of Japan | Zenrinya | 1959 | 1989 | Merged into Sinrinroren | N/A | 63,777 | 37,984 |
| National Lumber Industry Workers' Union | Zenmokuro | | | | N/A | 11,961 | |
| National Procurement Agency Workers' Union | Zenchotatsu | | | | 2,502 | N/A | |
| National Railway Locomotive Engineers' Union | Doryokusha | 1951 | 1985 | Disaffiliated | N/A | 61,650 | N/A |
| National Railway Workers' Union | Kokuro | 1946 | 1989 | Transferred to Zenrokyo | 368,605 | 275,615 | 187,530 |
| National Tax Collectors' Union | Zenkokuzei | 1958 | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | 31,896 | 3,209 | N/A |
| National Telecommunications Mutual Aid Association Workers' Union | Densairo | | | | N/A | 8,098 | |
| National Trade Union of Metal and Engineering Workers | Zenkokukinzoku | 1947 | 1989 | Merged into Kinzokukikai | 91,000 | 212,929 | 155,799 |
| National Union of General Workers | Zenkokuippan | 1955 | 1989 | Transferred to Rengo | N/A | 104,345 | 121,042 |
| Okinawa Public Service Workers' Union | Okinawakankoro | | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | N/A | 7,080 | N/A |
| Transportation Ministry Maritime Workers' Union | Zenkaiji | | | | 2,130 | N/A | N/A |
| Union of Employees of the Harbour Construction Board | Zenkoken | | 1975 | Merged into Kokkororen | 4,350 | 4,193 | N/A |
| Welfare Ministry Employees' Union | Koseishokuso | | | | 3,697 | 2,926 | 3,413 |

## Leadership
### Presidents

    1950: Takeo Muto
    1953: Totaro Fujita
    1956: Yukitaka Haraguchi
    1958: Ōta Kaoru
    1966: Toshikatsu Horii
    1970: Makoto Ichikawa
    1978: Motofumi Makieda
    1983: Takeshi Kurokawa

### General Secretaries

    1950: Zengoro Shimagami
    1951: Minoru Takano
    1955: Akira Iwai
    1970: Shogo Oki
    1976: Mitsuo Tomizuka
    1983: Eikichi Makoto