著者

片岡 優子

出版者

関西学院大学

雑誌

関西学院大学社会学部紀要 (ISSN:04529456)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.101, pp.99-113, 2006-10

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Taneaki Hara is the pioneer of prison reform and rehabilitation of ex-convicts in Japan. The purpose of this study is to clarify his achievements as the prison chaplain of Kushiro shujikan, and as data to accomplish this clarification, sources such as Hara's diary, letters, and theses were used. When Hara was the prison chaplain of Kushiro Shujikan, he was involved in prison reform, instruction, rehabilitation of ex-convicts and Christian mission. In August 1887, when Hara was the prison chaplain of Hyogo Karyukan, he went away on business to Kushio Shujikan to inspect the situation of the prisoners. He saw an incident in which a prisoner was killed by a warden there. He was astonished to see the incident, and reported it to the Department of the Interior. He was requested to become the prison chaplain of Kushio Shujikan by the authorities concerned. So he became the prison chaplain of Kusiro Shujikan and exerted himself to abolish atrocities against the prisoners. He admonished the prisoners, making much of individual treatment. For example, he interviewed prisoners individually in the interview room. Hara's admonishment had a positive effect on the prisoners. And he helped with the rehabilitation of persons who had been discharged by hosting them at his house. He also pursued mission work there. In November 1889, he established Shibecha Church, receiving the support of the Congregational Church.