The Left-Wing Movement

Explores Yozo's involvement with the Communist Reading Society, his role as a liaison, and his eventual disillusionment.

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Introduction to the Movement

The Secret Meeting The Sights of Tokyo Horiki took Yozo to a secret Communist meeting, treating it as a tourist attraction. Yozo was introduced to the "comrades" and bought a pamphlet. The Marxian Lecture A young man lectured on Marxian economics. Yozo found the ideas obvious but believed that something more obscure lurked in human hearts. He was drawn to the irrationality of the movement. The Attraction Yozo felt at ease in the irrational world of the underground, more than in the world of rational gentlemen. He began to attend regularly.

The Jester Comrade

The Role of the Clown The Lightener of Atmosphere Yozo used his clowning to relieve the tense atmosphere of the meetings. He became popular and was considered indispensable. The Deception He was not a true believer; he was deceiving them. He performed for them because he liked the attention, not because he shared their goals. The Danger of Being Liked His popularity led to being entrusted with dangerous missions. He was seen as a promising comrade, and he could not refuse.

The Dangerous Missions

The Reluctant Activist The Liaison Work Yozo became the leader of the Marxist student action groups in central Tokyo. He raced around maintaining liaison, carrying a knife in his pocket. The Burden Requests for his services came so frequently that he had no time to breathe. He was sickly and not up to the frantic activity. He felt like running away. The Decision to Die His involvement in the movement, combined with lack of money and the demands of women, pushed him toward suicide. He decided to kill himself.

The Disillusionment

The End of the Movement The Escape Yozo escaped from the movement by attempting suicide. After the incident, he was expelled from college and his involvement ended. The Reflection He later thought that his only reason for helping the group was his fascination with its irrationality. He had no real political commitment. The Mockery of Idealism Yozo saw that the comrades were as full of deceit as the rest of the world. The movement offered no escape from his dread of human beings.

college, introduced by Horiki

college, during the meetings

college, second year

after the suicide attempt, reflecting