Abstract: Maruyama Konmei was a Japanese journalist who worked in China during the period of the Republic of China. He was also an early socialist in Japan. After witnessing the May 4th Movement in Beijing, Maruyama was deeply shocked and felt that young students were the new force leading China to a greater movement. He participated in the social movements of China after the May 4th Movement through close contacts with people, such as Li Dazhao, Lu Xun and Zhou Zuoren. Maruyama's journalism in China focused on education, and he emphasized that universal access to education was fundamental to Chinas reform. Subsequently, Maruyama tried to help Chinese women to awaken through education, and promoted a visit to Japan by female teachers in Beijing. Finally, Maruyama firmly supported the “nonreligious alliance” movement, joined the radical intellectuals represented by Li Dazhao camp. From education movement, social movement to ideological movement and cultural movement, Maruyama deepened his activities in China step by step. Maruyama devoted himself to the social reform of China with the pure socialist ideal, and his socialist thought gradually became clear and deepened in the course of his activities in China. It has not only fostered positive and beneficial interactions, but also made a good story in the history of friendly exchanges between China and Japan in modern times.

Key words: Maruyama Konmei, the May 4th Movement, views on China, views on education, activities in China