Exploring Social Change and the Voices of the People Through Yanagita's Lens

A photograph from 1928 depicts a group of schoolchildren gazing at a bulletin board displaying an announcement written in vertical script. The year marked a significant shift, as men aged 25 and older gained the right to vote. The notice on the board likely proclaimed the upcoming first general election under the new law. The children's gathering suggests curiosity about this new development. The photo's caption, "The most difficult homework," hints at a cynical view of the situation.

Chapter on social climate), a book by Kunio Yanagita (1875-1962). This book is a comprehensive examination of social trends during the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho (1912-1926) eras. Yanagita explored various aspects of daily life, including housing, diet, clothing, work, and relationships, analyzing the evolution of the lifestyle of ordinary Japanese citizens.

Yanagita's concluding statement, "In other words, we were sick and poor as citizens," sparked my interest. Masami Ishii, an emeritus professor and author of an annotation to Yanagita’s autobiography, explained that Yanagita was expressing a lament. He recognized the societal failure to adequately prepare citizens to be informed voters, capable of making sound judgments regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Yanagita's background included graduating from Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo) and working at the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. He later joined The Asahi Shimbun, serving on the Editorial Board until 1930. Ishii notes that by the time his book was published in 1931, Yanagita was shifting his focus to folklore, having recognized the limitations of journalism.

Yanagita himself acknowledged in his book that the complexities of social issues extended beyond what newspapers could convey. He chose to document the history of the common people, rather than focusing on those in positions of power. He traveled throughout the country, gathering stories and traditions from the people.

The 150th anniversary of his birth is approaching. Reflecting on his work, I question whether I am truly attentive to the voices of the people and if I am embracing, rather than avoiding, "the difficult homework.