The French Musical Cultural Model in Twentieth-century Japan: A Reappraisal of Mitsukuri Shūkichi as a Starting Point

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00234
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 01070:Theory of art practice-related
• Research Institution: Kitasato University
• Principal Investigator: Yasukawa Tomoko 北里大学, 一般教育部, 准教授 (70535517)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 箕作秋吉 / 和声理論 / ロマン・ロラン / ヴァンサン・ダンディ / フーゴー・リーマン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During the four-year research period, I was able to carry out a wide range of substantial research activities, which culminated in the co-authored article ‘Cultural Pluralism in Mitsukuri Shukichi’s Theory of Godowasei (Quintal Harmony): Toward a Musical League of Nations,’ published in "Musicology" in March 2024.

Mitsukuri's theory of Quintal Harmony has attracted much attention abroad in recent years, but its true significance had not yet been clarified. By focusing on the composer's cultural-political activities and the ‘theoretical transition’ from the pre-war to the post-war period, rather than proving the novelty and significance of the theory itself, the study revealed that Mitsukuri's theory of harmony was a theory construction aimed at ‘cross-cultural coexistence’, which aimed at harmonising people from opposing positions and countries.

Free Research Field

音楽学、フランス音楽文化史、音楽理論史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本国内だけでなく海外に向けても発表された箕作秋吉の音楽理論と音楽作品は、第二次世界大戦に向かう時期の日本を象徴する事例であったこともあり、国内外の研究者の立場によって様々な読み解きがなされていた。しかし「音楽」または「音楽理論」という対象の抽象性から、そうした読み解きの多くは、研究者自身の国や立場を反映した主観的な価値判断を伴う結論であった。本研究成果の学術的意義は、英語圏に軸足をもつ香港在住の研究者と、主にフランス語圏を研究対象とする日本人研究者の共同研究により、国際的かつ多角的な視野で発表を行い、結論を導けたことであり、研究方法の再考や思考の転換を促すという意味でも社会的意義をもつ。