Memory and Culture : A Cultural Sociology Approach to "Ako Incident" Memories

Research Project

Project/Area Number	13610203
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	社会学(含社会福祉関係)
Research Institution	Nara Women's University
Principal Investigator	ONO Michikuni Nara Women's University, Faculty of Letters, Professor, 文学部, 教授 (20067862)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	OGAWA Nobuhiko Nara Women's University, Faculty of Letters, Associate Professor, 文学部, 助教授 (10242992)
Project Period (FY)	2001 – 2002
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2002)
Budget Amount *help	¥2,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000) Fiscal Year 2002: ¥1,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000) Fiscal Year 2001: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Keywords	Ako Incident / Chushingura / Kabuki / Memory / Culture / Cultural Sociology / Public Performance of Histories / Apotheosis
Research Abstract	This project attempts to analyze the theoretical and applicable potential of Cultural Sociology, by scrutinizing mnemonic forms of "Ako Vendetta" (1701-1702). We have worked on the hypothesis that both Incident memories are constructed within traditional cultural frameworks and they are transformed into contemporary new cultural events and narratives in order to express the identity of a particular group or individual. Our research results are as follows. 1. The existence of a dual relationship between memory and culture, and the types of mnemonic phenomena from theoretical perspective. 2. The outstanding number of Kabuki performances of "Chushingura" from the end of the Meiji era through into the Taisho era seems to be related to the exalting nationalism and the emergent national culture. 3. The Incident memories in the Edo era, to a considerable extent, had been constructed within the "Samurai honor culture" framework. 4. The "Aka Gishi Festival", the "Counter-Memory at Kira district" and the "Chushingura Summit" will be regarded as today's cultural utilizations of the Incident memories. 5. We have analysed the narratives of the Incident and the appearances as public entertainment of historical events through intensive field works in Kyoto and Nagano. 6. We have analyzed the cults and rituals in relation to Gishi memories by comparing those in Sengakuji, Oishijinjya and Choushiduka. From the above findings, it will be suggested that we could verify the dualism hypothesis of memory and culture.