The study of political critical critism by common pepulein the latter Tokugawa period(1963-86).

1993 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 04610203
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Japanese history
• Research Institution: KOMAZAWA UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: MINAMI Kazuo 駒沢大学, 文学部・歴史学科, 教授 (80072057)
• Project Period (FY): 1992 – 1993
• Keywords: Rakusyu(*) / Rakusyo(*) / Ukiyoe(*) / Satirical picture / Sutebumi(*) / Edo(*)

Research Abstract

According to prearranged plans of this year, our research is concentrated in Genji/Keiou period (1864-1867). The result is summarized to six points.
1 : Amount of Rakushu/Rakushos is maximum in the first year of Genji period(1864). These are more frank criticism on the Tokugawa family and the emperor than before.
2 : These are divided to Kanto and Kansai districts. Kanto's Rakushu/Rakushos have a tendancy to be for Bakufu. Kansai's ones have a tendancy to be for Satsuma-han and Choushu-han. Especially many of those in Keiou period(1865-1867) in Osaka are against Bakufu.
3 : Ukiyoe-caricatures have also such a tendancy.
4 : This tendancy is remarkable on Boshin year(1868).
5 : A Shabun named "Ikada no yume(dream of raft)" (1866) analyzed government and society of those days very accurately.
6 : "Yuten-shikou(Personal opinion about the world with worriment)" left widely spread traces in this period. Tobu-shorin-Yorozuya-Hyoshirou is regarded as its writer. but it is not sure.
Among the Rakushu/Rakushos and Ukiyoe-caricatures, there are many important historical materials. Not all of them are on published books.
These are unexplored field and should be researched more deeply.