The Function of Newspapers in Kawatake Mokuami's <i>Suitengu Megumi no Fukagawa</i>

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  • 河竹黙阿弥作「水天宮利生深川」における新聞の機能
  • カワタケ モクアミサク 「 スイテングウ リショウ フカガワ 」 ニ オケル シンブン ノ キノウ

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This paper analyses the function of newspapers in Kawatake Mokuami's Suitengu Megumi no Fukagawa (1885), one of the most famous zangiri-mono plays (kabuki plays depicting the society after the Meiji Restoration). Especially well known are the scenes in which destitute ex-samurai Kobei goes insane, and Kobei surviving his suicide attempt because of a miracle by the Suitengu Shrine deity. In previous studies, the stylistic acting and direction of this play have been highly regarded. This paper, however, analyses how newspapers connect Kobei's family to the people who helped them. Mokuami used newspapers as props in other zangiri-mono plays. Typically, they function as a medium, which neutrally provides information to the characters. In Suitengu Megumi no Fukagawa, however, the newspaper tells the general public about Kobei and his family's difficult situation, which leads to numerous people donating money to the family through the newspaper. Thus, Kobei and his family are not only saved by the miracle of the Suitengu Shrine deity, but by the contributions to the newspaper which helps bring about the happy ending of the play. In this paper, I discuss how Mokuami incorporates as a plot device the contemporary vogue for donating through newspapers. This indicates a shift in society's perception of the role of newspapers, increasingly seeing them as tools for social intervention, not merely providers of information.

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