Series: War and Radio [Part V] Recreation and Guidance

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Other Title
  • シリーズ 戦争とラジオ ＜第5回＞　“慰安”と“指導”
  • 戦争とラジオ(第5回)"慰安"と"指導" : 放送人・奥屋熊郎の闘い(前編)
  • センソウ ト ラジオ(ダイ5カイ)"イアン"ト"シドウ" : ホウソウジン ・ オウヤグマロウ ノ タタカイ(ゼンペン)
  • Struggle of a Broadcaster—Kumao Okuya (vol.1)
  • ～放送人・奥屋熊郎の闘い（前編）～

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Abstract

Kokumin Kayo [songs for the public], Shi-no Rodoku [poetry recitation], and Monogatari [stories], to name a few, Kumao Okuya developed countless radio programs at the Osaka Central Broadcasting Station in the 1920s and 30s. Japan’s first live coverage of baseball and Rajio Taiso [radio exercises] were also introduced by Okuya. The philosophy of this extraordinary broadcaster focused on “guidance” by broadcasting. Back then, the most popular radio program was naniwabushi performance (Japanese traditional narrative singing). Okuno asserted it was not that the public would tune in to naniwabushi because they liked this genre but would rather become fond of naniwabushi because radio aired them. “Radio generates radio audience masses” was what he believed. Okuya, who strived to develop popular culture through broadcasts, even argued, We can say “broadcasting is the power to transform the characteristics of the times and the culture.” Nevertheless, we somewhat have déjà vu from the way he emphasized the guiding role of broadcasting. When Japan was entering turbulent times from the Manchurian Incident to the Second Sino-Japanese War, Kenjiro Tamura of the Ministry of Communications, who was featured in the third part of this series, asserted, “Times have changed from the days when radio programs were scheduled influenced by the social trends” and “Radio should make the public follow.” The guidance sought by Okuya, who wanted to develop popular culture, gradually became closer to and overlapped with the guidance sought by Tamura who intended to lead the public to cooperate in the war. Thus, Okuya devoted himself to creating recreation programs (what are called today entertainment programs). How were those programs transformed? The first installment of Part V delves into Kumao Okuya ‘s endeavor from his starting point.

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