著者
德永 紗英
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.15, pp.21-36, 2023-03-31 (Released:2023-04-14)
参考文献数
76

This study examines how robotic vacuum cleaners became a common household item, with an aim to understand their “quotidianization” historically. First, fieldwork was conducted at the author’s house to investigate how people gradually became accustomed to a robot vacuum cleaner, which was initially viewed as a curiosity. The dynamic process applied reviewed the interaction between the various house elements holistically, rather than through just a fixed bilateral relationship between the device and its users. Additionally, from a historical perspective, it was confirmed that the spread of step-free floors to promote barrier-free access contributed toward the routine use of robot vacuum cleaners. Furthermore, robot vacuum cleaners are needed because people believe that dust mites and house dust should be removed, and this notion was also formed historically with the increase in awareness of allergies around the 1970s. Specifically, an analysis of newspaper narratives reveals that the issue of allergies relating to environmental problems and changes in living styles was widely discussed, such as the spread of air conditioning and increased insulation, leading to the notion that these invisible contaminants should be removed. In this way, it is possible to understand how this technology has become an everyday item in relation to various elements of life, suggesting this as one way to think about the issue of “quotidianization.”
著者
山 泰幸
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.1, pp.19-28, 2009

This paper asserts that living folklore is an academic field which deals with modern society and that the most important adjacent academic field that scholars in folklore studies need to collaborate with is sociology. As folklore studies examines modern society, it should proactively incorporate sociological approaches, and it must, to a certain degree, be transformed into something closer to sociology. However, this does not necessarily mean that folklore studies should become sociology, and it does not mean that folklore studies should be subordinated to sociology. The author argues that the academic contribution of living folklore will be clarified in relation to sociology.
著者
加藤 秀雄 加藤 秀雄
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.4, pp.55-72, 2012

In this thesis, the possibility of the concept of "Tradition" in Japanese folklore studies is discussed. Although the concept of "Tradition" is an important one for folklore studies, it has been misunderstood by many folklorists. The concept of "Tradition" is therefore being criticized by some folklorists in recent years. The purpose of this thesis is to clear up this misunderstanding and to discuss the effectiveness of the concept of "Tradition" in contemporary society. This thesis will refer to the discussion on "Tradition" by Kunio Yanagita and the discussion regarding the recent philosophy of history. These discussions are useful for restructuring the concept of "Tradition." The problem of the concept of "Tradition" in Japanese folklore studies lies in the idea of identicalness and continuity between the culture of the past and that of the present. This idea is, however, dismissed by the discussions on Yanagita and the philosophy of history.
著者
後藤 知美 GOTO Tomomi
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.8, pp.39-56, 2016

This study discusses the image of okami who (i) has a backbone to manage inns by themselves, (ii) feasts guests with warm hospitality, and (iii) has a good grounding in Japanese traditional culture, especially about causes and processes of its establishment, based on newspapers and magazines. In the fields of conventional folklore, women tended to be discussed in relation to home and local community.\nHowever, this study newly set the above-mentioned issues in the view of the women image in the society. It was found that the image of "okami" was shaped as a result of various situations that Japanese inns faced in each period, and finally was used as a strategy to survive intense competition in the field of inn business. The media played a crucial role not only for shaping the image of "okami" but for actual lives of okami themselves.
著者
加藤 秀雄
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.4, pp.55-72, 2012

In this thesis, the possibility of the concept of "Tradition" in Japanese folklore studies is discussed. Although the concept of "Tradition" is an important one for folklore studies, it has been misunderstood by many folklorists. The concept of "Tradition" is therefore being criticized by some folklorists in recent years. The purpose of this thesis is to clear up this misunderstanding and to discuss the effectiveness of the concept of "Tradition" in contemporary society. This thesis will refer to the discussion on "Tradition" by Kunio Yanagita and the discussion regarding the recent philosophy of history. These discussions are useful for restructuring the concept of "Tradition." The problem of the concept of "Tradition" in Japanese folklore studies lies in the idea of identicalness and continuity between the culture of the past and that of the present. This idea is, however, dismissed by the discussions on Yanagita and the philosophy of history.
著者
山越 英嗣
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.4, pp.73-82, 2012

Tattoo as a youth subculture has mainly been discussed by sociologists, but also by the areas of anthropology and folklore. The aim of this article is to make ethnography of young Japanese men who have got tattoos. In some recent studies, it has been theorized that young tattooed Japanese men is considered as consumption or an expression of self-satisfaction. In addition, to have a tattoo is normally thought of as a negative personal characteristic in the Japanese society. However, this article shows that the tattoos have various meanings linked to beliefs, memories, stories and affiliations; and they also build strong relationships among their carriers. We can say they are making their own 'world,' in which they share experiences and history through their tattoos. This fits into the framework of Anthony Giddens. This article argues that the carriers of tattoos overcome difficulties by using their camraderie.
著者
佐藤 喜久一郎
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.6, pp.77-91, 2014

This paper is intended as a sympathetic critique of the cultural activities of Rekijyo-Japanese history buffs. A rekijyo is regarded as female enthusiast who has an obsessive interest in historical figures. Some rekijyos are males, in which case they are often called rekidan. Rekijyos throw themselves into touring historical sites like palaces, temples, graves, and castles, as if they are on a pilgrimage. Sometimes they wear costumes there to portray a certain historical character or role.A rekijyo is also a self-educated amateur historian who attaches great importance to fieldwork. Their pilgrim-like activity is somewhat related to a romantic reaction to their academic or educational history. It is a way for them to resist the formal, dry and unemotional discourse on history that they experienced when they were younger. The prefer to empathize with their favorite historical characters than to analyze them. However, just like other Japanese youth, rekijyo culture is excessively postmodernized. Rekijyo also engage in an endless deformation and imitation of persons from history. Even though their view of history is based on empathy, theif behavior is rooted in modern consumerism. Rekijyo culture is merely otaku consumption, but it is also a form passive resistance against those who set themselves up as authorities on history.
著者
廣田 龍平
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.9, pp.43-53, 2017
著者
廣田 龍平 Ryuhei HIROTA
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.9, pp.43-53, 2017

Despite the popular assumption that yōkai has been one of the central themes in Japanese folkloristics, there have actually been few monographs about them. Given this, I discuss how yōkai became excluded from folkloristics by examining works of Kazuhiko Komatsu. By contrasting Komatsu and Kunio Yanagita, I suggest that Komatsu more or less explicitly replaced yōkai from old-style folkloristics to structural anthropology. His analysis of yōkai is particularly anthropological in that he takes them to be found in the world of the Other. This fact contrasts sharply with his (and Yanagita's) definition of folkloristics as an understanding of the Self. Yet another of his definitions would explain this replacement: a central theme of folkloristics is" kami." Examination of his works reveals that his view on yōkai implies that while his formulation of the continuity between yōkai and kami could apply to folk societies of the Other, contemporary societies lost this continuity. Therefore yōkai became excluded from his folkloristics.
著者
大島 清昭 Kiyoaki OSHIMA
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.8, pp.73-82, 2016

In my 2015 paper, I recommended that Yōkai Studies could benefit from international research into paranormal phenomena. This paper is a companion to that one. "Chronology of the Edo Period" is a chronology of events in Edo from 1590 to 1873. Many mysterious aerial phenomena were recorded in this chronology. This paper attempts to internationalize Yōkai Studies. It examines the aerial phenomena mentioned in "Chronology of the Edo Period" from the viewpoint of Ufology. The descriptions in the chronology are fragmentary, but, by applying Ufology, it is possible to compare cases. Now more than ever, Yōkai Studies should make use of Ufology, not keep its distance from it. For example, a picture of many UFOs flying over a nuclear power plant in Fukushima at the time of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami was covered by overseas media. Judging this information from the viewpoint of Ufology, it is possible to understand such a phenomenon.
著者
宮崎 靖士
出版者
現代民俗学会
雑誌
現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)
巻号頁・発行日
no.7, pp.43-58, 2015

In this study, I demonstrate, by analysis of its form of description, that the character of Santo Mintan Shu Volume 1 was, with respect to the transition of legends, formed as the result of combining several pieces of folklore and religious beliefs. This is based on my belief that the association of these two elements happened contingently, and was developed under circumstances that included intermediation by shaman or mages magicians. I compare the character of the text of Santo Mintan Shu with the author's project of gathering legends based on the background of social request for fostering love for home and nation following the Japanese-Russo War; and studies of legend by Yaichi Haga that aimed to determine the Japanese national character. Consequently, I found that such descriptions do not assure a continuous essence through the past, present and future of a legend. For example, understanding a legend by casting the light of a present standpoint and viewpoint makes it difficult to find a continuous essence between past 'Japanese' and present 'Japanese.' Such a description is understood as being an attempt to open a new field of study regarding cultural history in a wide meaning, not a shortsighted one focusing on fostering love for home and nation based on an assumption of the homogeneity of past and present by treating historical events in 'Japan' as objects of study.