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Edo Culture in Modern Mind. Doyoung Park Osaka Gakuin University. Popular Historic Period?. What is the most popular historic period and topic in your country? Pop culture reflects modern people’s ideas on history Pop culture also affects modern people’s mind on history
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Edo Culture in Modern Mind Doyoung Park Osaka Gakuin University
Popular Historic Period? • What is the most popular historic period and topic in your country? • Pop culture reflects modern people’s ideas on history • Pop culture also affects modern people’s mind on history • And pop culture sometimes creates history
Created World • Fiction by J.R.R. Tolkin • “ I wanted to present mythology to Celtic people.” • Became the standard of fantasy culture • Some people confuse it as a real European mythology
Edo period for Modern Japanese • Most popular historic period • Tons of TV shows and movies • Missing the lost samurai spirit • Three Famous Topics • Mito Komon • Abarembo Shogun • Chushinkura
Mito Komon 水戸黄門 • Historical Facts • Tokugawa Mitsukuni 1628-1701 • High ranked member of the Tokugawa • Daimyo of Mito prefecture (currently Ibaraki)
Tokugawa Mitsukuni in Mito Komon • Disguised as a retired merchant • Journey to rural Japan • Helped common people in troubles • Punished bad samurai • Hidden hero • TV show Mito Komon 1969 - present
Abarembo Shogun • Historical Facts • Tokugawa Yoshimune(1684-1716) , the 8th shogun • Political achievements • Tried to reform the financial problems of the shogunate
Yoshimune in Abarembo Shogun • Disguised as the second son of a low ranked samurai in Edo • Walked around Edo to observe common people’s real life • Only a limited people knew his real face • Helped common people • Hidden hero too
Chushingura • Historical Facts • Ako Incident January 30, 1703 • 47 ronin attacked a high ranked samurai Yora’s manor to avenge their dead master Asano • They killed Yora and all committed suicide by the order from the shogunate • Chusingura • Kabuki which dramatized Ako Incident • Popular show displaying samurai spirit • Real History VS Glamorized aspects
Pop Culture and History • Reflecting Real History • Suffering common people • Samurai power abuse • People’s Wish • Waiting for true samurai spirit • Distorting History • Some people confuse history and fiction