<論文>ホボヘミアと「寄せ場」 : 「寄せ場」の社会変動研究へ向けて

Abstract

This article presents a perspective on the study of the social change of "Yoseba" through a comparative study with "Hobohemia". In his famous ethnographic study, The Hobo: The Sociology of Homeless Man, Nels Anderson described a vivid picture of both the migratory worker's world in 1920's America and their home, "Hobohemia". From the urban-ecological point of view, some characteristics of this unique urban district are very similar to those of "Yoseba" which is one of the daily wage earner's districts in Japan. In particular, the similarity of 1) the geographical pattern of both districts and 2) the life-style of hobo and "Yoseba" labor is remarkable. But these two districts took very different course each other. "Hobohemia" had disappeared by the late 1920's. And it changed its character into a rubbish heap of paupers, "Skid-raw". On the contrary, "Yoseba" has survived till now. And it still fulfills its function to meet the demand for the lower manual labor. These urban-ecological resemblance and historical difference between them pose a question to us about the conditions on which "Yoseba" has been able to subsist. So we present a new perspective on the social change of "Yoseba" for the further inquiry into this problem. In this perspective, "Yoseba" should be seen as "maybe-vanished" existence. To see "Yoseba" in this manner will reexamine the historical course it had taken and the raison d'etre of it under the "historical capitalism".