<研究ノート>1950-60年代の勤労青少年に関する研究の現状と展望 : 大衆娯楽雑誌を手がかりにした研究に向けて

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide a new perspective to the young laborers studies of 1950-60's in Japan, by investigating two major mass amusement magazines of the time, "Heibon" and "Myojo". Young laborers in 1950-60's had been an important figure in the history of post-war youth culture in Japan. Not only they were large in number, but also they directly supported Japan's reconstruction and rapid economic growth after the war. Regardless of these facts, however, the cultural aspects of these laborers have rarely been discussed in former studies. In these studies, either the contributions of the "elite" (those with high education) or the aspects of governmental policy were spotlighted. In 1950-60's, so-called "culturalism" was hegemonic among university students. While many of them read magazines that provide topics of general cultural interests, young laborers read "Heibon" and other mass magazines for fun with great enthusiasm. The representative of mass magazines in pre-war Japan was "King". It is said to have played an important role to mobilize the Japanese mass to support the war. "Heibon" has played different cultural roles in the course of its development. One example was the activities of its readers association, "Heibon-Tomo-no-Kai". Their activities were also different from that of elites. I have interviewed both the creators and readers of this magazine to show the cultural development that emerged from interactions between them. The full discussion has been presented in other papers.