Yamashiro Tomoe and the minwa makers: folk narratives and democratic imaginations in postwar rural Japan

Thesis

This thesis examines minwa as a grassroots cultural practice of democracy pioneered by female writer and activist Yamashiro Tomoe (1912–2004) during Japan’s postwar era in rural Hiroshima Prefecture. Rather than its literal meaning as ‘folktale’, minwa is explored as a transformative intellectual framework and cultural practice, reimagining storytelling as a dynamic, participatory process that embodies and enacts democratic values through inclusivity, solidarity, and the amplification of marginalized voices.

Focusing primarily on the three decades from the late 1940s to the 1970s, this thesis explores the evolution of minwa through various literary works created by Yamashiro and her collaborators. Despite differences in context, it demonstrates how minwa consistently created spaces to share previously unspoken experiences, ultimately forging new human networks. Moreover, it shows how minwa, as a democratic storytelling practice, provided a compelling alternative to mainstream progressive strategies, be it the ‘postwar enlightenment’ approach of Japanese intellectuals, the revolutionary ambitions of the Communist Party, or the liberal-capitalist models influenced by American intervention.

The uniqueness of this phenomenon is underscored by the emergence of the ‘minwa makers’ (minwa wo umu hitobito), active participants in this process who embody a subjectivity distinct from the traditional actors typically associated with Japan’s grassroots movements. The prominent role of rural women is particularly significant, amplifying the voices of a group often marginalized in historical research on postwar Japan, especially within intellectual history.

Intersecting with the disciplines of oral history, gender studies, cultural studies, and literature, this thesis sheds light on some of the ‘silenced histories’ of postwar Japan while introducing a new conceptual framework for intellectual history with significance beyond Japan-related studies. Shifting from traditional linear approaches and grand narratives to an adaptive, relational, and experiential perspective, it demonstrates how grassroots lived experiences and creative practices can produce alternative visions that expand conventional notions of democracy.

Authors: Comastri, C

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-5rpbk45mb
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: postwar Japan; democracy; Yamashiro Tomoe; rural Japan; grassroots culture; minwa
• Subjects: Japanese Folk Studies; Modern Japanese history; Oral history; Women's history; Intellectual history; Gender