A Red Light in the Ruins of Burning 1945-1955 A bookkeeper's daughter talks about her family's doll peddling business and the pride of the business (postwar reconstruction period)

A Red Light in the Ruins of Burning 1945-1955 A bookkeeper's daughter talks about her family's doll peddling business and the pride of the business (postwar reconstruction period)
In the immediate postwar period in Japan, the family's doll peddling business, as described by the bookkeeper's daughter, was not only a way of making a living, but also an activity that the family took pride in. With rationing unstable and supplies in short supply, the family made a living by selling artificial flowers and hozuki (Japanese hollyhock) in summer and dolls in winter. My father avoided being a salesman when he was not satisfied with the quality of his dolls, and prioritized being proud of his craftsmanship before earning money. This modesty was also an ethic that was cultivated during the difficult postwar period, when people lived in a world of harsh conditions and did not want to sell inferior products. My mother responded to bargain-hungry customers in a gracious manner, choosing not to disrupt the relationship between seller and buyer. The fairs and markets were not only a place of entertainment, but also a place of life where humanity and trust intersected,
and commerce was an accumulation of relationships that did not end once and for all. In this narrative, the roles and integrity of each family member are depicted along with the historical background of the black market and street stalls that supported distribution during the reconstruction period. Behind the act of selling dolls, the wisdom to survive in the burned-out city and the quiet pride of being a part of the festival culture are surely still alive.