KAGUJI and Social Movements - The Power of Castaways in the Late Taisho and Early Showa Periods (1920s)

KAGUJI and Social Movements - The Power of Castaways in the Late Taisho and Early Showa Periods (1920s)

Koguishi were placed on the periphery of urban society and, despite discrimination, were deeply connected to the common people as they walked around the fairs and festivals. They were socially unstable, but they were also mediators closely connected to the lives of the common people. 1920s was a time of turmoil after the Great Kanto Earthquake and the rise of labor disputes, when common people's discontent erupted and the Security Law strengthened the suppression of ideology. Under these circumstances, social movements attempted to reach out to the public through fairs and entertainment venues, and networks of perfume makers were used for mobilization and financial support. The solidarity and face-to-face connections fostered by the drifter's life provided an effective means of circumventing government surveillance. Because the kagushi themselves belonged to the precarious working class, they empathized with the plight of peasants and laborers, and the spirit of mutual suppor
t based on brotherhood and parent-child relationships supported the social movement. The uniqueness of the role played by the Kakushi lies in the fact that they functioned as "mobilizers" close to the common people, rather than intellectuals who advocated theories. Although they were on the periphery of society, they conversely became a force that supported change from below, and they became an indispensable presence in the social movements of this era.