Texian Traditions and Family Memories: Apprenticeship and Musuji Culture (Late Showa Period)

Texian Traditions and Family Memories: Apprenticeship and Musuji Culture (Late Showa Period)
From the postwar period to the mid-Showa period, in the world of street vendors, it was not enough to have the tools to set up a stall; apprenticeship to an existing organization was essential first. Apprenticeship functioned not only as a way to learn skills, but also as a social waybill to understand the local territory and unwritten rules, and to enter into that community. The apprentice physically learned how to prepare and stock the stalls, interact with customers, and learn the mannerisms of the tour, while at the same time learning to be polite and courteous to his master and seniors. When starting a business in another area, the apprentice was required to greet his master and obtain his approval, otherwise his credibility would be seriously damaged. In many cases, the business was run as a family affair, and the children grew up with the daily preparation for festivals and the bustle of the stalls. Administrative documents and records of street vendor associations sug
gest that these traditions were not just a professional custom, but an important mechanism for maintaining the harmony of the local community. The traditions of the tekiya were the wisdom that continued to support the street culture of the Showa period, when human relationships and business skills were closely intertwined.