Abstract

Folklore Is a Game of Passing Messages in Everyday Life
From the podcast “Easy Folklore” to book form! A gentle introduction to the folklore all around you.

Folklore is the study of how we have lived. Though it’s not part of compulsory education, learning about folklore helps us understand the customs and ideas deeply rooted in Japanese daily life. At first glance, a discipline that deals with traditions handed down over generations may seem difficult. But don’t questions like “When did cherry blossoms become the symbol of hanami?” or “Why is Tanabata celebrated during the rainy season?” feel familiar and approachable?

These are all important themes in folklore. Using such familiar topics as a starting point, this book gently explains the question, “What is folklore?” in a way that feels tangible and accessible. It is an ideal introduction for anyone curious about the folklore woven into our everyday lives.

Author’s Information

Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1994. Graduated from the Department of Japanese Literature, Faculty of Letters, Kokugakuin University in 2017. While working as an editor and writer, continues research in folklore studies. Publications include “Yashikigami in the Kanto Region: Ujigami and Inari” (in Perspectives and Methods in Folklore Studies: An Invitation to a New History, edited by Naoki Shinya, Yoshikawa Kōbunkan), and co-authorship of Thinking through Folklore Studies (KADOKAWA). Currently hosts the podcast “Easy Folklore”.