日本人の「あし」の文化的多様性の総合的考察 日本人の歩容（１）

Abstract

This study is investigating cultural diversity in Japanese foot and leg from the point that human body could be an emblem of its culture. In this paper I discussed about Japanese gait forms. According to previous researches, there were six main characters of Japanese gait form between the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century, from the end of Edoera to Meiji era(1). Those were ①shuffling, ②short strides, ③inward, ④fore-foot landing, ⑤leaning forward, ⑥odd sound. In the 20th century(2)‘pitch’walking forms(short-stride with many steps) and fast speed were proved physiologically and sociologically. The factor of (1) was mostly wearing Japanese traditional footgear (Geta:下駄, Zohri:草履), and (2) was considered an influence of high speed society in modern days. I presume that (1) might be Japanese natural gait forms regardless of footgear because most Japanese gait characters were inherited among modern Japanese who didn’t wear traditional footgear and whose physique were taller and bigger than before. And an interesting point was that there were Gait culture in Japanese gait character ① and ⑥. One was called ‘hachimonji (八文字)’ gait, which was special shuffling gait with ‘Taka-geta (高下駄)’by ‘Oiran(花魁)’ courtesans as a show in Edo era. The other was Japanese unique sense to enjoy walking sounds by ‘Setta (雪駄)’, ‘Pokkuri (木 履)’or‘Hikizuri-geta (引きずり下駄)’ as stylish or charm sound. Japanese had unique gait forms in the past and now. Furthermore nowadays foot reflexology, five-toe socks and pedicure were getting popular and popular because of so-called‘Healing’ therapy boom. I believe these Japanese new interests in foot and leg must add new cultural diversity.