우타가와 구니요시(歌川国芳)의 어린이물(子ども物)

Abstract

Plentiful culture creation and consumption phenomena during the late Edo period can be said as a precursor of the modern pop culture of Japan. Mass production was being made to meet increased demands of the populace and they enjoyed it and its parody. Such cultural consumptions of the time are very similar to the current ones. The most popular subject matter was sure to be made in different genres again and again. The tendency toward Media Mix, so-called one source multi use, took root in the ground. This paper focuses on children who began to be on the rise for consuming such mass culture and its spreading. There were only a few cultural goods specifically for children before the late Edo period. However, through Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s Ukiyo-e and E-hon (picture book) for children, some cultural changes took place in creating pop cultures in Japan. The materials presented in this work are enough to prove such changes. Besides, it goes without saying that Edo’s cultural trend led to the foundation of the contemporary status of Manga and Anime.