Age-Grading in Japan

Abstract

T HE emphasis upon age in Japanese culture has long been noted by Western observers. Numerous references to this emphasis may be found in both implicit and explicit form in Western accounts of historical and modern Japan. The subject of emphasis upon age as manifested in age-grading and age-classes, although virtually absent from Western publications, has in recent years received attention from Japanese social scientists. Although no comprehensive study has as yet emerged in Japanese, present accumulations of data appear to indicate that practices of age-grading and the existence of certain formalized, named age-classes were common if not general among the peasantry of Japan in the past. An attempt will be made here to review and appraise the data on this subject presented in such works by Japanese scholars as are at hand. To the knowledge of the author only one American publication (Matsumoto 1949) deals with age-grading in Japan-and only peripherally. T. Omachi and K. Segawa, who are among the Japanese social scientists interested in this topic, both state that their research in this field has just begun (personal communications). Data are also drawn in part from the author's field work in Japan. Practices of age-grading which appear to be very ancient still exist in a number of rural communities of Japan. Of the formalized age-classes which once existed, however, only those composed of young men and young women are common today. Present-day communities which retain more or less clearly defined age-classes applying to all persons are uncommon, and such communities are usually isolated geographically from urban centers. Only vestiges of age-grading practices remain in the more modernized and urban areas, with the exception that age-classes for young, unmarried persons exist in communities which can be called neither backward nor isolated. Clearly defined age-class systems covering the whole life span of individuals appear to have become relatively rare by the end of the nineteenth century even in rural Japan, where ancient customs have lingered the longest. There is, however, a quantity of evidence of their former widespread existence. Material at hand on past or present practices of age-grading covers a wide area of Japan, all of the major islands except Hokkaido (on which the author has no data whatever), as well as the Ryukyu Islands and the Island of Tsushima in the Japan Sea. A description of age-grading customs as they appear to have existed in much of Japan until a period perhaps less than a century ago will be attempted here. In some instances, as may be noted, the practices continued until a much later date or exist today.