Script Reform from Within

Abstract

Abstract Given the realities of Japanese literacy reviewed in chapter 2, it should come as no surprise that thoughtful Japanese were concerned with script reform from even before the Meiji Restoration. Nanette Twine (1983, 1991) has amply described the key events, documents, organizations, and personalities connected with calls for script reform of various kinds up to the tum of the century, and, in the case of those who favored a reduction in the number of kanji, down to 1945. (The hundreds of illustrations in Kida 1994 provide a perfect complement to Twine’s narrative and analysis.) Here, we will concentrate on the 20th century, especially on the development of the romanization movement. First, however. we need to supply some background information that Twine does not cover.