The Growing Superstition of Time in Modern Japan

Abstract

In this paper we try to clear what main cause holds and grows Japanese old consciousness even in this highly developed capitalistic period.We observe “Hinoeuma” superstition which women who born in the Hinoeuma year (which rounds once per 60 years) are regard wild, and “Rokuyoh” superstition which tell lucky and evil days. These superstitions were created in the 1700's on the base of naming method which had come from ancient China.In the Hinoeuma year 1906, birth number was down 4.03% from the previous year, and in 1966 the number was down 25.38%. Death rate (per 1, 000 birth) of fetuses (over 4 month of pregnancy) of 1906 was 6.1 over than the average of 1901-1910, and the rate of 1966 was over 16.2 than the average 1961-1970.The influence of Rokuyoh in Sapporo City was the following. The rate of cremation held on the evil days (which appear 4-5 times per a month) to other days were from 10.98% in 1974 to 6.61% in 1980. And the rate of wedding held on evil Sundays in 1980 (9 days) to all Sundays was 6.49%, the rate of lucky Sundays (9 days) was 93.50%.By comparison of other factors, we think that these superstitions are closely related to Japanese employees' belongingness to the enterprises which they are employing.The Japanese unique life-time employment system was created in 1920-1930's and workers can not against even superstitions as irrational customs fearing another employee's antagonism under this system which ties them more closely to the enterprises after 1950's.Thus, these superstitions which seem the most typical expression of Japanese old consciousness are holding and growing by the economical system which big enterprises have mainly created.