Memory and the transformation of social experience in modern Japan: rethinking the song 'Home'

In modern society, memory is often constructed, and sometimes erased, in co nformity with the political purposes of the nation-state. From this point o f view many historians have analysed the construction of memory. However, c ultural resources such as media and technologies support the concrete forma tion of memory; in other words, we can reconsider the problem of memory in the phase of social experience that is closely connected with the media, te chnologies and the flow of capital. It is this phase of social experience t hat makes possible the political projects of the nation-state. In this arti cle, I consider the songs published in 1910 for musical education at primar y school by the Ministry of Education. The song was considered to be an eff ective strategy for state education, because it is easier for children to l earn and is internalized more directly and unconsciously through the medium of music, than literary texts such as novels, poetry, etc. In 1890, the Im perial Rescript on Education was promulgated as the fundamental principle o f national education. Its main object was to build up the faithful subject of the Emperor system of Japan and musical education was also coordinated w ith this policy. In the society after the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5 disc ipline relaxed among the people and social disaffection increased. The Mini stry of Education songs were designed as a device to reinforce moral educat ion. However, not all of people's memory was edited and manipulated by the government. In the song 'Home' (1914), the scene took on a character of ano nymity. How was this scene deeply impressed on the private feelings of indi viduals? At that time, due to changing social conditions, there appeared an abstract social space constructed from reproducible images and extended ac ross national boundaries. The song 'Home' mobilized the mass public not tow ard specific political goals, but to experience as actual that abstract soc ial space.