Imperial view and deep bow

―An additional note for “Blind Observer”―

Abstract

　Meiji government utilized so-called "Goshin’ei (Real Figure, Imperial Portrait)" to re-establish Modern Imperial System. That was planned as an image strategy at first. But what was the most useful strategy which gave the absolute authority to Meiji Emperor? I might say it wasn't so important to show the image to Japanese people. The government compelled the Japanese to obey various ceremonies like Reading ceremony of the Imperial Rescript on Education. Such ceremonies usually followed by deep bow were very useful to discipline the Japanese for worship of the Emperor. Therefore looking at the image directly was rather prohibited. We should say such kind of prohibition was the most efficient. The powerful image told the Japanese not to look at, but to bow deeply.

　I’d like to say that we will be compelled to find the same kind of prohibition in the films directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. His film exactly tells us “Don’t look at, just bow deeply.”