Abstract
The Danshukai, the largest self-help group for alcoholics in Japan, maintains a rule known as "iippanashi,
kikippanashi" (literally, just say and just listen). This prevents attendants from direct responses including criticism
and interrogation, and is believed to secure attendants' freedom of narration. However, it remains unclear how this
rule binds attendants to keep the norms required for alcoholics. We conducted a series of participatory observations
in four Danshukais, and analyzed irregular forms of narration. We identified two aspects of deviation of norms: (1)
Attendants can try to correct other's recognition or judgment about some issues that are not necessarily stipulated in the
cord of the Danshukai, but that can lead participants to drinking or destabilize a participant’s identity as alcoholics.
(2) On the other hand, the criticism and interrogation were always palliated by altering narrative structures and
components. Respondent narratives were modified in terms of their themes, subjects, agents, and contents, while
tones of criticism and directness were weakened.
