“Inferior Class” and Class-Consciousness Appeared in 1870s’  Popular Newspapers

Abstract

　This paper aims to clarify class-consciousness and its changing process

appeared in popular newspapers in early modern Japan. The research is based

on a study of the /Yomiuri Shimbun/, /Tokyo Eiri Shimbun/, /Kanayomi Shimbun/

and some other newspapers in 1870s.

　　Until 1877, in the trend of civilization, writers and contributors of popular

newspapers had admonished urban people who were mainly comprised of artisans

and rickshaw drivers. But from mid-1877, as the trend became weaker, the

media began to consider it unnecessary to admonish them anymore, and started

to call them“ inferior class”