A Memory of Showa Period and Media

Summary of Special Edition

Abstract

We reached a point to look back at a history after war by passing more

than 60 years after the end of the war. Nostalgia for Showa period recently can

be the one of the example. However, while the image of nostalgic Showa period

is still alive and people comfortably recollect the past, some memory was

pushed away and some memory is meaningly selected. And then, this phenomenon

has not seen only recently.

　　Before the war, during the war, after the war, also Showa period, what

kind of memory has been selected and pushed away. Focusing this kind of phenomenon,

the theme of this special edition gives us some thought of the politics

of the story of Showa period.

　　In addition, these points are focused for the discussion among our academy.

In the spring academic meeting 2009, the title of the first symposium was“ The

memory of Showa period and public opinion or popular sentiments”. Also the

workshops such as“ War and journalism”（ media history academic project） and

“Visual image of ‘the memory of war’ and archive” have held under similar

theme.

　　This special edition has been projected including the study trends above.

6 papers in this journal have been written independently, however, we can find

out some similarity of examining of‘ Showa’ and‘ the booms of Showa’ in the

view point of media study and mass communication study.

　　I wish to activate the discussion in this field after the publication of this

special edition.