Abstract
In Japan the genre of serials, the basic form of stories for newspapers and magazines, was to a great degree modeled after popular stories of the Edo Period. Indeed, popular stories originally written as complete in one issue often changed into serials when they continued more in response to the readers' demand. In book form, like Chinsetsu-yumiharizuki, Shunshoku-ume-goyomi, and Dochu-hizakurige, they were usually published in installments. In this way the tradition of publishing in the Edo Period enabled the modern style of serials to be easily developed in the Meiji Period.
