Literacy and Literature in Osaka, 1890-1940

Studying Japanese regional literatures and their audiences provides a broader perspective on modern Japanese literature and its readerships. This essay defines the region under discussion, Osaka, from 1890 to 1940 and illustrates the failures of its public school system in promoting literacy. The discussion of the various genres developed in Osaka to appeal to a mass audience demonstrates the vital role literature played in advancing literacy. In conclusion, the essay argues that the popular literature created in response to Osaka's unique readership came to influence the mass media of the rest of the country.