Meiroku zasshi explained

Publisher:	Hochisha Company
Language:	Japanese
Country:	Japan
Based:	Tokyo
Founded:	1874
Firstdate:	2 April 1874
Finaldate:	14 November 1875
Finalnumber:	43

Meiroku zasshi (明六雑誌) was a Japanese language magazine which was in circulation between 1874 and 1875 during the Meiji period.

History and profile

Meiroku zasshi was launched in 1874,^[1] and the first issue was published on 2 April 1874.^[2] The founders were the members of Meirokusha, a group of Japanese intellectuals, including Fukuzawa Yukichi.^[3] The publisher was the Hochisha Company, and it was published on a B6 size or A5 size calligraphy paper.^[2] Leading contributors included Mori Arinori, future education minister of Japan, and Tsuda Mamichi.

Meiroku zasshi is one of the earliest publications in Japan which covered writings on Western culture.^[3] Given that it was a publication of the Meiji period it frequently discussed education-related topics in regard to morality in the family as well as in the nation.^[4] Meiroku zasshi sold nearly 3,000 copies in 1884.

Meiroku zasshi was published twice or three times per month and folded following the 43rd issue which appeared on 14 November 1875.^[2]

In 1975 William Braisted published a book on the magazine entitled Meiroku Zasshi: Journal of the Japanese Enlightenment.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Muta Kazue. Marcella S. Gregory. Images of the Family in Meiji Periodicals: The Paradox Underlying the Emergence of the "Home". U.S.-Japan Women's Journal. English Supplement. 1994. 7. 56. 42772076.
2. Web site: Meiroku Zasshi (明六雑誌). Japanese Corpus. 27 September 2021.
3. Teresa Ciapparoni La Rocca. Intersections. Western Presence at Work in Japanese Literary Magazines. Rivista degli studi orientali. 1992. 66. 1/2. 185–191. 41880729.
4. Book: Barbara Molony. Barbara Molony. Kathleen Uno. Gendering Modern Japanese History. 2005. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, MA. 9780674028166. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1tg5pmc. The Quest for Women's Rights in Turn-of-the Century Japan. 472–473. 10.2307/j.ctt1tg5pmc.
5. Edward Beachamp. William Braisted, Meiroku Zasshi: Journal of the Japanese Enlightenment (Book review). Journal of Asian and African Studies. 1979. 14. 1. .