The Undercurrent of Romanticism Continued [Cafe Romanticism 47]

[Cafe Romanticism]
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Continuing from last time, let us look at the hidden undercurrent of Romanticism.

In the post-war Showa era, the literary world was overwhelmingly dominated by realism (naturalism) and the I-novel, which were easy for the masses to understand, while mythic fantasy and Romantic works that had continued since the classical period faded into the background.

Instead, Romanticism survived in the world of entertainment and comics, leading to the flourishing we see today.

Among these, the detective stories (torimonochō) and similar period dramas mentioned last time gained popularity in post-war television dramas, leading to a succession of long-running series. Examples include "Zenigata Heiji," "Wakasama Zamurai Torimonochō," "Momotaro Zamurai," "Ooka Echizen," "Onihei Hankacho," "Toyama no Kinsan," and so on.

In my opinion, the greatest masterpiece of post-war Showa detective stories is likely Shotaro Ishinomori's "Sabutori-mono Hikae."

The scenery overflowing with Edo atmosphere and the illustrations rich in seasonal feeling are particularly magnificent, showing the results of deep study into ukiyo-e and traditional Japanese art. It is a work that makes one feel that this is exactly what the good old Edo atmosphere, which Nagai Kafu and Kiyokata Kaburagi often said was being lost to modernization, must have been like.

Popular comics are released in various editions by different companies beyond the first edition, but for comic collectors, these hardcover collector's editions seem to be the most highly valued.

In addition to such manga, the visuals of period dramas were also meticulously crafted from the early black-and-white film era, and compared to contemporary works made at the same time, the aesthetic refinement is completely different. Japanese aesthetic consciousness was polished over a long history of theater and ukiyo-e, so it is natural that there is a difference between it and contemporary or pseudo-Western urban works.

While there are many other good Romantic comic works, a masterpiece that should be specially mentioned is Osamu Tezuka's "Dororo." This is a Gothic-romantic legendary fantasy set in the chaotic period from the Middle Ages to the Warring States era, but it contains some expressions that might be banned today, so a remake faithful to the original would be difficult.

Then, entering the 21st century, period novels featuring female protagonists who are chefs or shopkeepers began to flourish.

Although these are primarily human-interest stories, they depict incidents and tales occurring within the beautiful four-season life of an ideal town, following the flow of Romanticism since Kido Okamoto.

Among the many popular works, I especially recommend Kaoru Takada's "Mio's Cooking Notebook" and Hisae Nakajima's "Nihonbashi Botan-do: Confectionery Tales."

Both of these series have particularly beautiful descriptions of seasonal Japanese cuisine and Japanese sweets, to the point that I would definitely like to incorporate them into my [Cafe Romanticism]. They are also filled with poetic sentiment, such as incorporating haiku seasonal words into chapter titles and the names of dishes and sweets, or having a Yoshiwara courtesan recite elegant waka poetry.

Since Hisae Nakajima was a food writer in her younger days, the detailed descriptions based on her on-site coverage and real-life experiences are rich in variety. Of course, the core plot of the story is interesting, but more than that, it strongly evokes a longing to live in this beautiful town among these beautiful people myself.

Since these period novels were planned as original paperback releases from the start, I am grateful that they are easy to obtain online even now.

Thus, Romanticism, which survived quietly and modestly in the latter half of the 20th century, has made a spectacular comeback in the 21st century in the fields of anime, games, and the user-submitted novels that Japan should be proud of globally. So-called pure literature, which was realistic and rejected the Romanticism of the Meiji and Taisho eras, dominated the literary world for a long time thereafter, but now it is nowhere to be found.

In the field of classical music as well, the 21st century has seen a re-evaluation of Romantic music, which was once hidden between the Classical period and avant-garde music. Gerald Finzi, who has become familiar in this series, is also a Romantic composer who has only begun to be heard in the 21st century.

I have introduced several times that British Romantic string music is a treasure trove of masterpieces, and Finzi's "Violin Concerto, 2nd Movement" is also a hidden gem. Throughout the movement, a sad yet warm melody unfolds in layers, and the latter half (06:24–08:09) features a mystical structure that seems to explore the depths of the soul, accompanied by a delicate high-pitched solo.

The soloist, Ning Feng, is a talented performer from China who has a large repertoire favored by Romantics, including Paganini, Vieuxtemps, Bruch, and Elgar, in addition to Finzi, and the quality of his performances is high.

It seems that Finzi lived on an apple orchard, where he would spend his time reading the poetry collections and stories he had collected while developing ideas for his music.

Whether in Japan or the West, Romantics who love stories and music that evoke the good old countryside of the 19th century are constantly longing for a beautiful life.

It would be too sad to say that the destination reached by the realism and materialism of the 20th century was, in the end, nothing more than mammonism.

[Cafe Romanticism]
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