Is the 'Shin' in Oshin the 'Shin' of Perseverance?
The photos posted were cited from an article by the Jomo Shimbun. https://www.jomo-news.co.jp/news/domestic/culture/285440
Watching while observing
Last week, I mentioned that 'watching while observing' means looking at things critically. This does not mean 'criticizing.' It means examining everything, including both the positives and the negatives. And, thanks to the tool that is the internet, it has become easier to 'examine' things.
The 'Shin' in Oshin is the 'Shin' of perseverance
Now, about Oshin. Oshin was received enthusiastically not only in Japan but all over the world, especially in Asia. In Iran, it is said that the viewership rating exceeded 80-90% (the figures varied depending on the source). (Even in Japan, the peak viewership rating at the time was a staggering 62.5%!)
Why is it so popular?
When I was a child, I heard the phrase, 'The 'shin' in Oshin is the 'shin' of perseverance.' I think it meant that the protagonist, who continued to work hard honestly without giving up no matter what adversity she faced, was a role model for us. It was a message to 'persevere.' That must have resonated with people.
The thoughts of Sugako Hashida
I also thought that way. I feel that children in the Showa era were raised with the idea that 'perseverance is important.'
However, when I 'watched while observing'—that is, when I 'examined' it—I learned a shocking fact.
Sugako Hashida, the writer of Oshin, flatly denied that 'the 'shin' in Oshin is the 'shin' of perseverance.'
The following is a quote from Wikipedia.
Although a phenomenon emerged where people called for perseverance, saying 'the 'shin' in Oshin is the 'shin' of perseverance,' Hashida called for self-restraint, stating, 'That is not a drama about perseverance.'
The origin of the name Oshin is said to be various 'shin's' such as 'belief (shinjiru), conviction (shinnen), heart (kokoro), perseverance (shinbo), core (shin), new (shin), and truth (shin),' and Hashida stated, 'I named her that because I thought that while Japanese people have become wealthy, they may have forgotten various 'shins' in exchange.'
Oshin's birth year and Emperor Showa's birth year are both 1901 (Meiji 34). This was an intentional setting by Sugako Hashida, who said, 'I feel like I wrote this drama because I wanted Emperor Showa to watch it. That is why I made Oshin's birth year the same as His Majesty's, 1901.'
Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone compared himself to two others, saying, 'Oshin, Yasuhiro, Takanosato,' and used it as a self-admonition to endure the confusing political situation. 'Takanosato' refers to the sumo wrestler Takanosato Toshihide, who was promoted to the 59th Yokozuna at the age of 31 and achieved a perfect record in his first tournament as a new Yokozuna; he was nicknamed the 'Oshin Yokozuna' because of his image as someone who overcame hardship to be promoted.
It is said that Emperor Showa also watched the serial TV novel, and when he watched 'Oshin,' he commented, 'I did not know that the people were suffering in that way.' [24]
Thanks to 'watching while observing,' I was able to gain a new perspective. I never imagined that Oshin's birth year was set to be the same as Emperor Showa's! And it is fascinating that His Majesty actually watched it, and that then-Prime Minister Nakasone compared himself to Oshin to get through the political situation.
I am someone who loves these kinds of small discoveries. What is truth? Where is my own standpoint?
The 'shin' in Oshin is 'various shins'! It's not just the 'shin' of perseverance! Have a great day, everyone!