INDEX
In the Edo period, Cigarettes were Akin to Modern Smartphones
In the Edo period, cigarettes were all the rage. Various interesting items related to cigarettes, which had taken root in daily life, began to be sold around town, which I felt is almost like a smartphone. Tobacco is becoming almost as much a part of people’s lives as a necessity, and it is being used as a tool to add a touch of fashion and individuality. This is evidence of a culturally rich era. All of the decorative items on display were very stylish. I wonder if it is human instinct to dress up and make oneself look good. It made me think about the reason why we are always trying to look cool.
Now, let’s see. Under the Edo shogunate, tobacco, like vegetables, was produced and sold in various places. The taste differed depending on the land and climate where the leaves were grown, and the way tobacco leaves were chopped differed depending on the store. I wonder if smokers in those days talked about “that tobacco is good there.” Sounds like fun if that’s the case. A major change in distribution occurred some time after the start of the Meiji period.
Civilization was opened to the world, and the country became rich and powerful. During the war period, Japan needed to win over foreign countries and needed money anyway. The quickest way to collect money was taxes. However, it was not possible to levy a large tax on essential things for living, such as food and clothing. So, tobacco was the obvious choice. Cigarettes are a luxury item, but everyone smokes them. If the government managed the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and placed a tax on them, a lot of money could be made. In 1904, the Ministry of Finance established a tobacco monopoly bureau. This brings us back to the beginning of the story! Why tobacco and salt sit together in a museum ? What is hidden is that the monopoly bureau of the Ministry of Finance was in charge of both salt and cigarettes alongside other things. I was surprised to see the salt museum in the same building.
However, I can’t help but think that history is always driven by wars and money. Cigarettes were smoked holier than thou in South America, where they originated. Then, it was discovered by Europeans, introduced to the West, spread throughout the world with the invasion, and came to be controlled by the Japanese government in order to raise money.
The male smoking rate in Japan did not fall below 70% for a decade in the post-war period. It is safe to say that almost all men smoked. Then came the period of rapid economic growth. During this period, the famous cigarette advertising copy that is still famous today, such as “I’m fine today, too, and the cigarettes are good,” or “Punctuation of life,” was made. Labor, money, cigarettes. Working Blues.
The cigarette-smoking god inscribed on a Mayan relief, what do you think? Shall we light one up and discuss it?
