| Publication |
2011.
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| Summary/Abstract |
When narrated by children, social issues achieve new emotional meanings. A prime example of such a narration is the transmedia 'homeless student' phenomenon. The 2007 autobiographical novel Homuresu chugakusei (Homeless Junior High School Student) by comedian Tamura Hiroshi sold millions of copies and was adapted into television drama, film, manga, children's books and spoofs. Tamura's brother Ken'ichi retold the story in Homuresu daigakusei (Homeless University Student), also televised. The Tamuras make visible the homeless who are often overlooked. Yet their goal is not to promote awareness of diverse homelessness during economic recession but instead to inspire readers and make them appreciate the value of home. I read Homeless Junior High School Student alongside texts that present urban homelessness as an antidote to excesses of middle-class society. I question the impact of these uplifting accounts on public perceptions of poverty. I argue that Homeless Junior High School Student and related texts can be read as a dominant strand of popular culture that promotes the family as the backbone of Japan and the sole unit of care.
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