Introduction
Chapter 1: Reading about the Senrigan Experiment
Chapter 2: Reading about controversy among scholars
Chapter 3: Reading about the Senrigan craze
The scholars’ views
References
Japanese

Chapter 3: Reading about the Senrigan craze

What was unique about the Senrigan Affair was that newspapers and other media ignited a craze, which led to scientists getting involved. The intensity of society's interest can be seen in the miscellaneous books that circulated at the time. In Chapter 3, we would like to introduce some of the books that deal with clairvoyance and look into the social situation of the time.

Practicing Senrigan?

The newspapers at the time reported day after day that clairvoyants were appearing in many places, and people wanted to acquire clairvoyant abilities themselves. There are still materials available that specifically introduce practice methods for clairvoyance. The content varies from simple how-to books to full-fledged spiritual disciplines.

6) Ed. Shimpijutsu Kenkyukai, Jikko Jizai Senrigan Dokushu, Seihokan, 1913. [特102-693]

Judging from the many advertisements at the beginning and end of the book, it was probably a popular book for boys. In the beginning of the book, it says, “This book is written with the responsibility to make it practicable for everyone, just as the title implies, to learn the secret of Senrigan with a single reading.” It instructs convincingly: “In the morning, soak a poultice in tepid water immediately after getting up, rub your upper half of the body during the winter months and your whole body during the summer months. When you have finished, take five or more deep breaths with your full strength as appropriate.” It says "A child can do clairvoyance,” and continues to the punchline, “Except for those who are foolish in spirit. Hahaha. I beg your pardon.”

The application of Senrigan

Now, if you were to successfully acquire clairvoyance, what would you do? You might contribute to science, help people, and if you do it right, maybe even make some money. These are the applications of clairvoyance.

7) Kigai Itsujin, Souba Hisshou Senrigan, Shoubunkan, 1911. 4. [特49-50]

This is a book about making a profit in the market by using clairvoyance. It is subtitled “透視的確 (Toshi Tekikaku)” (accurate clairvoyance) rather than “投資適格 (Toshi Tekikaku)” (investment grade). The contents are explained starting from the “宇宙精神 (Uchu Seishin)” (cosmic spirit) and it is recommended to acquire the “相場禅 (Souba Zen)” (market speculation Zen). Although it seems to be biased towards spiritualism, the book also includes an appendix titled “My clairvoyant view of the rice market this year,” which includes monthly rice market forecasts and is practical. Now, did the author's clairvoyant eyes hit the nail on the head? The following documents show the statistics of the rice futures market in 1911. If you're interested, please verify it. (Ed. Ookurasho Rizaikyoku, Kin’yu Jiko Sankousho, 1913-1925. [39-80])

Senrigan magic trick

It seems hard to acquire psychic powers. But if it's a magic trick, maybe you can master it. There were scientists who criticized clairvoyance as being a magic trick, and a book was written to take advantage of this criticism and show a way to perform clairvoyance by a magic trick.

8）Ed. Sanyodo, Saishin Hiho Dai Kijutsu, 1911.3. [特53-527]

As the title suggests, this is a book of magic tricks. Of the 51 tricks introduced in total, the last one is “How to guess the characters written by a person (Senrigan).” It says “This method is the most interesting and could be called ‘Senrigan,’ which is in fashion these days. If you perform it in front of a large number of people, you will be appreciated. It is a novel and eccentric magic trick.” Roll up a piece of paper on which the audience wrote letters, throw it on a paper marked “東西南北天地左右 (Tozainamboku Tenchisayu)” (East, West, South, North, Up, Down, Left, Right), and make a record of which direction it rolled. While repeating this several times, replace the rolled up paper with another one and secretly unfold the real paper to check the letters inside. Replace the paper again, explain the record of which direction it rolled plausibly and guess the letters you secretly checked. It notes “You should be careful to do it quickly not to let people know how to do it.” It seems to be difficult to do dexterously. There is also a book of magic tricks (Ed. Nakada Masakichi, Senrigan: Ateji Tekichu, Nakada Kinkodo, 1911.7. [特28-742]). The gimmick in the arrangement of the characters enables you to guess the one the audience have chosen from among the kanji on the page. It says in addition, “This book is the perfect substitute for a calligraphy manual because it is written by a certain calligrapher,” killing two birds with one stone.

Parody novel

Parody novels and plays based on the Senrigan affair were also written.

9）Yachiyo and Gengetsu, Wagahai Wa Senrigan, Tanaka Shoten, 1911.5. [特13-204]

This is a parody novel of Soseki's Wagahai Wa Neko Dearu. The setting is that Wagahai's wife (a cat) has clairvoyance. It says, “A peony is a peony even when it blooms alone, it is no different than a clairvoyant being a clairvoyant even if it has four legs or is a cat. As Dr. Fukurai says, it is a national treasure,” “I am a missus, the wife of the familiar Natsume cat,” “In recent years, the term ‘Senrigan’ has become so prevalent that every cat and ladle (every Tom, Dick and Harry) have come to call themselves clairvoyant. Like many others, I have decided to join in.” Author Okada Yachiyo (1883-1962) was a novelist and playwright. She was the younger sister of the director Osanai Kaoru, who led the Shingeki movement, and the Western painter Fujita Tsuguharu and the dance critic Ashiwara Eiryo were her cousins. She married Okada Saburosuke, a Western style painter. She joined the Seitosha of Hiratsuka Raicho. Together with Hasegawa Shigure, she launched the first issue of Nyonin Geijutsu (Women's Art) in 1923.

10）Sakaguchi Yusai, Senrigan no Yurai, Tokyodo, 1911.3. [特22-784]

This is a play based on the Senrigan affair. Kofune Chizuko (Mifune Chizuko), Marugame Ikuko (Nagao Ikuko), and Bachelor Tsuji (Bachelor Fuji) appear under changed names. It is amusingly adapted based on real people, and we can see the influence of the newspapers that reported scandalously on the Senrigan affair (the subtitle of the book is “Confusion in the academia,” and the scandal was serialized in the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun under the same title). For example, in “The Scene of Kofune Chizuko's Suicide,” there is a line that says, “By the way, Chizuko, as I have been talking about these past few days, your father has been very enthusiastic, and I would like to know as soon as possible whether I can make money by clairvoying the market, or clairvoying the mountains for coal veins.” This suggests this scene was based on a report that attributed Chizuko’s suicide to her relatives forcing her to use clairvoyance in order to make money. In the final scene, Marugame Ikuko, who had a mastery of the martial arts (influenced by reports that Ikuko was born into a family of martial arts teachers), captures the bad guys who are trying to kill Senrigan. Since Nagao Ikuko died of illness the day after the book was printed (February 26, 1911), a different ending might have been made if the publication had been delayed.

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Scholar’s views