80219-0019 - Man Wasting Time

Illustration of a man in his room with a massive number of cigarette stubs. Laying in his bed, he seems startled by the peach colored sky of the sunset, announcing the end of the day. Three birds can be seen in the sky shouting ‘Aho’. This sounds like a bird shriek, but also means ‘idiot’.

Postcard published by the Kokkei Shimbun (滑稽新聞社発行) in 1907 (Meiji 40). The satirical publication was founded in 1901 (Meiji 34) by Osaka-based journalist Miyatake Gaikotsu (宮武外骨, 1867-1955) whose real name was Kameshiro Miyatake (宮武龜四郎).

Between May 1907 and June 1909 (Meiji 42), Kokkei Shimbun featured a supplement named Ehagaki Sekai (絵葉書世界, The World of Illustrated Postcards). Each issue contained 30 postcards, many giving salty social commentary. In total 26 issues were published, this card was published in Volume 6.

Under pressure from the authorities, Miyatake shut down the Kokkei Shimbun in 1909, ending it with a “Suicide Issue.”

Caption: アホー (Aho) — Idiot
Title: 宵にチラリ (Yoi ni chirari) — A fleeting glimpse of the early evening