The Construction of Moralistic Values in Hero Shows in Japan

In Japan, hero shows refer to live action performances involving an MC, a villain,and a hero. In these performances, audience participation is an important element that keeps the story moving. Analyzing how the performers and... [ view full abstract ]

In Japan, hero shows refer to live action performances involving an MC, a villain,and a hero. In these performances, audience participation is an important element that keeps the story moving. Analyzing how the performers and audience interact, I explore how heroic morals and gendered personas are communicated and enacted in these shows. As a kid-friendly event, many people go to hero shows as a family outing. I demonstrate that there are gendered moral lessons and social roles that are transmitted through performers' actions and audience participation in these shows. Using participant observation, interviews with audience members and interviews with show producers, I explore how participation in this focused intergeneration segment of Japan's public domain reflects and reproduces conventionalized moralideas, personas and gender role.