Photo/Illutration The first Asahi Shimbun "Hitotoki" column, written by an "ordinary" female reader, ran in the paper on Jan. 7, 1952. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The Asahi Shimbun's "Hitotoki" column runs essays sent in by female readers. A piece that ran in the Tokyo edition on Oct. 20 made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

It was about the writer's grandmother, who sends peeled chestnuts to her every autumn from the family hometown. This year, the chestnuts received were not peeled because the 90-year-old grandmother no longer had the strength in her fingers to do what she's been doing for years.

The writer was deeply moved by the years of love and caring she had received from her grandmother.

The column debuted in October exactly 70 years ago.

The idea behind it was to invite women to contribute essays expressing their thoughts and feelings about their daily lives.

But Japan at the time was a glaringly male-centered society, and some people were said to be openly critical of the very idea of asking "ordinary women with no formal training in writing" to send in their pieces.      

Reluctantly, the paper decided to run essays by professional female writers for a start.

The inaugural column, titled "Daidokoro" (The kitchen), was written by author Taiko Hirabayashi (1905-1972). It was about her recollections of her turbulent years before she finally became able to enjoy cooking.

After about three months, however, contributions began coming in from readers and that put the column on track.

I read some of the early pieces.

In "Denki Sentakuki" (Electric washing machine), the author bemoaned the hardship of having to draw water from the well every day.

"Muimi na Kyushogatsu" (Meaninglessness of celebrating New Year's Day under the old lunar calendar) was penned by a woman who resented being forced to hold New Year's rituals twice every year--one under the modern solar calendar and the other under the old lunar calendar.

Her gripe had very much to do with this entrenched social custom of the era.

Many of the subjects discussed were also timeless. A woman agonized over figuring out how best to deal with her in-laws.

A mother found the encouragement she needed in a simple comment made by her child.

And a woman's letter, addressed to her child who died young, moved me to tears.

Each piece is like a short drama, a crystallization of the breath of daily life.

I would like to thank everyone who submitted those gems over the last 70 years.

And needless to say, my thanks also go to those who wrote pieces but never saw their works in print.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 21

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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