A village riot-extraordinary scenes near Osaka

Japan, Inc., Summer, 2005

The village of Hii-mura, Takaishi (near Hamadera), has been the scene of a general riot, mainly as the result of the superstitious conservatism of some of the inhabitants. It seems that the village has for a long while prided itself upon its immunity from infectious diseases, there having been no cases this summer, while epidemics of different kinds have occurred in the neighbouring rural districts. Recently, however, two young girls, aged 13 and 11 respectively, the daughters of a rug manufacturer, were seized with a suspicious complaint, there being little doubt that the ailment was dysentery. The villagers, rather than have their village lose its reputation, endeavoured to hush up the trouble and to cure the girls without consulting a doctor. Quite by accident the secret was discovered by a policeman, who immediately reported the matter. The cases were diagnosed, and they were declared to be genuine dysentery, the girls being sent to the isolation hospital at Takaishi. The villagers often give considerable trouble to the medical men, the absurd belief being apparently existent amongst them that the inspectors appointed by the authorities are anxious to find reasons for disinfecting the villages. In order to appease the superstitions of the peasants a physician living in the place, and in whom the villagers had perfect confidence, was asked to diagnose the cases, and he declared them to be genuine dysentery. But the people refused to believe this doctor, and invited a physician attached to the Sakai police to make a third examination. He expressed doubts as to whether the disease was as stated by the other medical men (although he afterwards gave it as his opinion that the disease was mild dysentery) and this greatly pleased the villagers, who decided to make an attempt to get the girls out of the hospital and to do everything possible against the authorities.

Some coolies, under the direction of a policeman, had begun the disinfection of the village, much to the displeasure of the people; and when three more policemen, accompanied by another gang of coolies, arrived to complete the work an organised attack was made. Men, women and children, armed with shovels, clubs, agricultural implements, and bamboos, assembled, apparently at a given signal, from all directions. They surrounded the coolies and policemen, and made a general onslaught upon them. The other policemen, seeing what had happened, rushed to the assistance of their colleagues. The crowd became more enraged at this, and some of them began an attack on the newcomers. A general riot ensued and the police were at last compelled to draw their swords, the villagers receiving slight wounds. This scared the others, and the crowd gradually dispersed. Shortly afterwards some eighty constables arrived from Otori, and a number of the ringleaders were arrested.

From THE JAPAN WEEKLY CHRONICLE, July 20th, 1905