ABSTRACT
Early Meiji-era religious street performers faced assaults on multiple fronts. The nation, so most Meiji politicians and intellectuals contended, needed to eliminate vulgar and irrational practices and purge itself of the peregrine creed of Buddhism. Laws proscribing sects and religious activities aligning poorly with the ideals venerated by the Meiji state followed hard and fast. Mikawa manzai sought to ride out the wave of Meiji in the old vessel supplied by the aristocratic Tsuchimikado house. Meiji legislators also cracked down on gmune inns, for these too might shelter real or potential fugitives, thieves, or improperly documented riff-raff, whether camouflaged as musicians, pilgrims, or something else. On 1871/4/18, Niday had sought to place the pestiferous occupation of begging at arm's length by explaining that after the Meiji Restoration street begging had been expunged from his roster of twelve now eleven official arts. Yashi did not, of course, emerge entirely unscathed from the purgatory of Meiji-era reforms.
