The Fukurai affair

Abstract

The history of psychology in Japan from the late 19th century until the first half of the 20th century did not follow a smooth course. After the first psychological laboratory was established at Tokyo Imperial University in 1903, psychology in Japan developed as individual specialties until the Japanese Psychological Association was established in 1927. During that time, Tomokichi Fukurai, an associate professor at Tokyo Imperial University, became involved with psychical research until he was forced out in 1913. The Fukurai affair, as it is sometimes called, was not documented in textbooks on the history of Japanese psychology prior to the late 1990s. Among earlier generations of Japanese psychologists, it has even been taboo for discussion. Today, the affair and its after-effects are considered to have been a major deterrent in the advancement of clinical psychology in Japan during the first half of the 20th century.

The power within: Mass media, scientific entertainment, and the introduction of psychical research into China, 1900–1920

“…It was during his experiments with the Japanese medium Nagao Ikuko (1871–1911) that Fukurai discovered nensha (thoughtography), the ability to imprint mental images onto photographic plates. Although Fukurai's experiments caused much controversy and eventually forced him to resign from his academic position, his lifelong commitment to studies of telepathy, clairvoyance, and thoughtography, as well as his close engagement with the popular press, turned him into an international reference in psychical research (Nagayama, 2005; Takasuna, 2012; Wu, 2020).…”

“…Others applauded Fukurai's experiments with the two daughters of an amateur hypnotist, both of whom could use their psychic powers to diagnose illness, see through people's bodies, and heal the sick (Zhang, 1913b). In contrast to the attacks Fukurai and his subjects would eventually suffer in the Japanese press (Takasuna, 2012), Chinese newspapers hailed them as examples to be emulated. The fact that the most accomplished Japanese mediums were women also drew the attention of Chinese feminists, who saw this as a resourceful field for modern Chinese women to exploit.…”

Японские Гадания И Их Истоки

“…Предсказатели же способны читать данные символы, выстраивая из них полноценно предсказание. Любопытно, что сам иероглиф «боку» (卜) -в древние времена обозначал трещинки, возникающие во время гадания на черепашьих панцирях [4].…”

“…«Со:» (相) -гадания этой группы основываются на переплетениях судеб, отражающихся на конкретном человеке или окружающем мире. К подобным предсказаниям относятся: хиромантия, физиогномика, трактование сновидений, искусство Фэн-шуй, а также гадания, связанные с выбором благоприятного места для строительства [4].…”