Changes

In May 1921, Yanagita took up a job with the Mandate Council (of which Japan was a member) at the League of Nations headquarters in Switzerland. Two years later, when he learned while in London of Tokyo's destruction in the Great Kantô Earthquake, he rushed home. Seeing the destruction, he was inspired to leave his League of Nations job and to devote himself more exclusively to scholarship. That December, he opened a Minzokugaku Symposium or Colloquium at his home. Scholars of Okinawan Studies, along with many others, regularly attended these gatherings. Along with Orikuchi, Yanagita began publishing essays describing Okinawa as representative of Japan's traditional past, or origins, and asserting that the study of Okinawan folklore could reveal much about Japan's history as well. Some of his essays, along with Orikuchi's, focused in particular on the notion that [[Ryukyuan religion]] represented an earlier or original form of [[Shinto]], indicative of just what ancient Japanese faith once was.<ref name=yokoyama/>

In May 1921, Yanagita took up a job with the Mandate Council (of which Japan was a member) at the League of Nations headquarters in Switzerland. Two years later, when he learned while in London of Tokyo's destruction in the Great Kantô Earthquake, he rushed home. Seeing the destruction, he was inspired to leave his League of Nations job and to devote himself more exclusively to scholarship. That December, he opened a Minzokugaku Symposium or Colloquium at his home. Scholars of Okinawan Studies, along with many others, regularly attended these gatherings. Along with Orikuchi, Yanagita began publishing essays describing Okinawa as representative of Japan's traditional past, or origins, and asserting that the study of Okinawan folklore could reveal much about Japan's history as well. Some of his essays, along with Orikuchi's, focused in particular on the notion that [[Ryukyuan religion]] represented an earlier or original form of [[Shinto]], indicative of just what ancient Japanese faith once was.<ref name=yokoyama/>

Yanagita later took a position as an editor at the ''Asahi shinbun'' newspaper.  During this time he criticized not only the fascism of Italy but also the militaristic and totalitarian feelings that were rising within his own country.  He maintained that these values and morals of the imperial government were not the same as those of the common man.  It can be said that in general, while Yanagita made a point of declaring his faith in the imperial system, he disagreed with many of the political and philosophical trends of the age.  But any resistance he showed was carefully tempered, and he never put himself in a position that would endanger his career or livelihood.  After retiring from the newspaper, he spoke no more about politics.</ref>Mori, 104.</ref>   

Yanagita later took a position as an editor at the ''Asahi shinbun'' newspaper.  During this time he criticized not only the fascism of Italy but also the militaristic and totalitarian feelings that were rising within his own country.  He maintained that these values and morals of the imperial government were not the same as those of the common man.  It can be said that in general, while Yanagita made a point of declaring his faith in the imperial system, he disagreed with many of the political and philosophical trends of the age.  But any resistance he showed was carefully tempered, and he never put himself in a position that would endanger his career or livelihood.  After retiring from the newspaper, he spoke no more about politics.<ref>Mori, 104.</ref>   

Throughout his later life, Yanagita remained for the most part somewhat active in folk studies, and in his lifetime he published a wealth of books on many different subjects within the field, which have been collected in Japan in a 36-volume set called ''Teihon Yanagita Kunio shû'' ("Standard Collection of the Works of Yanagita Kunio").  The vast majority of his work, regrettably, has never been translated into English.  Yanagita Kunio died in 1962, aged 88.

Throughout his later life, Yanagita remained for the most part somewhat active in folk studies, and in his lifetime he published a wealth of books on many different subjects within the field, which have been collected in Japan in a 36-volume set called ''Teihon Yanagita Kunio shû'' ("Standard Collection of the Works of Yanagita Kunio").  The vast majority of his work, regrettably, has never been translated into English.  Yanagita Kunio died in 1962, aged 88.