The Case of Katsugoro’s Past-Life Memories: An Analysis of the Value of an Official Edo-Period Record Concerning Reincarnation

Abstract

The case of Katsugoro’s past-life memories is a factual event recorded during Japan’s Edo period. Around the year 1822, this incident, involving a young boy who claimed to be able to remember a previous life, garnered significant attention from all social strata in Edo society, including the Imperial Court. The investigation into the facts was meticulously documented in writing by scholars at the time. This record was later translated into English, and it was this translation that inspired Professor Ian Stevenson of the University of Virginia to commence his research into the phenomenon of children’s past-life memories from around the world. This article aims to present this Edo-period account of past-life memory to scholars and interested individuals for the study of Japanese perspectives on death and the afterlife. Furthermore, it seeks to analyse the value of this type of documentary literature from various perspectives. The value of this record lies in its credibility as an ancient document, having been recorded by the ruling class and scholars of the Edo period, and its presentation of data reflecting the society and culture of the Edo era. The account reflects the love and relationships within families, concepts of Buddhism, and the beliefs of the Japanese people of that time concerning the cycle of rebirth, as well as their customs and rituals.