Why?
Although Shikoku insisted that impromptu work with Tōge resulted in the most effective street posters, it is important to recognize that their work, no matter how spontaneous it appeared, was grounded in established theories and methods of art. Drawing on his experiences in the Soviet internment camps from 1945-48, Shikoku published articles in the Our Poems’ journal about art as method for social engagement and democratization of art. He explained how to write poems suitable for reading aloud at street protests (“avoid overly complicated rhythms” “appeal to the heart more than to the mind”); best practice for chanting at protest marches; and a “how to” for tsuji-shi (street poems). Shikoku urged the circle to “appeal to the people (minshu) directly with poems and pictures, rather than distracting them with [elite] notions of literature and art.”