Editing Chain letter (section)

==Reasons for Popularity==
The enduring appeal and periodic surges in chain letter popularity have been linked to various factors:
*   '''Societal Anxiety:''' Periods of social unrest or uncertainty are often cited. In Japan, the 1970s Fukou no Tegami boom coincided with events like the [[Yodogo hijacking incident|Yodo-go hijacking]], [[Yukio Mishima]]'s suicide, the [[Narita International Airport residency struggles|Sanrizuka Struggle]], and the [[Asama-Sansō incident]].<ref name="カシマさんを追う_p174"/> Similarly, the 1920s Lucky Letter craze occurred amidst post-WWI turmoil, the [[1918 Japanese rice riots|1918 Rice Riots]], the [[Oomoto|Oomoto]] incident, and leading up to the Great Kanto Earthquake.<ref name="ムー20(11)_p82"/><ref name="ムー20231009"/>
*   '''Psychological Factors:''' Exploiting common fears (misfortune, death, social exclusion) and desires (luck, wealth, connection).<ref name="大衆現象を解く_p124"/> The act of forwarding can provide a temporary sense of control or relief from anxiety, even if illogical.<ref name="朝日新聞20160312m_p3"/> Some analyses suggest Japanese cultural tendencies towards accepting fate might make such letters more potent than in some Western cultures.<ref name="朝日新聞20160312m_p3"/> For children, who lack adult coping mechanisms, forwarding can be a way to displace anxiety.<ref name="朝日新聞20160312m_p3"/>
*   '''Cultural Context:''' In Japan, a strong post-war culture of letter writing, including widespread pen pal activities among students facilitated by organizations like the "Postal Friends Association" (郵便友の会, ''Yūbin Tomo no Kai''), may have provided fertile ground.<ref name="まぼろしチャンネル_200308"/> The rise of [[New Age]] beliefs, occultism, and new religious movements in the 1990s may have coincided with later resurgences.<ref name="歴史読本31(3)_p180"/>
*   '''Ease of Transmission:''' The shift from laborious handwritten copies to photocopies, faxes, and especially near-costless, instant digital forwarding (email, SNS) dramatically lowered the barrier to participation, enabling faster and wider spread.<ref name="中日新聞20050718m_p22"/><ref name="モノと図像から探る怪異2017_p110"/>