Light-hearted book - Karukuchihon

...A type of popular literature from the Edo period, a book of short, humorous stories. It is also written as 'Otowahon' and called 'Karukuchihon' (light-hearted talk). Over the Edo period, more than 1,000 types were published, introducing tens of thousands of humorous stories.

*Some of the terminology explanations that refer to "light-hearted books" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…江戸時代の庶民文芸の一種で，短い笑話を集めた本。咄本とも書き，軽口（かるくち）本ともいう。江戸時代を通じて1000余種も刊行され，数万にのぼる笑話が紹介された。…

※「軽口本」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報