This paper aims to explain the time and regional feature of elementary school consolidation process, after regulating the relation of transition of the number of schools and consolidation based on the database about the number of pupils of elementary school and established and closed schools in 1948‐2010 in Chugoku region.
Although the definite number reduction of pupils was observed in city areas, there were comparatively little consolidation of schools until 2010. However, in the mountainous area, the rapid reduction of the number of pupils continued after rapid economic growth, consolidation of elementary schools were not avoided. However, correspondence of regional governments was not equal, there were many governments which streamlined at early stage, and there are some governments which streamlined the small-scale school availing of the merger of Heisei period. Even after the merger of Heisei period, the old administrative boundaries after the merger of Showa period correspond with school zones in 2010, and one elementary school has been maintained fundamentally.
But if the trend in recent years which the number reduction of pupils continues is taken into consideration, the further reorganization will be predicted enough from now on. Therefore, in the regional governments of large area which include the mountainous areas after the merger of Heisei period, by positioning the school reorganization as the part of public-benefit facility reorganization plan, reexamination of the school arrangement plan including the role of public elementary school in the area, pupil's attending-school method, etc. is required for the local community maintenance of the old government area.
