地方分権下の共同体自治をつくる民俗文化の伝承と集落行事の役割

―読谷村の伝承組織と集落行事を事例として―

抄録

  This article examines and analyzes the possibility of regional community under decentralization, by focusing on the cultural aspects of Okinawa society. Okinawa has exceptional circumstances for the following reasons. First, Okinawan society has been created in each small scale regional community, called “Shima”, based on it's traditional history culture and sensitivity, cooperation, collaboration and solidarity. Second, the history and culture of each community have “the universality of time”, it is only accepted in the local area, not worldwide. Third, regional communities have developed the invested the self-governing has the necessary individual consciousness to lay the groundwork for social participation, connecting government to the inhabitants, so that local government may be effective.

  For the reasons stated above, Okinawan regional communities that have the individuality, “the universality of time” and one self-governing, have defended their lives against serious problems, including military affairs, community development and the peace movement. The small scale regional community should allow for move individuality and variety than has been the case in Japan outside Okinawa. Consequently, it is necessary to rebuild the base of regional community, in order to conquer the modern dehumanized society. Therefore this example of regional community of Okinawa holds important lessons for the decentralization of Japan today.