2020 Volume 15 Issue 2 Pages 189-199
Various theories have been proposed as model cases for geographic research on new field development. The Senchono development is one of the early examples of new field development in the Musashino upland. Studies have attempted to understand the Senchono development from the perspective of planned land allocation, land use, land productivity, and the role of feudal landlords. However, they did not mention the actual involvement of the shogunate in the development. In this study, we investigated the detailed history of the shogunate retainers who migrated to Senchono to clarify the actual participation of the shogunate. The results showed that the main actors can be classified into three functional groups: 1) the governor and agents; 2) experts in surveying and construction; and 3) experts in falconry and falconry field management. Based on these results, we conclude that the Senchono development was carried out with the explicit involvement of shogunate technocrats’ migration.
