Abstract
Annaka-syuku was one of the post stations on the Nakasendo highway in Tokugawa days. The villages adjacent to the post office were organized and compelled to furnish horses and men on demand. Attached to Annaka-syuku were 19 villages as “zyo-sukegô” (regular sukego*), such as Kôbetto-mura. This Sukegô system. interfered with farming, causing land to be wasted and rendering population stationary.
This paper deals with certain problems concerning the rural po-pulation during the late Tokugawa days (1839-72 A. C.), especially the cause of depopulation due to the Sukegô system.
I take pleasure in recording here the kindness with which invaluable help was given me by Mr. S. Arisaka and Mr. S. Yasuda, headmand of Annaka-coati and others in the course of my studies in this connexion.
*An olden time sort of supply and relay service with horses, etc. for travellers on highways.
