Abstract
The mountain villages of Japan have been changed into most underpopulated region called “Kaso-region” (“Kaso” means sparsity problem) by the rapid economic growth started after 1955. But, on the contrary, there are a few mountain villages which have shown the development since then.
This paper is to clarify the process of the development in an isolated mountain village of Hinoemata-mura and the factors which affect that process. The results are as follows:
(I) The actual state of the process of the development.
Industrial structure: Before 1950, agriculture rated about 90% of the total occupied population, but, in 1970, 13% of it. On the other hand, the forestry workers in national forest, which were not existed before 1950, has greatly increased during the period of 1955_??_70 (12% of the total occupied population). In 1950, government officials comprised about 2% and service industry (tourist hotel and barber and beauty shops) 4%. But, in 1970, the former rates 27% of the total occupied population, the latter 20% of it. Consequently, in 1970, industrial structure of this village is shown as follows:
primary………23%, Secondary………18%, Tertiary………54%
Land use: The cultivated land which occupied approximately 100 ha in 1960 has been greatly reduced during the period of 1960_??_1970. Nowadays, about 70% of it has turned to be waste land, 3% in nonagricultural use (public service houses, etc), therefore, the acreage of cultivated land is now only 16 ha.
Income level: Before 1955, income level of this village residents was one of the lowest in Japan, but, 1970, it is almost equal to the average in Kagoshima prefecture. Of course, there exist income differentials among the residents.
Because of this changes in economic situation, the population of this village has increased by 6% during the period of 1950-70.
(II) Factors affecting the process of the development.
Internal factors: (1) The positive activities of this local administrative body based on property tax which is acquired from the dam built in this village. (2) Community spirit remained in this village.
External factors: (3) Forestry activities in national forest due to the rapid economic growth of the nation. (4) Evolution of Oze outdoor recreational area.
Of the factors mentioned above, (1) and (4) factors are new and they make the mountain village evolutional, and the author can point out them as the most important factors which explain the change of Hinoemata-mura. The community spirit which has not been considered as a factor of making the mountain village evolutional may be secondary in terms of the change in this village.
In general, transportation factor is important in the development of mountain village. However, it must be noticed that the transportation factor does not play active roles in this village.
