割地制度とコモンズ

新潟県西蒲原郡の事例

抄録

　　　　This article considers contemporary conditions of warichi in both irrigation and forests in Nishikanbara-gun, Niigata prefecture, from the perspective of the commons. The warichi , allegedly established in early modern Japan, is a redistribution system of arable land and forest to share risks associated with natural disasters and to pay land taxes proportionally among landholders in each village. Therefore, the warichi is a corporate form of landholdings. This article presents research from the contemporary conditions of warichi in two cases. I found that the warichi formally remains in the mountain forest, while it has been eliminated in the cultivated land holdings. Considering the landholders’ managing irrigation systems today, warichi could be called a commons. The mountain forest can be said to continue to be commons in that ordinary people can access the areas and enjoy climbing the mountain. Furthermore, this research finds that the mountain forest would be better managed by a cooperative network between mountain landholders, local public administration, and volunteer groups.