The Genealogy and Memorandum of Practical Rural Sociology in Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku District, Japan

Abstract

　　　This paper, “The genealogy and memorandum of practical rural sociology in Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku District, Japan”, is divided into two parts. In the first part, I will trace the genealogy of empirical researches of the postwar era, which were conducted by Kitano Seiichi, Naitô Kanji, Yamamoto Yôzô, Suzuki Hiroshi. Then, I will explain how these traditions of research attitudes are succeeding and influence regional sociologists of our time who are doing research in Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku districts. In the second part, “The memorandum of practical research approach in rural sociology”, I will explain how, and why, my unique research style was born. By describing my research history and “Type-T village inspection,” which is developed from my research, I want to show the reality of a practical research approach, which is explained in connection with the process of re-opening primary schools in ultra-under populated areas, and its original intention.