The Research and the Method on the Region Studies by Tetsuji FUSE
:Focusing on the Papers Published in the Japanese Association for Rural Studies and the Research in Yubari
2017 Volume 23 Issue 2 Pages 25-35
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2017 Volume 23 Issue 2 Pages 25-35
The purpose of this paper is overviewing the research and the method on the region studies by Tetsuji Fuse. He was a sociologist on the faculty of Hokkaido University and Hosei University. He conducted many sociological studies theoretically and empirically. In this paper, I tried to reflect on his papers published in the Japanese Association for Rural Studies and his research in Yubari city, Hokkaido. As a result, the following points became clear.
Firstly, he thought a great deal of the method of monograph and monography. This point is took over from his teacher, Eitaro Suzuki. Particularly, Fuse referred to his method as “the method of monography on period of Hendo（change）and Henkaku（transformation）”.
Secondly, he valued to connection between the monographic studies and the statistical studies. The problem of selecting the research field was pointed out by Suzuki. Fuse tried to solve the problem, he investigated the whole social structure in parallel with monographic research. Especially, he noticed the Hokkaido society’s character as “testing site of modern Japanese society”.
Thirdly, he emphasized to clarify “logic of life” by analyzing on the peasant’s life and the working class’s life. He thought that sociologist have to learn from peasants and working classes and snuggle up to them.
Fourthly, his research group used the “coding sheet”. Researchers and students in his research group transcribed the memorandum from survey sheets to coding sheets. Researchers wrote a paper using the coding sheets, especially descriptions in the margin of the sheets were useful for researchers.
