Abstract
Tamugimata, Asahi-mura, Higashi-tagawa-gun, Yamagata-ken, is a hamlet with three- or four- storied thatched houses clustering on the western slope of Mt. Gassan. The trait in the structure of these houses had been attracting attention and surveys were made by the author in 1959 and 1960, the report of which was printed in The Journal of Home Economics of japan, 12 (1961).
Recently these houses have been transfigured considerably and further investigations were carried out in August, 1966, and July, 1968, by means of field surveys and interviews.
Through these investigations it was learned that about sixty per cent of thatched multi-storied houses were completely rebuilt or partly remodeled by 1960. The partial remodeling which was made together with the roof transfiguration was found mainly in kitchen, bathroom and lavatory, and also changes were carried out to make bedrooms upstairs.
The houses have been remarkably improved, but there are still many problems to be studied in connection with workshops, drawing rooms, halls, and preventive construction against the damage by snowfalls.
The transformation of the houses has been made mainly because the preservation of miscanthusthatched roof is difficult. But it seems that the change is also due to short durability of wooden buildings, and new modes of living in the village derived by the improved rice cultivation and increased cash income from the sale of pholiota nameko.
