The Management and the Spatial Structure of Satoyama Landscapes of two Local Communities around 1930 in Shiga Town, Shiga Prefecture

Abstract

In recent years, the new system to conserve satoyama landscape is required. Satoyama landscape was formed until 1960's by local people using local resources in their daily lives. The objective of this study is to clarify the relationship between spatial structure and management by local community. The study areas are two local communities, in Shiga Town, Shiga Prefecture. We set the study time around 1930,because it is possible to analyze the way of fact-finding on the spot and literature and map. As a result there was a system, which managed and formed satoyama landscape by people living in the community. And they were included in the local community by age or by location of residence. Local people were obliged to manage routes which linked each local resource, and on which water or forest resources such as firewood, timber and grass were carried. Holy spaces such as Shinto shrines were located at the junction of each land use and mainly managed by local community. These systems were to form and maintain the satoyama landscape as one unit visually and mentally by the local community.