Studies on the structure and characteristics of rural spaces

The regional characteristics in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Two lowland settlements, two upland settlements, and one seaside settlement are investigated to clarify regional characteristics of rural spaces. The lowland and upland settlements mostly engage in paddy field farming and field farming respectively. The seaside settlement had engaged in a fishery until 20 years ago, but today secondary industrial workers are dominant. Irregularly shaped homesites, roughly managed hedges, and whimsy roads and trails are common only in the seaside settlement, despite its dense population. These characteristics mean that the local people show less care for the land even today because their major concerns had been the sea. There are seven patterns of homestead ; the most abundant is U-shaped pattern, in which a house is at the the bottom and U is open to the south. Every pattern has a largely open south yard. Almost all homesites are enclosed by woodlots, hedges, or fences. Most entries to homesites are always open even if they have a door. Main entry is generally located at the south of homesite, and every main entry connects with a south yard. These are characteristics of entries in the rural areas. When a main entry is at the east or west side of the homesite, the location within that side is very important to the residents. If it is at the southern part, they can get a similar situation to south entrance, and also the advantage of privacy of the yard. Conversely, entry pass near the house they can get a large space for working because an entry pass is shorter and doesn't divide the south yard. Entry pass bordered by a hedge or fence for the first few meters has three meanings, such as to make the east or west side entry similar to a south side one, to cut off some views from an entry to keep privacy of a yard, and to make an entry massive. Comparing a location and structure of entries from these points of view and also the height and type of hedge or fence among settlements, the lowland settlements have closer and more standardized enclosure and more formal entry than other settlements. The homogenity within the settlement is considered a consequence of desire to be similar to others and of a co-operative working system of paddy fi eld farming. Close enclosure and formal entry are considered as a reflection of formal community based on a stable and mature paddy field farming system. Another regional characteristic is that in the upland settlements many farm yards are still open as agricultural working spaces. Conversely, ornamental plantings dominate the yard in the lowland settlements because the popularization of combine and grain-dryer have decreased the agricultural usage of yards.