Characteristics of settlement space in Yamanakako village, Nagaike district, including changes of roads and regional organization

Abstract

Yamanakako village promotes community-based town development and regional planning. This study aims to comprehensively grasp the historical features of Nagaike district, Yamanakako village, whether lost or remaining, by focusing on the changes of roads and regional organization, especially Dozoku organization (groups of families joined by blood or close social relationships). Additionally, we clarify Nagaike’s contemporary features. The literature survey, interviews with residents, and analysis of cadastral maps revealed that Nagaike centered around the Muranaka-no-michi road, which led to the neighboring village, and that a radial path network developed because of land ownership in the mountain area. Many of the paths in the mountain area were lost because of changes of livelihood during modernization, but the form of Muranaka-no-michi in the residential area was maintained. Most residences dating to the early Meiji era, including the head houses, remain along Muranaka-no-michi, and the traditional Dondo-yaki event is still held at the Doso-jin, a roadside deity that marks the boundary of the residential area. While many of the historical features related to livelihood were lost, those that are rooted in the culture of the residential area are maintained.