THE STUDY OF KAITO

Abstract

In the districts surrounding the Yamato plain there exist social groups called by the name of Kaito. Those social groups, although they bear one and the same name, are not necessarily of a uniform character.
1. The Kaito forming Oaza (communities) of Tsugeno Village located on the Yamato plateau are strongly independent, each Kaito having its own temple, observances, and property. They show capacity for strong tribal unity.
2. An Oaza of Nikaido Village, located on the flat stretch of land of the Yamato plain, is also divided into 3 or 4 Kaito. In this instance, however, a Kaito is the smallest, territorial group that shows sociality.
3. Another Oaza of Nikaido village is made up of 2 or 3 Kaito which are away from and independent of each other.
These differences in character among Kaito seem to be due to differences in natural and social circumstances, especially to the facility or difficulty of communication, distances from metropolises and the resultant variety in speed of undergoing social change.