Abstract
The present inquiry centres round Shimonita-machi which has grown in the the basin of the river Kabura flowing through the south-western part of Gumma prefecture.
The results of the inquiry may be summarized as follows:-
(1) Shimonita-machi, a typical Settlement at valley mouth in the north-western Kanto, has developed as a marke-town, its hinterland being the basin of the river Kabura.
(2) Shimonita-machi is a narrow “Strassendorf” formed on the terraces of the river Kabura.
(3) The market was held nine times a month, and dealings were had between the mountain villagers in the upper basin and the farm villagers in the lower basin.
(4) In the basin of the Kabura and its tributaries, central settlements such as Motojiku, Iwado, Tozawa &c. have developed besides Shimonita and served as the commercial centres in the neighbourhood of the border between Gumma and Nagano prefectures.
(5) At Shimonita were sold “Konnyaku” (the starch of the devil's tongue), lime, &c. which are the specialities of the neighbouring mountain villages, and were bought from the farm villages on the plain rice and other miscellaneous goods.
(6) Shimonita is at present the terminus of the Joshin Electric Railway and the starting-point of the omnibus lines running upwards to the mountain villages and prospers as the economic centre of the neighbourhood.
