Abstract
On the basis of the statistical data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on “dekasegi” (Family members leaving home for temporary working) in 1958-67, the author analyzed the annual transition of “dekasegi.” 1. During the period of 1958 to 1967, the number of farmers engaged in “dekasegi” throughout the nation ranged from 200, 000 to 300, 000, and there were no significant fluctuations. When these workers are analyzed by sex, females engaged in “dekasegi” in 1967 accounted for about 8% of all the “dekasegi” workers, and there were signs for a drop in their number.
2. With respect to the types of industry in which they were employed during that period, their number in the construction industry was on the upturn and accounted for 6.5% of all the “dekasegi” farmers. Their employment in agriculture has continuously been on the downtown and dwindled to 2.8 percent in 1973.
3. As classified by economic blocs (Division of prefecture by characteristics of agricultural production or economic situation), it was recognized that the ratio of farmers engaged in “dekasegi” (ratio of temporary workers leaving home to total farm population of 15 of age) increased in the order of suburban areas, farm villages on the flatland, farm villages in the mountains, and mountain villages.
4. Of the farmers engaged in “dekasegi, ” there existed 15, 500 in the two years of 1963 and 1964 who did not intend to return to their home villages. This phenomenon is one of actors associmportant social factors associated with “dekasegi.”
