Abstract
This paper inquires into what has come in rural areas and what has changed rural societies in Hyogo Prefecture in recent years. We concentrate on the industrialization, decrease or increase in the number of inhabitants, and urban-rural migration which have had great effects on cities and villages.
We analyze social changes and characters of three areas. At first, we focus on the effects of rapid decrease in the number of inhabitants in a village among the mountains, Muraoka-Town. The presence of a primary school and a junior high school had the key to social bonds of the inhabitants until they have been closed because of a lack of students. Nowadays some plans of infrastructure and social gatherings are realized. Next we illustrate some effects of industrialization in a case of rural society in Himeji-City. A gigantic ironworks has a great influence upon its neighboring areas. Increasing number of its employees settled themselves in these areas until it began to execute severe cutbacks in personnel. At last we make a report of effects of rapid increase in the number of inhabitants in Sanda-City. Neighborhood association changed its agreement in order to organize newcomers into its body without difficulty.
Conclusively we suggest new directions of these areas and show how we can realize new relationship between rural and urban societies.
