Abstract
Infrastructure projects implemented in Japan in the Edo shogunate are said to have built the foundation for the country's present. However, there has not been an exhaustive study based on primary historical sources to clarify how these projects were implemented under the Edo Shogunate.
The present research focuses on the road administration system implemented during the early and middle Edo Shogunate by referring to Tokugawa Jikki, official records compiled by the Edo Shogunate. The study revealed 149 items related to roads. Categorization of these items found that the highest number of 120 items touched on the formulation of rules to determine policies on distribution and transport, as well as maintenance and management of roads. Meanwhile, only 25 items discussed the topic of road construction, namely, the building and repairing of roads.
During the early and middle Edo Shogunate that was studied, roads were maintained and managed but not actively constructed under the direct control of the Shogunate. This indicates that the Edo Shogunate refrained from implementing civil engineering projects for improving transportation systems, ostensibly due to the need to prevent attacks upon the Edo Area and maintain the Bakuhan system.
