A Comparative Study of Data in the Kakocho and the Shumon-aratamecho of Ogenj i Temple

Abstract

Data recorded in the religious affiliation rej istration records (Shumon-aratamecho) of Ogenji Temple in 1833 and 1834 was compared with necrology data in the Kakocho for the same time period and geographical area. 1) The comparision was performed utilizing two formulas. In Formula A, the age was used as recorded in the Shumon-aratamecho, whereas in Formula B, one year was deducted from the age given. As a result, it was found that the birthrate and the population pyramid calculated according to Formula B was much closer than with Formula A to the figure in the Kakocho. This is attributable to the fact that data for the Shumon-aratamecho had to be submitted in February, necessitating entering the population changes of the previous year. 2) The death rate in the Shumon-aratamecho was found to be smaller than that in the Kakocho, presumably because the name of everyone who died was recorded in the Kakocho, while in the Shumon-aratamecho the old and the sick were omitted. An alienation of the old which prevailed in those days may be reflect by this. 3) The population figures for women between the ages of 16-20 is smaller in the Shumon-aratamecho than in the Kakocho. Conversely, for the 20-30 year age group, both men and women are more numerous in the Shumon-aratamecho than in the Kakocho.This suggests that women between the ages of 16-20 were live-in domestic helpers in households in town and thus were not able to return home at the time of the religious affiliation census, while men and women aged between 20 and 30 were largely temporary workers who were able to return to their homes in winter and were thus included in the religious affiliation census records.