Abstract
The number of those who engaged in agriculture in Japan was estimated about 14, 000, 000 before the second World War, but afterwards it rose to 20, 000, 000 for some time and still now amounts to about 17, 000, 000. In such situation, this study aims to make clear through the research on the employment conditions of the members of agricultural households. The researched objects were the members over fifteen years old in agricultural households in a suburban village.
Their labored days on their jobs were calculated from the interview with heads of the households. Then the author tried to pich up the seemingly superfluous labor force among the incomplete and complete unemployed. Twelve persons (4.3%) of 279 over fifteen years old in 70 researched households were considered as superfluous labor force. Those households which absorbed these superfluous labor force were almost middle and rich formers' families whose estates were over one cho. These families has relatively many members or these who engaged in agriculture. Secondly, more superfluous labor force was found among. incompletely unemployed persons then in completely unemployed. Thirdly, in age categories, superfluous population falls almost into the youth under 25 years old and in the old over 50 years old. None of them was in the 30-40 age category Finally it should be noted that all the smallfarmers' families under 5 tan were in half-unemployed conditions. Only one person was found as superfluous abor lforce in this status. But of all working population in this status, the incomplete unemployed persons occupies 40 % and their incomes from their workis very low, so that these families were obliged to reduce considerably the level of livelihood.
In conclusion, though the author found out unexpectedly few superfluous labor force, it proves the unadequacy of the employment scaling to the problem of the superfluous lobor force in Japanese village. We must seek out the superfluous labar force rather in the completely employed persons. In such method, the research will be poly-angled, including the point of view of the level of livelihood of agricultural households or that of the rationalization of the agricultural management.
