Cultural inheritance by old teller of out-going farming “Dezukuri”

a study on Seinaiji community in Achi-mura Village, Nagano as an ecomuseum

Abstract

Seinaiji district of Achi-mura village, Nagano have been keeping the custom of “out-going” farming called “Dezukuri”. With its steep slopes and deep gorges, it has few patches of plain-land. Under such circumstances, the villagers cultivate on the mountain slope and build a small house in which they stay during summer. But with the development of modern commercial economy and social change, the unique life style has declined with only a few exceptions. This study describes the places where mountain houses were settled, how people managed to maintain them and what is needed as an ecomuseum activity for the cultural inheritance by old peoples who tells stories about the life.