Since the 1980s in China, owing to rapid economic development, remarkable regional variations in urbanization and changes in socio-economic structure have been taking place. In this research, attempts are made to analyze the level and causes of urbanization, and show the relationship between urbanization and society and economy. First, I use a measure of urbanization to define the urbanization level of 30 regions, and then integrate these levels into 5 clusters. The degree of urbanization is quite different among the 30 regions. Second, in order to investigate regional economic, I select 12 attributes related to society and economy and summarize them into three common factors, which represent the stage of industrialization, structure of industry and agricultural efficiency. Third, in order to explain the relationship between China's urbanization and its socio-economic structure, I carry out correlation and multiple regression analyses between the variable for urbanization and the three explanatory variables, each representing common socio-economic factors. Finally, the 30 regions are divided into 4 clusters according to the causes of urbanization.

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According to the 1961 Amalgamation Act of Agricultural Cooperative, there were many cases of the amalgamation among small-scale agricultural cooperatives in various regions of Japan. Furthermore, large-scale agricultural cooperatives have been regionally amalgamated since 1990, because the freeing of finance has been developed and the cooperative business has been made worse. If examined this amalgamation in detail, however, there are regional differences in the amalgamation of agricultural cooperatives. In terms of this amalgamation, Hokkaido and Tohoku areas are behind other areas. The authors paid attention to Akita prefecture, where there is few case of large regional amalgamation among agricultural cooperatives, and made clear the factors and regional characteristics on this amalgamation according as the analyses of historical and spatial processes. In Akitaprefecture, the processes of amalgamation among agricultural cooperatives were divided into three stages: the first stage before the mid-1970s, the second stage after the 1990s to the first stage, there were many cases of the amalgamation among small-scale agricultural cooperatives had a heavy debt and their business were going from bad to worse. The amalgamated cooperatives advanced the efficient business with the cutback of officers and the streamlining plan of officers and the streamlining plan of facilities, and provided a plenty of advisory and welfare services for members. In the second stage, there were cases of the amalgamation among agricultural cooperatives in the suburban areas. Although each business of these cooperatives was stable because of making a profit by the credit loan, they were amalgamated with the aim of the industrialization of cooperative business, the enlargement of raising funds, the measures of finance freeing and the development of large regional amalgamation. According to the amalgamation project that agricultural cooperatives plan to be amalgamated to 13 large regional cooperatives by 2000, the control territories of main agricultural cooperatives have been gradually changed some settlements into one municipality with the amalgamation since 1990. In the third stage, there are four amalgamation patterns of agricultural cooperatives in Akita prefecture: the large regional amalgamation, the amalgamation under the municipality as unit, the amalgamation in parts of the municipality as a unit, and the non-amalgamation. Some agricultural cooperatives have been not amalgamated with others since their foundation, because they have made effort to be developed the sustainable management with the intensive production of high-quality rice. It is characteristic of agricultural extension and home life improvement for members. In consideration of above mentioned discussion about the amalgamation of agricultural cooperatives in Akita prefecture, it is meaningless that the large regional amalgamation is developed without the consideration of regional attributes, and it is significant that the individual amalgamation is suitable for various regional circumstances.

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Geographical Studies on international trade are classified into three categories: (1) modeling of world trade patterns, (2) relationships between ports and hinterlands, and (3) international trade as business decision-making. However, there have been few geographical studies on international physical distribution, because geographers in Japan have mainly studied on domestic freight flow. This study aims to discuss why the firms in Taegu mainly use Hakata, Moji, and Shimonoseki Ports, as ports of entry to Japan, by analyzing the location of importers and the assessment by the Taegu firms of Hakata, Moji, and Shimonoseki ports. Data are obtained from interviews with 73 firms in Taegu exporting to Japan, and following three points are analyzed: (1) means of transportation selected, (2) relationships between the locations of importers and the selection of ports of entry in Japan, and (3) relationships between assessment and the selection of ports. The results are summarized as follows: 1. By an ANOVA analysis, the following four points are significantly worked out: (1) the rate of using ports is higher than that of using airports, (2) goods from the Taegu firms are exported to Japan through Pusan port, (3) the linkage between Pusan port and Hakata, Moji, and Shimonoseki ports is stronger than that of between Pusan port and ports in the three metropolitan areas, and (4) selection of transport means (sea or air) is different by final destination. 2. An ANOVA analysis and correlation analysis revealed that (1) correlation coefficient between the ports or airports of entry and location of importers is low and (2) Taegu firms mainly select Hakata, Moji, and Shimonoseki ports, regardless of location of importers. 3. As a result of cluster analysis and multiple regression analysis, it is found out that (1) the assessment by Taegu firms of Hakata, Moji, and Shimonoseki ports is very high, (2) time costs are more highly assessed, and (3) the factors of using three ports are not only shorter time distance from Pusan port and shorter time of custom clearance, but also more frequent shipping services. 4. In conclusion, (1) there is a spatial difference between business transaction and physical distribution, (2) time cost is the most important factor of selecting port of entry, and (3) the linkage between Northern-Kyushu economic Zone in Japan (Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, and Shimonoseki) and Southeast economic zone in Korea (Pusan and Taegu) is strong especially in the aspect of international physical distribution.

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[in Japanese]

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