On October 23, 1954, Maemoriyama Communal Farm was established by communists who had returned from China a year before. The Farm is located in the national forest in Matsuo-mura, Iwate Prefecture of northern Japan. It is known as one of the Post-War Reclamation Settlement, but there are significant differences between Maemoriyama Farm and other farms with regards to spheres of management, ownership, community life, social and political activity, social organization, and so on. Their uniqueness was largely influenced by the Communist Party of China which made it possible for new farms to be established even under difficult circumstances and situations.
The main purpose of the present study is to explain the uniqueness which exists in the organization and membership of the Maemoriyama Communal Dairy Farm and to analyze its managerial transformation. The author used the following methodology: 1) interview and observation 2) statistical analysis 3) analysis of organisations.
After World War II, Japan was confronted with numerous social problems; among them shortage of food, unemployment, demobilization, and repatriation called for Governmental intervention on an emergency basis. Then the Government declared “The Emergency Outline on the Operation of Reclamation”. Accordingly on November 9, 1945, a plan was chalked out to reclaim 1, 550, 000ha of land and to enable a million pioneers settle therein. Excepting Hokkaido, Iwate prefecture was the most important place, where 100, 000 ha of land was earmarked for reclamation for 10, 000 households. Spreading over almost all of Iwate prefecture, Such settlements were established encompassing 600 meters for each (Figure 1).
In the beginning, Maemoriyama Farm faced a harder situation than any other reclamation settlement. Obviously it was true that their goal was to establish a model communist farm as in China, and for this cooperation between them was considered very important to fight against hardness. This reclamation settlement drew many advantages through their cooperation, such as raising funds, efficiency of the reduced budget, and so on, which contributed to the enhancement of management.
But Maemoriyama Dairy Farm is now finding it difficult to maintain the communal farm, especially the community life. Previously the Farm experienced a crisis and consequently the question of its dissolution arose. The leaders held several general meetings including every member of Farm and to discuss the problems, but everybody disagreed with the notion of dissolution.
To sum up it is fair to say that the first generation of Farm settlers had a democratic character and a strong attachment to ideology and the common goal. The second generation, however, did not inherit the traditions of the earlier, and, in consequence, the Farm transformed significantly and ultimately the community life was dissolved.
On the other hand, Maemoriyama Farm has the character not only of communism but also the Japanese traditional communitys. Unfortunately many of these character strength's have weakened during modernization, but the community will remain the important concept for the future society.
抄録全体を表示