This paper aims to analyze the social organization of a Japanese hamlet called Shiraki, located in Tsuruga-Shi, Fukui-ken. The fundamental characteristics of this hamlet is the age-generation-grade system intertwined with branch-family (Bunke) control, retirement (Inkyo) customs and bilateral kinship (Shinrui). In short, all the inhabitants belong to specific groups according to the principle of agegeneration-grade system, such as young (Kodomo-renchu), young adult (Wakarenchu in the case of male, Musume-renchu in the case of female), middle (Oyajira for male and Kakara for female) and old (Jiisanra for male and Baasanra for female). Generally, in the case of male, young adults over sixteen belong to the young adult group, the middle age group consists of heads of families and the old age group consists of those over sixty-one. This social organization functions to sustain itself and insure the continuation of the Shiraki hamlet.
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