During the pre Meiji Period,
Hokkaido was the area where contact between the Japanese and the
Ezo (A-inu) took place. History shows that the Japanese enjoyed an expansion of their power through this contact while the
Ezo people declined in strength.
The history of the advance of the Japanese and the retreat of the
Ezo is well reflected in the moves of these two races.
These movements can be classified into two main movements. In the first place, the Japanese established a base in the southern part of
Oshima Peninsula and gradually widened their territory. The
Ezo, on the other hand, receded toward the north. Secondly, in propotion to the tendency of the
Ezo being controlled economically by the Japanese, the
Ezo gradually moved from the mountainous area to the sea side and concentrated their settlements in places advantageous for contact.
This paper is an attempt to clasify to what extent these movments had taken place by the first half of the
Bunka period (1804-17) and to show the subsequent regional differences brought about in these changes.
As a result, south eastern Hokkaido can be classified as follows:
1. South of “
Nodaoi” was the settlement of the Japanese. Very few
Ezo lived in this region and Japanese villages were located continously along this coast.
2. In the area between “
Yamakoshinai” and “
Shiraoi” were the coastal villages of the
Ezo which were predominantly the “
Kyosei Buraku” (Proscribed Villages). Ninety-seven per cent of the total villages were located on the coast and the average number of houses per village was sixteen.
3. The entire area of coast forming
Uchiura bay between the area 1. and 2. were settled by both Japanese and
Ezo.
4. In the area between “
Yufutsu” and “
Kushiro”
Ezo villages were located along the river. This area has a heavy predominance of “
Shizen Buraku” (Free villages). In the western part of this area where the number can be counted clearly, ninety per cent of the total villages were located along the river, and the average number of the houses per village was seven.
5. In the area between “
Akkeshi” and “
Nemuro” there were
Ezo coastal villages which were predominantly the “
Shizen Buraku”. [footnote] “
Kyosei Buraku” (Proscribed Villages)……Villages in which the
Ezo were compelled to live by the Japanese.
“
Shizen Buraku” (Free Villages)……Villages in which the
Ezo prefered to live.
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