Spatial changes of Tsukigase plum grove during the Meiji and Taisho eras

Abstract

This article presents the spatial changes in Tsukigase plum grove, which would have changed considerably due to the decline in demand for ‘Ubai’ (a type of plum artifact) after the beginning of the Meiji era. The distribution of plum grove at the beginning of the Meiji era is shown in the 1887 map, and that of plum grove during the Taisho era is shown in the 1921 map. By overlaying these maps and the topographic map on the GIS, changes in plum distribution at Tsukigase from the early Meiji to the Taisho era are clarified. Significant plum losses occurred in Nagahiki, Momogano and Tsukise, while losses in Oyama and Dake were smaller. While plum trees were shrinking, the number of visitors has increased since around 1885. However, from the perspective of visitors, it may be said that efforts to keep the plum trees along the main road to visit and in the view range from major viewpoints might keep the Tsukigase plum grove worth visiting until the time of Taisho era.