Early Meiji Era Research Articles

Changes in the Social Role of Riverside Space Based on Land Use of the Common Place in the Arakawa River in Oasovillage, Saitama Prefecture

In river management, it is important to consider the history and culture of a region, as well as the natural environment of the area. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the history of river usage. In this study, we focused on the common place in riverside space and clarified the history of the social role of riverside space based on land use change.For the survey, we used old pictures and topographic maps. The literature survey ascertained factors of land use change. As a result of the survey,we divided the common place in the target area into three groups: two forests and grassland, according to their land use in the early Meiji Era and altitude. Furthermore, land use change after the Meiji era in the target area differs from these groups. The common place close to the landside was deconstructed, due to the high demand of agricultural development and the influence of infrastructure improvement.Conversely, in the common place near the river way,a forest that was a common place remained until today because of the regulation of agricultural land development and abandoned cultivation.The remaining forest became a nature park, where rare creatures exist and people are in harmony with nature.

Jurisdictional Maps made by ground survey in Fukushima Prefecture in Early Meiji Era

Jurisdictional Maps made by ground survey in Fukushima Prefecture in Early Meiji Era

Historical evolution of modified technology in silk-reeling industry during the early Meiji era: case of Gifu

We empirically confirm the performance and diffusion of technology introduced from developed countries, and then, modified in developing countries. Using plant-level panel data, we focus on the machine-reeling segment with modified technology in Hida and Mino in Gifu prefecture, Japan in the early Meiji period to measure total factor productivity (TFP) growth and estimate production function. The TFP growth of Gifu prefecture’s machine-reeling industry in this era was relatively larger than that in the later Meiji era. This growth was achieved by rapid output expansion observed in Gifu prefecture, especially in Mino. In the estimation results of the production function, estimated parameters of deepening of the joint work; generation of steam, instead of a power source, for boiling cocoons; use of water wheel; and participation in the regional silk-reeling association in Hida are significantly positive as explanatory factors of the TFP. Factors, such as competitive environment and regional production share of cocoon, also have a significantly positive impact on TFP. Due to the flux in a fierce competitive market condition among small-scale plants, the estimated parameter of operational months is insignificant. In the measurement results of technical efficiency using the stochastic frontier model, no difference is found between the production efficiency of modified technologies used in Mino and Hida. In the early stage of industrialization, the private segment improved these modified technologies using region-specific resources through the local government’s indirect support, thus realizing their proliferation.

Mutual Process of Land Use Planning and Port Development in Local Cities Opening Port in the Early Meiji Era and the Late Edo Era

Mutual Process of Land Use Planning and Port Development in Local Cities Opening Port in the Early Meiji Era and the Late Edo Era

高松凌雲と同愛社の事業 : 同愛社設立初期の背景とその活動・運用を中心に

高松凌雲と同愛社の事業 : 同愛社設立初期の背景とその活動・運用を中心に

幕末・明治初期の宣教医の活動――宣教医ヘボンを中心に――

幕末・明治初期の宣教医の活動――宣教医ヘボンを中心に――

Characteristics of settlement space in Yamanakako village, Nagaike district, including changes of roads and regional organization

Yamanakako village promotes community-based town development and regional planning. This study aims to comprehensively grasp the historical features of Nagaike district, Yamanakako village, whether lost or remaining, by focusing on the changes of roads and regional organization, especially Dozoku organization (groups of families joined by blood or close social relationships). Additionally, we clarify Nagaike’s contemporary features. The literature survey, interviews with residents, and analysis of cadastral maps revealed that Nagaike centered around the Muranaka-no-michi road, which led to the neighboring village, and that a radial path network developed because of land ownership in the mountain area. Many of the paths in the mountain area were lost because of changes of livelihood during modernization, but the form of Muranaka-no-michi in the residential area was maintained. Most residences dating to the early Meiji era, including the head houses, remain along Muranaka-no-michi, and the traditional Dondo-yaki event is still held at the Doso-jin, a roadside deity that marks the boundary of the residential area. While many of the historical features related to livelihood were lost, those that are rooted in the culture of the residential area are maintained.

The Role of Government and People to Promote Land Improvement Project in the Early Meiji Era

The Role of Government and People to Promote Land Improvement Project in the Early Meiji Era

明治初期フランス地図測量技術の導入とその後:－陸軍士官学校の『地形學教程』への影響ー

明治初期フランス地図測量技術の導入とその後:－陸軍士官学校の『地形學教程』への影響ー

A Study on Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Translation and Kanji Notation of Foreign Place Names

In connection with Fukuzawa Yukichi’s view of translation, this study examined the Kanji notation in his books written in the early Meiji Era, and compared it with that in other documents. First, place names translated into the same Kanji notations are found in all of Fukuzawa Yukichi’s books, among place names that had comparatively long been translated into Kanji. Second, in each book, translation of one place name into two or three Kanji notations shows the intention to gather various notations together; and on the other hand it demonstrates the view of translation trying to reflect the diversity of Kanji notation. Third, the place names translated by coining Kanji characters represent a positive aspect that it enabled early modern Japanese people to have easy access to the Western world. On the other hand, it shows limitations that the Kanji notations that were coined by excessively relying on the colloquial style did not play a proper role as Kanji characters representing the place names. Fourth, the comparison shows that the two documents have relatively similar notation pattern. However, since there is mixed use of Japanese-style Chinese characters and Chinese-style of Chinese characters even in the same document depending on the translator, it confirms the transitional period of natation of place names.

工藤英一著 『日本キリスト教社会経済史研究 : 明治前期を中心として』, (新教出版社, 一九八〇年二月, 二七八頁, 二〇〇〇円)

工藤英一著 『日本キリスト教社会経済史研究 : 明治前期を中心として』, (新教出版社, 一九八〇年二月, 二七八頁, 二〇〇〇円)

明治初期産業発展の一断面 : 「明治七年府県物産表」による検討

明治初期産業発展の一断面 : 「明治七年府県物産表」による検討

Critiquing Concubinage: Sumiya Koume and Changing Gender Roles in Modern Japan

ABSTRACTIn 1893, Sumiya Koume (1850–1920) wrote an essay for the prominent women’s journal Jogaku zasshi (Women’s Education Magazine) entitled ‘I Recommend Against Becoming a Geisha or Concubine’. In it, she critiqued both roles and exhorted women who were serving as geisha not to become concubines. She did not mention that she herself had worked as both a geisha and a concubine (tekake or mekake). By the time she wrote her essay, she had also served as a political activist as well as a social reformer and missionary. Sumiya’s life sheds light on the transitional nature of the early Meiji era, specifically the period of flux between the formal abolition of concubinage in 1882 and the advent of the state-sponsored ‘good wife, wise mother’ (ryōsai kenbo) paradigm in 1899.

戦前期における森林のレクリエーション利用と国有林 : 明治初期における「官有地公園」と官林との関係を中心に

戦前期における森林のレクリエーション利用と国有林 : 明治初期における「官有地公園」と官林との関係を中心に

明治初年における地方商品流通の変貌過程 : 甲州・東京間の案下=玉川上水ルートをめぐって

明治初年における地方商品流通の変貌過程 : 甲州・東京間の案下=玉川上水ルートをめぐって

明治初年「大大蔵省」の政策立案・意思決定過程

明治初年「大大蔵省」の政策立案・意思決定過程

明治初期横浜居留地の生糸取引における制度とその形成過程 : 『連合生糸荷預所事件』の経済的意義

明治初期横浜居留地の生糸取引における制度とその形成過程 : 『連合生糸荷預所事件』の経済的意義

一枚のスケッチ"Japanische Kuste"から復元されるNetto小坂鉱山への道

一枚のスケッチ"Japanische Kuste"から復元されるNetto小坂鉱山への道

明治初期『小學讀本』初版の編纂に関する再検討

明治初期『小學讀本』初版の編纂に関する再検討

明治初期「會話」科の成立に関する一考察

明治初期「會話」科の成立に関する一考察