The Class System and Agrarianism Bias in 18-19th Century Japan

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870138
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Japanese history; Agricultural science in rural society and development
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: TOISHI Nanami 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科, 講師 (20622765)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 百姓 / 身分制度 / 穀物生産 / 農本主義 / 日印比較 / 百姓株式 / ワタン体制 / ミクロ経済学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objective of this research is to explore how "agrarianism" of the class system in pre-modern times determined social structure of Japanese rural society, by analysis of historical materials from rural are of Eastern Japan. Results of material collection analysis are as follows: Unlike Western Japan, In Eastern Japan most non-agricultural worker like craft workers were registered as "hyakusho" (farmer) class and defined grain producer institutionally. But Buddhist priests and "hinin"s were distinguished from "hyakusho" class obviously, because they were considered as "dirty" people. The experience that farmer and rural inhabitants had been confused in pre-modern Japan influenced the relationship between Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and rural community in modern Japan. Additionally, this research includes comparative study of Japan and India and was well received by domestic and foreign scholars.

Free Research Field

農業史