Changes in Group Coordination of Rural Communities : Issues for the Urbanization of Rural Societies

Japanese agricullure has been characterized by the collective action of farmers. Land and water use by individuals has been strictly restricted by the farmers' union and/or the rural community. However, it is frequently said that the group coordination of rural communities has been breaking down, according to the progress of land improvement and the urbanization of rural communities. In this paper, we will attempt to discuss the topical question, on the bais of a fact-finding survey for the rural commuities of Suzuka-City in Mie Prefecture. The major findings are as follws : （1） According to the results of a statistical analysis, the collective action of rural communities, such as waterway maintenance and road repairs, is dissolved to form the administrative affrairs, in accordance with the progress of land improvement. （2） However, it is not clear that the group coordination of rural communities is breaking down, according to the progress of land improvement and the urbanization of rural communities (in the demograpical sense）. （3） Generally speaking, the group coordination of rural communitiesis breaking down, in accordance with the spread of individualism, independently of the urbanization of rural communities （in the demographical sense）