Historical Changes of the Finances and the Social Order in a Japanese Rural Community, Nagano Prefecture

Over the last four decades, although some sociologists and geographers have discussed the relationship between the finances and the social order of Japanese rural communities, little is known about its historical changes. The author investigated this relationship by using the annual financial reports and the minutes of a community from the Meiji era to the present in Suwa Basin, Nagano Prefecture. In this case, a ranking system of household fees had been introduced from the Taisyo era to the high economic growth period. This system in general accounting and contributions by the upper class households in special accounting were effective in demonstrating the prestige of each household. However, these social order and financial policies of the community have been widely changed through the past one hundred years, which are mainly influenced by the following three factors: the economic mobility based on land ownership and non-agricultural incomes, a steady increase of non-farming locals and newcomers, and the reorganization of the community with the development of housing estates