Livelihood Improvement Activities and the Extension of a Housewives’ Group for Keeping Account Books in Rural Area

[出版社版]This paper investigated the extension of keeping household account books and the livelihood improvement activities of a housewives’ group in rural area. In postwar in rural area, the activities of keeping household account books were powerfully promoted by the administrative organization and housewives’ organization of farmers’ households. Ieno-Hikari, which is one of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives Group has supported the activities of the housewives’ organization. Recently the activities were declining. We interviewed a leader of an active group. The group activities have continued for about 30 years. The group activities continue even after members acquire the knowledge and the skill to manage household economy, because the group was a kind of think tank about daily life for members. One of key factors of the continuance was the personality of the leader. It was difficult to acquire new members, especially from other generations. To promote the activities, promoters should teach not only know-how but also the significance of the group activity for participants of learning seminar about keeping account books