Research on changing rural communities by life-course analysis method

日本的农村社区和农户正在发生显著变化。需要一种新的方式来探索它们的过渡。我们转向生命历程分析的框架。社区和家庭的变化是个人选择多样化生活道路的结果。有些生命历程可能会遇到其他生命历程，被迫改变方向。有些人可能会找到一种新的合作形式。在这项研究中，我们得到了几个发现。(1)1926年至1935年出生的一代人在战后的日本农村一直扮演着重要的领导角色。(2)与这一代人正相反的是农村的年轻和中等妇女。他们的生活轨迹与他们的老一代人相冲突。他们过着与母亲截然不同的生活。(3)父亲和儿子之间的关系发生了变化。儿子们追求自己的生活，这意味着父亲失去了作为年轻人榜样的地位。他们遵循着截然不同的人生轨迹。(4)许多农场家庭越来越多地就家庭农业达成协议。一般以书面形式提出，并由有关家庭成员签名。多样化的生活过程需要整合到家庭农场中，而不是通过传统的家庭系统规范，而是通过家庭成员之间的协议。(5)来自城市的居民是农村社区的新组成部分。有些人与农民结婚，有些人开始有机农业，有些人在退休后进入，其他人则有各自的目标。

Japanese rural communities and farm families have been changing noticeably. A new way of exploring their transition is required. We turned to a framework of life-course analysis. Changing communities and families are a consequence of individuals who took diversifying life-courses. Some life-courses may be confronted with others and forced to alter its direction. Some may find a new form of cooperation with others.In this research we got several findings. (1) A generation born in 1926〜35 has been playing an important and leading role in postwar rural Japan. (2) Directly opposite to this generation stand young and middle rural women. Their life-courses are in conflict with the ones of their older generation. They are living very different lives from their mothers. (3) Relations between fathers and their sons have changed. Sons are pursuing their own lives, which means that fathers have lost a position as a model for the young. They followed very different life-courses. (4) Many farm families are increasingly making an agreement about family farming. It is generally put into writing with signatures of the family members concerned. Diversified life-courses need to be integrated into a family farm not by an old norm of stem family system but an agreement among family members. (5) Dwellers from cities are a new component of rural communities. Some married farmers, some began organic farming, some entered after retirement and others with each objective.