Interdisciplinary Study of Fast-Aging Society of Northern Japan : Rapidly On-Going Process of Aging in Tsugaru Area

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(1)The purpose of researchThis project aims to clarify the changing process of the life-world, social structure and culture of local societies in Tsugaru area, Aomori prefecture of Northern Japan through the method of intensive fieldwork. The research team is interdisciplinary organized of those members of different disciplines such as sociology, social psychology, cultural anthropology and nursing study.(2)Research subjects :3 main subjects were focused as follows :1)The process of aging in local communities2)Depopulation and aging process of local communities3)Case studies of local communities(3)Results :1)The "care-managers" are caught in a "double-bind" position between clients' needs and local administrations' requirements, while they are thought to have a control over making nursing plans. It is important to create a "nursing culture" in order to settle the nursing activities into the daily life of ordinary people.2)Population outflow of the aged 60s and 70s were relatively small compared to those of other prefectures. Intra-area migration pattern within the city is obviously seen among the Hirosaki-city residents.3)Dekasegi custom, working away from home, which was maintained through the Taisho and Showa era, turned out to be one of the primary reasons to control the local population outflow, allowing the villagers to return their home as well as securing cash income. The characteristics of cooperative organization shows the flexible alignments supported by multiple social network, which enabled the aged villagers to make the "tradition" into an updated local culture.