A geographical Study on the role of women to create sustainable rural systems

二战后，随着经济的快速发展，日本等发达国家的农村和农业发生了翻天覆地的变化，以社区组织形式为基础的日本农村社区的传统特征迅速消失。本研究试图探讨农村系统可持续发展的区域条件，特别是关注女性社区活动在创建农村中的作用。尽管本研究项目包括(1)回顾前人的研究，(2)统计分析和(3)区域研究，但其重点放在最后一个研究上。本研究阐明，尽管日本农村地区已经变得经济富裕，但多样化的农村经济活动导致了农村社区团结的削弱。改进的灌溉系统和农场道路减少了农村村民参与强制性公共工作的需要。提供现代设施和基础设施并不总是带来可持续的农村地区。例如，一旦土地改良工作发生，兼职农民的数量增加，稻米种植区的许多农村村庄可能就失去了生存能力。在这种情况下，建立在良好人际关系基础上的活跃社区是形成可持续农村的最重要因素之一。村民必须建立、保留或改革各种组织来支持农村社区。为了实现这一点，扎根当地的农村社区女性成员发挥了重要作用。

Rural areas and agriculture in Japan and other advanced countries have changed drastically following the rapid economic development occurred after the World War II. Traditional characteristics of Japanese rural communities, based on a form of communal organization, rapidly disappearing. This study attempts to discuss the regional conditions of sustainable rural systems especially focusing the role of female community activities to create rural villages. Although this research project consisted of (1) reviewing previous studies, (2) statistical analysis and (3) regional studies, its stress on the last one.This study clarifies that diversified rural economic activities have led to the weakened solidarity of rural communities in Japan although these places have become economically well-off. Improved irrigation systems and farm roads have reduced the need for rural villagers to participate in mandatory communal work. The provision of modern facilities and infrastructure does not always lead to sustainable rural areas. For example many rural hamlets in rice-growing areas are likely lose their viability once land improvement work occurred and the number of part-time farmers has increased. In this situation, active communities based on a good human relation are one of the most important factors to form sustainable rural areas. It is essential for villagers to make, keep or reform various organizations to support rural communities. In order to realize this, women members of rural communities who take root in local areas have played an important role.