Transition of organization of living space and environmental view in Japan

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1. Two key concepts ("organization of living space" and "environmental view") are the overriding basis, on which each member made the following findings.2. Critical reexamination of the Vidalian concept proved that it is more relevant than critics had ever thought.3. A relationship between Japanese original organization of living space and their environmental view is investigated. (1) Such a relationship is embodied in a symbolic character of spatial order of villages in Okinawa and the Seto Inland Sea region. (2) The arrangement of ancient buildings, which is thought to have a connection with the surrounding mountain peaks, is interpreted with reference to Taoism. (3) The Japanese characteristics are examined in comparison to the foreigners' settlements in Meiji era.4. How physical and social constraints reflect on the organization of living space is discussed. (1) The traditional irrigation system developed on the west piedmost of Aso Vol-cano against the restriction imposed by permiable deposition, reflects the social organization in the region and people's environmental view. (2) A special type of organization of living space was formed by farmers in the lower reaches of Shinano River in order to maximize the yealds from the limited and ill-drained paddy fields.5. An organization of living space to perform fundamental functions for existence forms a complex structure along with an administrative organization and others, and undergoes substantial changes in the course of history. (1) Traditional swidden cultivation in a mountain village required an extensive area to be organized. But development of forestry has resulted in simplification of the structure of spatial organization. (2) A graveyard is an indispensable but space-consuming practice. People's attitude toward this space and its changes are discussed.