Geographical study on communication spaces in Japan

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The aim of this study is to make clear the spatial structure of communication by the people in rural and urban regions in Japan. We attempted to clarify the structure of communication space by examining various regions on which people depend in their daily life. There are two types of communication space in rural region: functional communication, producers' trade communication, social-educational communication, and recreational communication belong to the former. Such communication space, to which either individuals or households belong as basic units, are stratified within the village, while being structured within larger communication spaces beyond the village domain. Producers' trade organiztions, social-educational organizations, and recreational organizations are fairly recently established, having clearly defined functions to which individuals are affiliated by their own free will. Traditionally sustained communication spaces are mainly for religions purposes, such as Buddhism, festivals, and various folk beliefs. Each communication, where a household is the basic unit of affiliation, has a limited sphere of influence. These communication spaces are gradually reducing their integrity and cohesiveness with diversifying modes of living and daily life behaviour.