The economic analysis on structure and functions of rural communities in hilly and mountainous areas

本研究的主题是厘清日本农业发展中较不受重视的丘陵山区农村社区（shuraku）的结构和功能现状，以及新政策在这些地区实施中存在的问题。结论如下。在丘陵和山区，特别是在日本西部及其周围，出现了诸如人口稀少的地区、毁坏的农田和维持社区困难等问题。社区功能已经弱到连社区会议都不能举行的边缘社区正在兴起。回顾过去对丘陵山区的政策，关怀不够。但是，对这些问题的反思导致了新的《粮食、农业和农村基本法》的建立，并将在此机会对丘陵和山区进行直接支付。这些政策虽然具有划时代的意义，但也存在一些问题。因此，除了直接支付外，还需要采取综合措施，特别是对丘陵和山区的边缘社区。

The subject of this research is to make clear the present structure and functions of rural communities (shuraku) in hilly and mountainous areas, the less favored areas in Japanese agriculture, and also the problems of the new policy applied to those areas. The conclusion is as follows.1. In the hilly and mountainous areas, especially in and around the Western Japan there are brought about such problems as depopulated areas, ruined agricultural lands and difficulties in maintaining communities.2. Marginal communities, whose community function have become too weak to hold even a community meeting, are coming up.3. Looking back on the past policies for the hilly and mountainous areas, cares were not paid enough. But the reflection on these problems resulted in the establishment of the new basic law on food, agriculture and rural areas and there will be into effect in this chance the direct payments to hilly and mountainous areas.4. Although we should estimate these policies as epoch making, there are also problems. So comprehensive measures, therefore, are required in particular for marginal communities of hilly and mountainous areas in addition to the direct payments.