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

这项研究的主题是弄清楚丘陵山区农村社区(Shuraku)的结构和功能现状，以及日本农业中较不受欢迎的地区，以及新政策在这些地区应用的问题。研究结论如下：1.研究结果。在丘陵和山区，特别是在日本西部及其周边地区，带来了人口减少、农田被毁和社区维护困难等问题。边缘社区正在崛起，他们的社区功能已经变得太弱，甚至连一个社区会议都不能召开。回顾过去对丘陵山区的政策，关爱力度不够。但对这些问题的思考导致了新的粮食、农业和农村基本法律的制定，并将借此实施对丘陵山区的直接支付。虽然我们应该估计这些政策是划时代的，但也存在问题。因此，除了直接支付之外，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.