Page 194 - Changing Living Spaces

Masanori Takashima

This scenario suggests that in pre-modern Japan, the main areas of sta-
ple grain production, especially the rice fields adapted to the geographical
and climatic conditions, developed better economically than the non-rice
fields and mountainous regions unsuitable for staple grain production.
The relationship between areas where staple crops are grown and eco-
nomic development can be attributed to the fact that rice has been con-
sidered an important tribute since pre-modern times. During this period,
the Kinai region and the coastal areas of the Seto Inland Sea were con-
sidered the most developed agricultural areas. These areas are located in
western Japan, which is characterised by a natural environment suitable
for rice cultivation. Moreover, this area was under the control of a cen-
tralised Japanese government.
Although the ancient Japanese government aimed at strong centrali-
sation, it disappeared from history due to the failure of its institutional
structure. The political system in mediaeval Japan was decentralised and
administered by individual political powers such as court nobles, tem-
ples, and shrines in the capital city of Kyoto. They ruled over their estates
(shōen) throughout the Japanese archipelago. At this time, rice was still
an important part of the annual tribute.
The rice produced in each region was transported to Kyoto, the seat of
the rulers. Kyoto thus became the centre for the collection of tribute and
an economic centre of Japan. After the Warring States period (from the
late fifteenth to the late sixteenth century), Japan became a feudal state
comprising the Edo Shogunate and other local lords (daimyō). Even dur-
ing this period, rice was paid as an annual tribute tax. The daimyō sent the
rice harvested in their territories to Osaka, where it was traded and dis-
tributed throughout Japan. Thus, since rice cultivation was important for
tax purposes in pre-modern Japan, economic growth may have been de-
termined by the growth of the agricultural sector based on rice produc-
tion rather than the growth of the industrial and commercial sector.
However, in the middle of the Tokugawa period – the early modern
period – Japan experienced progress in rural industrialisation and the
promotion of commercial crop production throughout the Japanese ar-
chipelago. Since the eastern part of Japan is characterised by dry land
and mountains that are not suitable for rice cultivation, rural indus-
tries such as sericulture grew in this region. This led to economic growth
and an accompanying increase in population pressure. During this peri-
od, economic growth was affected by the production of commodity crops
from non-paddy cultivation and staple crops from paddy cultivation. This

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