B Lifestyle Magazines on Nature and Technology

• TAKAHASHI Yoshitaka (Graduate School of Tokyo
• University of Agriculture and Technology)
• NAKANISHI Ryotaro (Chiba University)
• YUKAWA　Yoji （Yamaguchi University)
• IKEDA TETSUO (Niigata University)
• YAMAMOTO Shino (Institure for the Culture of Travel)
• YAMASHITA Yusaku (National Institute for Rural Engineering)
• SHINOHARA Toru (National Institutes for the Humanities)
• YOSHIMURA Satoko
• AOKI Takahiro
• UCHIDA Junko
• NISHITANI Masaru
• TSUNEMITSU Toru

Human beings have always interfaced with nature either directly or indirectly as a "means of living" and have been engaged in their Seigyo (livelihoods) within this relationship with nature. The mediation between nature and human beings takes place using techniques founded on a rich accumulation of folkloristic knowledge of nature.

The first point of focus in this research is the techniques of Seigyo observed in the Japanese archipelago. The techniques of Seigyo are the sum of tools (or machines), physical skills, and ecological skills. From this viewpoint, the group will focus on physical and ecological skills in particular, in order to obtain a clear picture with regard to the content and structure of the body of folkloristic knowledge (knowledge of nature and tacit knowledge).

Seigyo the group is looking into cover a wide range, including agriculture, fishery, forestry, hunting and gathering, Seigyo in urban area, transportation, trading, etc. The second point of focus in the research is to review the livelihoods founded on techniques of Seigyo from a higher technical stage of Seigyo complex.

Human lives have generally been understood as a history of evolution. However, this is true only when we focus on the development of tools (or machines), just one of the three elements of Seigyo techniques. The thesis of this research is that the progress of physical skills and environmental skills may be in inverse proportion to the progress of tools. For example, it is possible that physical and ecological skills associated with early modern agriculture were at a higher level than those of the present time of advanced industrial techniques, as far as can be seen from early modern agricultural books and the present Seigyo skills. The third point of focus in this research is the aim of clarifying the continuity and discontinuity of Seigyo techniques, with the time basis set at the end of the early modern, early Showa, and present periods.

The driving force of Seigyo activities as a means of living is the social nature of human lives. Conventionally, the social aspects of Seigyo activities have not received much attention. When the group members think about Seigyo activities in this research, they will pay special attention to relations of ownership involving the mountains and the sea as places of production. In other words, the fourth point of focus in the research is the observation of kindred structures and social relations as techniques of social knowledge and examination of the relations between their application and overall efficacy of techniques.

Our aim in this research is to envision construction of a new history of living environment and promote research and material collection for an exhibition on "Seigyo and Techniques in the Living World" for the comprehensive exhibition renewal of Gallery 4 (Folklore).

The head of the research team explained the purpose of the cooperative research and the process of research. With regard to another purpose of the research, the overall renewal of Gallery 4, a progress report was presented and a question–answer session held. Afterwards, member researchers described their respective plans for the research themes; this was followed by general discussion.

On the theme of "Techniques and Skills on Agriculture," three research presentations were made: "Memory and History Etched on the Land: Transition of Names for Reservoir" (Satoru Yasumuro，Rekihaku: Cooperative research team member), "Environment and Agricultural Techniques in Omi" (Seiji Kishimoto, Tohoku University of Art and Design: Guest speaker), "Agricultural Techniques as a Sum of Tools and Skills: Farming Tools Have Genes" (Michiaki Kono, Kanagawa University: Guest speaker). Afterwards, the group discussed the relationship between the technique system and folkloristic knowledge observed in agriculture.

The workshop was conducted jointly with a cooperative research group of branch A, which works on "Folklore of Omens, Responses, Taboos, and Magic." The two branches involved in the cooperative research project on "General Study of Lifestyle in the Japanese Archipelago" conducted a round of joint fieldwork on the Sunday market in Kochi City and a Shinto ritual "Shiobakari" in Suzaki City and Yasuhara. In addition, three research presentations were made: "Folklore of Cities: Consideration on Sunday Market in Kochi and Periodic Market in Otaki" (Shino Yamamoto, Institute for the Culture of Travel: Cooperative research B member), "Traditions of Shogatsu Onna as Funeral Manners and Customs: Interposition of Funeral Parlor in Kochi Prefecture" (Kahori Higuchi, Kochi University student: Guest speaker), "A Consideration on Shiobakari" (Mitsuoki Umeno, Kochi Prefectural Museum of History: Cooperative research A member). Afterwards, the group engaged in a comparative discussion on Seigyo in urban and rural areas today.