This paper studies impact of Great Tempo Famine (1833-1839) and people's countermeasure in rural area of South Kantoh, Japan. We use records of a rural community, named Kaminaguri-kogumi, to analyze mortality, people's damage and several kinds of aids for "Starving People" during the famine. We find that mortality in Kaminaguri-kogumi was relatively low (35‰) even in the peak year 1837 comparing with data of other areas. The aid by "Rich People" of the community, including the community head Eijiro Machida, and the official aid by Tokugawa government, actually financed by "Rich People" of the community, were done in December 1836 and March 1837, respectively, shortly before and after the mortality peak in February 1837. The records also shows that some of "Rich People", including a "Starving" household, were not able to finance the official aid by Tokugawa government and they needed support of the community head Eijiro Machida to fullfil obligation. The results suggest that there were no epidemics during famine period, and aids by "Rich People" were done at appropriate moments. But some of "Rich People", who were expected to help "Starving People", might be under steress, that they could not satisfy expected role without Machidas' support because of the damage.
抄録全体を表示