Studies on the Agricultural Population in Oosima District, Yamaguti Prefecture Part 1. Trendes in Population since the Beginning of the Mordern Times

The results of investigation on the trend in population for the Oosima distsict (Yamaguti Prefecture) in modern times may be summarized as follows : - 1. At the time of the first census in 1737 the population of this district was 15,033, while at the time of the fifth census in 1885 it was 70.164. This fact represents a phenomenal growth for about a century and a half. 2. The Bureau of Statistics of Yamaguti Prefecture reported that the population of the Oosima district was about 66,785 in 1950. This shows a decrease of 1,999 (2.9%) as compared with the population in 1917. The population decreased 25% between 1885 and 1944. The population of all Japan was about 83,190,637 in 1950, showing an increase of 4,572,837 (5.8%) over the estimate for 1947. It is a formidable fact that the increase of population was nearly 1,200,000 a year. It is interesting to compare the decreasing trend of population in the Oosima district with the increasing trend in Japan as a whole. The Oosima district is characterized by small scale farming and fishing. The downward trend of population in the district is to be attributed to the local small scale primitive industry in a period characterized generally by monopoly capitalism. There are no more desirable lands left to be reclaimed for the farmers in this district.