Basic Joint Research Project: Research on Fishing Grounds Maps as History and Folklore Materials
Survey Target (survey area)
Fishing grounds maps (from all over Japan) from the collection of the Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture (ISJFC)
Purpose
The seas provide a wide range of valuable assets including of course seafood. Over the course of its development and utilization, the sea has evolved into a dynamic space facilitating the flow of people, goods, and information, thereby contributing to the extensive accumulation of social and folk knowledge. However, the sea has also been a source of conflict, giving rise to disputes among individuals, communities, and even nations over territorial rights, leading to lasting negative memories. Historically, coastal villages, situated in proximity to the sea, have frequently experienced significant disasters and accidents. The primary aim of this joint project is to conduct interdisciplinary research on the history and culture of such coastal villages through a new method we have labelled “landscape history,” utilizing fishing ground maps from the ISJFC collection.
Expected Outcomes
This project aims to clarify the potential of fishing grounds maps as valuable historical and folkloric sources, while also proposing a new methodological approach to landscape history.
Simultaneously, we will develop a database to transform the fishing ground maps in the ISJFC collection into a research resource and expand the “Digital Collection of Fishing Ground Maps: The Seas Laid Out.”
Period: 2025–2027 (scheduled)
