山村地域における伝統的景観への住民意識 : 京都市久多地区を事例として

Abstract

本研究では, 高齢化の顕著な山村地域である京都市左京区久多地区を事例に, 現在でも多く残る茅葺き民家を中心とした伝統的景観への住民意識を山村問題の現状との関係に着目して考察した.当地区の茅葺き屋根は近年減少の過程を辿っているが, 住民は茅葺き屋根に代表される地区の伝統的景観に対して愛着や価値意識を持っている.現在のような住民意識が形成されてきた背景には, (1)現在の生活に危機感を持ち, 過去の活気ある時代と現在を比較することや, ②徐々に増加してきた観光客や他出した次世代の評価(外部評価)を認識することといった要因があることがわかった.当地区の住民はこれまで茅葺き民家を景観対象としてよりも生活そのものとしてとらえてきたが, 現在では伝統的景観としての意識が高まりつつある段階にあると考えられる.ただし, 住民にとって地区の最優先の課題は山村問題の解消であるため, 景観保存は第一には考えられず, 景観の保存施策に対しては, 次世代の就業機会が生れる効果を期待する.今後は, 住民が徐々に持ちつつある山村景観への客観的な認識が, 民家の継承者である他出した次世代の意識や行動に及ぼす影響が注目される.

This paper examines a mountain area within the environs of Kyoto City, Japan, that has a record of social problems connected with depopulation and the aging of the population. The area, known as Kuta, is characterized by a traditional landscape that includes numerous thatched houses. However, these distinctive rooves are decreasing in number. In this study I examined the villager's consciousness of their traditional landscape in relation to the social problems associated with this area. The results of the interviews and questionnaires, which were completed both by villagers and by some who had moved away, showed that many maintained an attachment for the traditional regional landscape with its thatched houses. I suggest two reasons to account for this. First, they are concerned about the social problems that exist in this area, and by maintaining an attachment for this traditional landscape they express their sense of loss of a more dynamic community of the past. Second, they recognize other people's interest in this landscape ; there has been an increase in the numbers of tourist. Nevertheless, they consider their social problems to be their most pressing concern rather than conservation of the traditional landscape. They anticipate that designation as a preservation area will create new jobs and that this in turn will lead to population regeneration. It is worth examining how the mentality of the villagers affects subsequent generations and how it influences their actions with regard to landscape preservation.