TRENDS IN ARCHAEOLOGY IN JAPANMedieval
HAMANO Hiromi1
Fiscal 2015 archaeological study of the medieval is herein overviewed. First, outstandingpublications on city/village site study were: YANAGIHARA Toshiaki Hiraizumi noKobo (Light of Hiraizumi), YAEGASHI Tadao Kita no Tsuwamono no Miyako Hiraizumi(Hiraizumi, City of the Strong in the North), and IIMURA Hitoshi Chusei Ou noKokogaku (Archaeology of Medieval Ou) that handled medieval history in Tohoku
region. KAWANO Shinjiro Kamakura Kokogaku no Kisoteki Kenkyu (Fundamental
Study on Archaeology of Kamakura) is a fundamental data on archaeology of Kamakura.
Also, a posthumous work of KAMEI Akinori, Hakata Tsutobo no Kenkyu (Study onHakata Chinatown) approaches the background that the trading base was moved to
Hakata Tsutobo (Chinatown) in the mid-11th century after Korokan was abolished.
On castle (jokaku) study, the 20th Chugoku/Shikoku Chiku Jokan Chosa Kentokai(Chugoku/Shikoku Region Castle Study Meeting) examined the introduction ofShokuho-line castles in western Japan. On territory (nawabari) study, publications
were MATSUOKA Susumu Chusei Jokaku no Nawabari to Kukan (Territory andSpace of Medieval Castles), and HONDA Noboru and YAMAKI Takao ed. Zenkoku
Jokaku Nawabarizu Shusei (Collection of Territorial Figures on Japanese Castles).
Also, outstanding study meetings were: “the 32nd Zenkoku Jokaku Kenkyusha Semina(Seminar for Japanese Castle Researchers)” by Chusei Jokaku Kenkyukai, “Kochiku
Gijutsu kara Mita Shokuhokei Jokaku no Ishigaki no Seiritsu (Formation of Shokuholine Stone Walls Seen from Construction Techniques)” by Shokuhoki Jokaku Kenkyukai,
and “Sengoku Jidai no Jokan no Teien (Gardens of Sengoku Period Castles)” by the
Cultural Heritage Department, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.
On burial systems and religion, an interesting study on incineration and holy grounds
were: “Tokushu Chusei no Nokotsu Shinko to Reijo (Featured Article: Medieval
Incineration Beliefs and Holy Ground” Archaeology Quarterly 134, and YAMAGUCHI
Hiroyuki “Chusei Ou no Reijo (Holy Grounds in the Medieval Ou)” [NANAMI Masato
ed. Tohoku no Chuseishi 2: Kamakura Bakufu to Tohoku (Medieval History of Tohoku
2: Kamakura Shogunate and Tohoku)]. On stonework, there are YAMAKAWA Hitoshi
1 c/o Yonago City Board of Education, 1–1 Kamo, Yonago City, Tottori 683–8686, Japan

E-mail address not disclosed

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JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY 5 (2017): 67–69

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ARCHAEOLOGIA

Rekishi no Naka no Sekizobutsu (Stonework in History), MATSUDA Tomoyuki “Geiyo
Kakogansei Sekizobutsuken no Seiritsukatei ni Tsuite (Formation Processes of Geiyo
Granite Stonework Zones)” Shikoku Chuseishi Kenkyu (Shikoku Medieval History Study)
13, and MURAYAMA Takashi “Arakawa Churyuiki ni Okeru Chusei Sekito no Tenkai(Development of Medieval Stone Pagoda in the Middle Basin of Arakawa River)”Kitamusashi no Chiiki Keisei: Mizu to Chikei ga Orinasu Rekishizo (Regional Formationof Northern Musashi: History Woven by Water and Terrain). Other than mentioned
above, there are studies on stone processing techniques such as Daiikkai Chusei Saiseki/
Kako Gijutsu Kenkyukai (the 1st Study Meeting on Medieval Quarrying and ProcessingTechniques), “Tokushu Ishijoba no Kokogaku (Featured Article: Archaeology of Quarry)”Sekizo Bunkazai 7 (Sekizo Bunkazai Chosa Kenkyujo).
SASAKI Tatsuo ed. Chukinsei Tojiki no Kokogaku (Archaeology of Medieval/EarlyModern) series was published on pottery/ceramics and transportation/distribution history
study. Chukinsei Doki no Kiso Kenkyu (Fundamental Study on Medieval/Early Modern
Pottery) 26 (Chusei Doki Kenkyukai) examined regional study results of the chronology
and distribution of Toban-line Sue wares, and Kaiyu Toki Seisan ni Okeru Chiho Kamano Seiritsu to Tenkai: Daisankai Tokai Doki Kenkyukai (Formation and Development ofRegional Kilns in Production of Ash-glazed Pottery: 3rd Study Meeting of Tokai Pottery)(Tokai Doki Kenkyukai) gave an examination from a comparison with regional kilns.
Also, the 34th convention of Nihon Boeki Toji Kenkyukai discussed the 15th and 16thcentury trade of ceramics around the Sea of Japan mainly on the Sanin region. NAKAI
Atsushi “Chusei Doki/Tojiki no Meiji to Sono Kino (Terms of Medieval Pottery/Ceramics
and Their Function)” Otemae Daigaku Shigaku Kenkyujo Kiyo (Bulletin of Institute ofHistory, Otemae University) 10 (Otemae Daigaku Shigaku Kenkyujo) studied terms
on historical documents. It was interesting. HONDA Hiroyuki Tenka Toitsu to SirubaRasshu (Uniﬁcation of Japan and the Silver Rush) discussed the distribution history ofsilver mainly from Iwami Silver Mine. As for transportation history, there is IWAHASHI
Takanori “16 Seiki Kohan ni Okeru Sanin Chiiki Suijo Kotsu no Ichidanmen: Shimazu
Iehisa to Hosokawa Yusai no tabi wo Daizaitoshite (an Aspect of Water Transportation inthe Latter Half of 16th Century Sanin Region: Based on a Trip by SHIMAZU Iehisa andHOSOKAWA Yusai” Shimane Kodai Bunka Senta Kenkyu Ronshu Dai 15 Shu: Nihonkai
Engan no Sekiko ni Okeru Keikan to Seigyo no Hensen no Kenkyu (Bulletin of AncientCulture Center No. 15: Study on Transition of Scenery and Subsistence on Lagoons atthe Coastal Sea of Japan) (Shimane Kodai Bunka Senta).
As for foreign exchanges and boundary study, USUKI Isao Higashi Ajia no Chusei
Jokan (Medieval Castles in East Asia) discussed castles constructed by the Jurchen
in maritime regions of Russia and northeast China. Also, Archaeology Quarterly No.
133 had a featured article “Ainu no Kokogaku (Archaeology of Ainu),” and for trade© Japanese Archaeological Association68TRENDS ●●●●IN ARCHAEOLOGYTITLE ●●●●IN JAPAN

ceramics in Nanto region, there are FUKU Hiromi “Esshuyo Seiji (Celadon Porcelainfrom Yuezhou Kiln)” Okinawa Bunka Kenkyu (Okinawa Cultural Study) 42 (Hosei
University Institute for Okinawan Studies), and SHIBATA Keiko “Gusuku Jidai ni Okeru
Taoci no Juyo (Acceptance of Pottery in Gusuku Period)” Nanto Koko No. 34 (OkinawaArchaeological Society). ONO Masatoshi, GOMI Fumihiko, and HAGIWARA Mitsuo ed.
Mokuzai no Chusei: Riyo to Chotatsu (Medieval Lumber: Utilization and Procurement)
gave thoughts on various aspects of utilization and procurement of lumber. The 13th
Archaeology and Medieval History Symposium “Kokogaku ha Chuseishi wo Katareruka(Can Archaeology Tell Medieval History?)” discussed problems on interpreting building
features and locations, as well as problems of excavated writing data.

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