History of Hinase

Abstract

This chapter explores the basic setting of Hinase by reviewing geographic and historic document sources. The coastal area of the Seto Inland Sea that Hinase faces consists of a complex environment with a relatively warm climate and an intricate terrain that provides abundant biological resources. These natural resources encouraged people to develop fishing and shipping techniques early on. In Hinase, evidence of fisheries can be found even from the B.C. period. The basic village structure of Hinase is thought to have developed around A.D. 700. During the Edo period, when a fishery privileged system called “Kako-no-ura” was introduced in Hinase, fishery developed along with various fishing methods. In the Meiji period, starting from the late nineteenth century, pressure on fishery resources throughout the Seto Inland Sea region emerged due to the population increase. After World War II, there was a dramatic decrease in fishery resources because of environmental degradation and the mechanization of fishing boats and fishing gear. Several national policies were implemented, such as “Tsukuri Sodateru Gyogyo” (Fishery to breed and culture), in the fishery sector and “Law Concerning Special Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea” in the environmental sector. During those days, fishers in Hinase started using trial and error to manage natural resources through strategies such as eelgrass restoration, marine litter collection, aquaculture promotion, and fingering production.