Chapter 5: Population Decline and the Vision of a Sustainable Society 5.1 Learning from the Social Structure of the Edo and Meiji Periods

Thinking about Development in an Era of Population Decline: A Future Focused on Quality

The idea that "population decline equals decline" is common.
However, is that really true?
Japan developed during the post-war high economic growth period using a model of "population growth equals economic development."
However, modern society is no longer in an era where "economic maintenance is achieved by increasing the population."

Rather, the society of the future will be one where the question is "how to achieve sustainable development while the population is shrinking."
So, what kind of society should we build amidst population decline?
In this chapter, let's explore the possibilities of a "sustainable future based on the premise of population decline."

5.1 Learning from the Social Structure of the Edo and Meiji Periods

The value system that "the more people, the better" is actually just a product of the modern era.

In the Edo period, Japan's population was approximately 35 million. As it entered the Meiji period, the population gradually increased, exceeding 50 million by the late Meiji period. However, during this time, Japan was not in decline; rather, it was building a stable society.

So, what kind of social mechanisms existed in the Edo and Meiji periods when the population was smaller than it is today? Let's look for hints for thinking about the future of modern society from that.

1. Self-Sufficient Regional Economies

In Edo-period Japan, there was no nationwide model of mass production and mass consumption; instead, economic zones were established in each region.

✅ In rural areas, "local production for local consumption" was the norm
Agricultural products were produced in each region, and surpluses were exchanged in local markets.

✅ Even in urban areas, communities existed through "nagaya (tenement) culture"
Labor and living costs were shared, reducing the burden on individuals.

✅ A circular society based on the "mottainai spirit"
Edo-period Japan went beyond a simple "mottainai spirit"; it had a highly developed system for the circular use of resources.

For example, even human waste was utilized as a "resource".
Human waste produced by urban residents was sold to rural areas and used as valuable fertilizer. This stabilized crop yields and allowed cities and rural areas to build a sustainable relationship.

Also, recycling businesses like the "waste paper collectors" and "second-hand clothing dealers" that appear in rakugo were common.
In the town of Edo, there were businesses that collected and reused waste paper, and merchants who tailored and resold second-hand clothes. Kimonos were not easily thrown away; they were tailored and dyed repeatedly, and worn across generations.

Furthermore, even the ash burned in hearths was recycled.
Ash was used as detergent or as fertilizer for fields; it was a society where almost nothing was thrown away.

In this way, Edo-period Japan was not a society of "mass consumption," but rather a "circular society that made maximum use of resources."

2. A Social Structure That Works Even with a Small Population

In the Edo period, securing labor was an important issue. However, they did not rely on a "large population" for this, but supplemented it in the following ways:

✅ Family-based economic activities
Rather than "corporate organizations" like those in the modern era, business was centered on family trades.

✅ Division of labor within the region
In rural areas, agriculture is combined with fishing, forestry, handicrafts, and other activities.

✅ A society where "time is shared"
Work and daily life are closely linked, and children and the elderly naturally function as members of society.

In other words, the society of the Edo period did not depend on the "absolute number of the labor force," but was built on flexible ways of working and cooperation within the community.

3. Culture can flourish even with a small population

Some might think that "when the population decreases, culture and technology decline." However, even with a small population, many cultures blossomed during the Edo period.

✅ Development of arts such as Ukiyo-e and Kabuki
✅ Improvement of literacy rates through Terakoya (literacy rates in the Edo period were among the highest in the world)
✅ Unique traditional culture taking root in each region

In short, even with a small population, if culture and education are enriched, the quality of people's lives can improve, and development as a society as a whole is possible.

4. Points that can be applied to the modern era

The social structure of the Edo and Meiji periods offers significant hints for modern Japan.

✅ Strengthen "local production for local consumption" and revitalize the regional economy
✅ Introduce flexible working styles through "sharing time"
✅ Create a prosperous society even with a small population through the enrichment of culture and education
✅ Adopt a "circular economy" that maximizes the use of resources rather than mass consumption

A declining population does not necessarily mean the decline of society. Rather, it is an opportunity to "break away from mass production and mass consumption."

Instead of lamenting population decline, isn't it important to create the future based on the sustainable social models of the Edo and Meiji periods?

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