Did you know that an island called “Takashima” once lay off the coast of Kojima Honjo?
In 2025, two gatherings about Takashima were held in Mizushima. Both were co-hosted by the Mizushima Residential Environmental Learning Consortium, which works to make Mizushima a field for learning about pollution and the environment.
On May 24, a forum and talk titled “Talking with Hiroaki Shimoyama about TAKASHIMA—Takashima off the western coast of Kojima Honjo in the 1950s and Edward Norbeck” was held. Faculty and students from Okayama University of Science and others took part, reflecting together with residents who knew the area at the time on their memories of Edward Norbeck, who conducted research in the Takashima area.
The second event was held on September 14. Students in the “Osaka Metropolitan University Masafumi Yokemoto Seminar” decided to examine the contents of Changing Japan (2nd Edition), one of Edward Norbeck’s works, which depicts the lives of people living on Takashima during the period of rapid economic growth, as well as those who left the island for the city.
The 11 seminar students worked on a Japanese translation of the book during the first half of 2025, studying it chapter by chapter. We introduce the Mizushima Community Salon event, “Talking about Takashima, Part 2,” where they presented their findings to Takashima residents.
The information presented was current when this article was published in November 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Takashima
As its name suggests, Takashima was an island off the western coast of Kojima Honjo until the 1950s. Reclamation work on District C, covering 2,177,000 square meters, began around 1958, and was completed in fiscal 1962, connecting the island to the mainland.
The fishing village on the eastern side of Takashima lost its means of livelihood due to large-scale reclamation work. The area changed dramatically, with adult men’s main occupations shifting from fishing to industrial work.
About the author, Edward Norbeck
Edward Norbeck visited Takashima four times for field research: for intensive studies in 1950–1951 and 1974, and for shorter visits in 1959 and 1964.
Here is an excerpt from “About the Author” in Changing Japan (2nd Edition), introducing Edward Norbeck.
Edward Norbeck was born in Canada and trained in Oriental culture and anthropology at the University of Michigan. He taught at the University of Utah and the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently a professor of anthropology at Rice University.
His interest in Japanese culture dates back to when he lived in Hawaii before World War II. At that time, he came into contact with many people of Japanese descent. During the war, he worked in military intelligence on matters concerning Japan.Edward Norbeck (1976), Changing Japan (2nd ed.), Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Excerpt from the complete translation (provisional translation) by the Osaka Metropolitan University Masafumi Yokemoto Seminar.
Japanese translation of Changing Japan (2nd Edition) and presentation of research findings
At the Mizushima Community Salon “Talking about Takashima, Part 2,” 11 students from the Environmental Policy Seminar at Osaka Metropolitan University presented their research findings based on Changing Japan (2nd Edition).
The outline is as follows. This article highlights excerpts from Parts 2 and 3 that caught our attention.
- Preface
Introduction to the author and the book, based on the editor’s preface - Part 1: Japanese Society and Culture
Historical overview of modernization throughout Japan - Part 2: A Rural Family
A family that continues to live on Takashima
The family of Hajime and Hanako Matsui - Part 3: An Urban Family
A family that left Takashima
The family of Jiro and Aki Matsui - Part 4: An Urbanized Rural Society
Changes in Takashima following rapid economic growth
Akira’s perspective and Aunt Shizu’s way of life
Part 2: A Rural Family—Hajime’s Family
In their presentation on Part 2, “A Rural Family,” the students introduced the life of Hajime Matsui’s family, who lived on Takashima: eight people, a cat, and four chickens, as an example of a rural fishing and farming family.
The members of Hajime Matsui’s family were as follows.
Here are some points that stood out.
The first was “life in a rural fishing and farming community,” which apparently had the following characteristics.
- The family managed its “household finances” together and lived as a unit
- Rather than becoming the successor to the family, son Akira wanted to find work in the city (creating a generation gap)
- There was mutual support within the community, including a funeral association and a fire brigade
The second topic was “religious beliefs.”
- Many traditional annual events had become mere formalities
- The grandmother was deeply concerned that “people were indifferent to many gods, with some not even knowing they existed,” and that “taboos surrounding childbirth and purification rituals” were not observed
Part 3: An Urban Family—Jiro’s Life
In Part 3, “Jiro’s Life,” the students divided up the presentation on the life of Jiro, Hajime’s younger brother, who was introduced in Part 2.
As a contrast to the family living in a rural fishing and farming community in Part 2, the book introduces Jiro’s life as an urban family, including his newlywed life with his wife, Aki.
Here are some highlights from the presentation on “Jiro and Aki’s meeting and newlywed life.”
- After entering Kyoto University, Jiro got a job as a company employee. His company had a five-day workweek and staggered working hours. With the company’s support, he passed the patent attorney examination
- Aki was the daughter of a merchant family from Nishinomiya and was a well-brought-up young woman
- Jiro and Aki had a traditional arranged marriage (an omiai?)
- After getting married, the two began an independent life in a housing complex, without living with their families. A few months later, their daughter Emi was born
- In their life in the housing complex, they did not display traditional items such as a household Shinto altar. In raising their daughter Emi, they used powdered milk, among other differences from previous generations
Comments from people connected with Takashima
Next, many comments were shared by residents connected with Takashima and other participants.
Here are comments from two people.
Mr. Matsui (Vice Chair, Takashima Neighborhood Association)
Since I know the islanders from the time Norbeck conducted his research, I felt that Changing Japan (2nd Edition) was not nonfiction, but may have been portrayed by combining several people and families from Takashima and the surrounding area.
As for traditional events, we still gather at the end of the year at the island’s Kojin-sama shrine to bake rice cakes and have a party. We also maintain the site, including cutting the grass three times a year.
Another change since Norbeck’s research is that local Bon dances and other events have been revived.
Mr. Mori (Six Districts Safe and Secure Community Development Promotion Council)
Although I am not a Takashima resident, my first impression was that the students had researched and written their work thoroughly.
I hope this will be an opportunity for you to continue watching over Takashima and the Honjo area for many years to come. Thank you for today.
From the Writer
Inspired by Changing Japan (2nd edition), written about 50 years ago, this Mizushima Community Salon also brought together students from Osaka and Kobe and the residents of Takashima, who would not normally have the chance to meet. What stood out was how the gathering was filled with gratitude on both sides: the students and the residents of Takashima.
Takashima is still home to residents today.
For this reason, I cannot casually write, “Please do visit,” but I hope this article will provide an opportunity to connect with the memories of Takashima, a typical fishing village in postwar Japan.
Mizushima Community Salon “Talking About Takashima, Part 2” Information
| Name | Mizushima Community Salon “Talking About Takashima, Part 2” |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 14, 2025, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. |
| Location | 10-8 Mizushima Higashitokiwa-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
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