GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF ROUNDED FIELDS ON MIIRAKU PENINSULA, FUKUE ISLAND, GOTO ISLANDS

This study focuses on rounded fields, or “Maruhata” in Japanese, on the Miiraku Peninsula located in northwest Fukue Island, one of the Goto Islands, Nagasaki Prefecture. Maruhata fields are normally used for agriculture, but they may have multiple functions, for example in preventing floods by temporarily holding water during heavy rains. We conducted a field survey at a three-tiered Maruhata field in the Take District in Miiraku in to measure its latitude, longitude, and elevation. The presence of Maruhata fields smooths out the inclined plane and offers a flood prevention function by retaining water within during heavy rains and ameliorate flows by breaking the gradient. In addition, Maruhata fields have a function to prevent mud and soil to flow into the sea and reduce pressure on the fishing ground. We conclude that Maruhata fields have a disaster prevention function owning to their topographic features in addition to their function as agricultural fields.