地域研究を地誌に改造する方法 : ネパールを例に

How to Write Interesting Books on Regional Geography : The Example of Nepal

Iwata Shuji

地誌研年報

Annual Report of Research Center for Regional Geography

Interesting books on regional geography are sought not only by geographers but also by the general public. Such books should focus on specific topics of contemporary interest and provide a vivid description of a region's inhabitants and their daily life. However, these books tend to be of less interest when written by geographers, since geography usually focuses not directly on people, culture, and society, but rather on geographical and spatial organization and the relationships between human activities and the natural environment. To appeal to a wider audience, geographers are recommended to learn from the outstanding results seen in the related field of area studies and/or the excellent work of some journalists. In most cases, these texts do not include sufficient information on regional and spatial organization, topics that are essential to the study of regional geography. Geographers should therefore add geographical and spatial framework information to the results of area studies. Two examples, using area studies in Nepal, indicate that the proposed improvement is appropriate and results in more interesting books. Thus, to prepare valuable and popular books in this field, geographers should master the traditional methods and most advanced techniques of geography, and then collaborate with scholars of area study.

General geography. Description and travel [ 290 ]

jpn

広島大学総合地誌研究資料センター

[ISSN] 0915-5449

[NCID] AN10199141