gonin-gumi

Japanese history

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The gonin-gumi were neighborhood associations in Japan, primarily during the Edo period (1603–1867). These groups, typically consisting of five households, were established to foster collective responsibility.1

Key functions of the gonin-gumi included:
* Ensuring joint responsibility for tax payments.1
* Preventing offenses against the laws of their overlords.1
* Providing mutual assistance among members.1
* Maintaining a general watch over one another.1

This system was part of a broader effort by the bakufu (shogunate) and daimyo (feudal lords) to strengthen control over the agricultural populace and maintain social order.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Japan
The establishment of the system
…country were required to form gonin-gumi (“five-household groups”), or neighborhood associations, to foster joint responsibility for tax payment, to prevent offenses against the laws of their overlords, to provide one another with mutual assistance, and to keep a general watch on one another. Economic controls over peasants were further strengthened.…
Read More
…country were required to form gonin-gumi (“five-household groups”), or neighborhood associations, to foster joint responsibility for tax payment, to prevent offenses against the laws of their overlords, to provide one another with mutual assistance, and to keep a general watch on one another. Economic controls over peasants were further strengthened.…
Read More