Analitic investigation of 258 modern novels published from middle of Meiji era (about 1900) to Showa 20 (1945) revealed some characteristics of farm work and rural life, especially those of workload and main factors of them as follows:
1) The descriptions of actual farm work were found on about 30% of investigated novels. Most of work were carried on without any implements or machines, being exposed to natural climate.
2) Environment and intensity of work were very hard beyond the manual limit of effort. Those often caused various health harzard.
3) Additionally inappropriate work organization and human relations in rural societies also loaded both mentaly and physically.
4) A few examples of accidents and health effects were found. Analysis revealed too heavy workload and excessive fatigue also have close relations to these harzard.