noun
Historical term for the head of a village during the Edo period, especially in the Kansai region. Similar to 名主 (なぬし) in other regions.
See also: 名主
江戸時代、庄屋は村の代表として年貢の取りまとめを行った。
During the Edo period, the village headman coordinated the collection of the annual tribute as the village's representative.
この地域では庄屋の家が今も保存されている。
In this area, the house of the village headman is still preserved today.
Also a village headman in the Edo period, but more commonly used in the Kanto region, whereas 庄屋 is typical in Kansai.
The term originates from the historical administrative role of a village headman in pre-modern Japan. The kanji 庄 (or 荘) refers to a manor or estate, and 屋 indicates a person in charge, though the exact derivation is uncertain.