Abstract
This paper demonstrates a case study to comprehensively understand Japanese rural society, proposing an integrated approach to visioning sustainable rural society in the context of developed countries. We first provided an overview of Japanese agricultural history and conducted interviews with individuals regarding their life histories in two peripheral research fields in Japan. We then analyzed these life histories and compared them with the macro trends of agricultural policy. In particular, our analyses shed light on the interactions between agricultural policies, individuals’ life and local resource endowments in rural areas. Specifically, human, natural and man-made capitals in Japanese rural society have changed in the way they are used while agricultural policies have exclusively focused on rice production. Based on the observation, we argue that Japanese policy might have hindered farmers’ efforts and attempts in the country’s periphery. We conclude that integrating macro analysis and field research facilitates the understanding of local resources and residents’ wellbeing for conceptualizing and approaching the future of farming villages.
Highlights
Population are aging in most developed countries and declining in some countries
Human, natural and man-made capitals in Japanese rural society have changed in the way they are used while agricultural policies have exclusively focused on rice production
Mountainous hamlet in the vast village located in the southern part of Nara Prefecture, Japan. 95% of the land in Kannogawa is mountainous with very limited arable land, and home to 33 households
Summary
Population are aging in most developed countries and declining in some countries. Even when populations are stable, population tend to concentrate into cities and rural population are likely to decline. It is of critical importance to explore the way to envison future rural society for country’s sustainability. Japan is a mountainous country, and people residing in villages at the foot of or halfway up mountains rely on food from arable land on gently sloped surfaces, alluvial fans, and river terraces. These settlements, referred to as Nōsanson (rural farming and mountain villages), are located throughout Japan, including in peri-urban areas. It is possible to infer from historical documents that people lived diverse lifestyles according to their environment (e.g., Board of Ai Local History, 1998; Totsukawa Board of Education, 1961)
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