Commodification of rural space in Japan

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Abstract

Rural space in Japan is characterized by the increased role of consumption rather than the traditional activity of production, as in growing rice or other crops. This situation may be understood as the "commodification of rural space." According to Woods (2005) "the commodification of rural space is exemplified by the rural resources that are bought and sold through tourism activities, real estate investment by outsiders, the buying and selling of rural products, and the production of agricultural products and related products by utilizing a rural landscape image." This study describes the changing processes and characteristics of rural space in Japan from the viewpoint of rural commodification. Rural commodities in Japan are largely classified into four types: (1) the supply of agricultural and aquatic products, (2) the consumption of rural space by counter-urbanization, (3) rural consumption for recreation and tourism, and (4) activities to improve quality of life through conserving and managing landscape and natural environment and through the understanding of traditional rural culture and society. The distribution pattern of the four types in Japan shows that main plains and coastal areas are characterized by the first type, the second and third types are located in the outer fringe of metropolitan areas, and the fourth type can be seen near metropolitan cores. Generally, Japanese rural space is defined by physical conditions and the influences of metropolitan areas. This paper examines the Nasu region as a case study of the third type (recreation and tourism), and Asahi Town in Yamagata Prefecture as a case study of the fourth type (landscape-environment-society-culture). In the Nasu region, attractive hot springs played an important role in creating famous tourist areas. However, residents are now attempting to revitalize their tourist industries by building hiking routes, introducing farm experiences, establishing farmers' markets, and opening restaurants to serve dishes using local agricultural products. This strategy of redeveloping tourist industries firmly depends on the commodification of rural space. In Asahi Town, Yamagata Prefecture, which is famous throughout Japan for its ecomuseum, local residents have improved their quality of life and sustained and developed their rural community by discovering, maintaining and utilizing local resources, including the natural environment and their cultural heritage. These ordinary activities appear to typify the ecomuseum, which is regarded as a product of the commodification of rural space and has led to the regional development of Asahi Town. The present conditions and characteristics of rural space in Japan can be well understood through an analysis using commodification.

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APA

Tabayashi, A. (2013). Commodification of rural space in Japan. Geographical Review of Japan Series B, 86(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.4157/grj.86.1

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