Recent changes in Japanese agriculture and rural areas: One view of the research

Abstract

Since the end of the high economic growth period, especially since the 1970s, very striking changes have occurred in agriculture and rural areas in Japan, especially with regard to the landscape, land use, and employment structure. These changes can be categorized roughly in terms of the response to the technological revolution, the relationship with changes in the local socioeconomic environment, and the impacts of urbanization and industrialization. Among the changes wrought by the technological revolution were the mechanization and scientific fine-tuning of agricultural production. The development of agricultural infrastructure has changed the landscape, while the utilization of various types of modern farming equipment has led to a rapid increase in knowledge-intensive agriculture. The changes in the local environment which are gaining the most attention are related to the transportation revolution. This revolution has promoted the expansion of metropolitan markets to distant farming regions, as trucks are now generally used to bring produce to the market. Motorization has also had a tremendous effect: with the acquisition of private automobiles, farm families' chances for employment off the farm have greatly increased. Regarding the changes in the local socioeconomic environment, expanding cities and an increase in the number of urban residents in rural areas have increased the demand for and diversity of agricultural products, which has in turn promoted the consolidation and expansion of production areas. At the same time, the increase in leisure time that has accompanied urban growth has raised the demand for rural areas to function also as recreational areas. The impact of urbanization and industrialization has two aspects: the intensification of agriculture and the abandonment of farmland. The conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses led to a diversification in the use of space in rural areas, as demand has increased for residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas. Urbanization, together with industrialization, accelerated the trend toward farming as a secondary occupation, leading to the abandonment of much arable land. In terms of land use and scenery, there has been noticeable competition and intermeshing between city and country, which has led to a more diversified make-up of rural populations and landscapes.