Why was hunting not banned in Japan?

A Policy Process Analysis of the concept of hunting ban（1971～1972）

Abstract

Koga Tatsuya, Akaishi Oji：Why was hunting not banned in Japan?: A Policy Process Analysis of the concept of hunting ban (1971～1972). Ap. For. Sci.

Japan's hunting system, the "Ranba" system, in principle allows free hunting. It is considered a poor management function for hunting, and some experts recommend abolishing the system in order to improve wildlife management and prevent hunting accidents. This paper analyzes the process of the failure of the abolishing the “Ranba” system and the concept of hunting ban proposed by Oishi Buichi, the director general of the environment agency (1971-1972), using the policy window model and the policy entrepreneur hypothesis to examine the future direction of system design. The analysis based on the policy window model indicates that the background for the inclusion of the concept of hunting ban as an agenda in the wildlife administration during 1971-1972 was due to concerns over overhunting and hunting accidents. Additionally, there had been proposals to abolish the “Ranba” system since the 1950s through the council of wildlife, and the appointment of Oishi as the director general of the environment agency led to the inclusion of the “Ranba” system abolition as an agenda. Furthermore, the analysis based on the policy entrepreneur hypothesis suggests that the lack of coordination between Oishi and the hunting interest groups supporting the “Ranba” system, the hunting-affiliated lawmakers within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in terms of alternative policy ideas, hindered the improvement of the system towards preventing hunting accidents and ensuring the wildlife protection. In designing future systems, it is important to ensure a policy process that facilitates appropriate consensus-building and prevents the escalation of conflicts.