This study examined the relationship between residents' perception of procedural justice in implementing a rice terrace ownership system and their willingness to participate in this system in term of the social psychology. Recent studies suggest that rice terraces serve multiple purposes, including rice growing, water retention, and flood control function. However, in the past decades, many rice terraces in rural areas on mountains were abandoned because the cultivation of rice is such a physically intensive activity that many older people find it hard, Several farmer groups initiated the rice terrace preservation program to forge close ties with city dwellers. The system promotes exchange between urban dwellers and villager. It also has a positive effect on the re-cultivation of rice terraces. A questionnaire survey was administered to the villagers of Asuka village in Nara Prefecture where the rice terrace ownership system was being implemented. The respondents rated their perception of the procedural justice in this system, and it was evaluated in terms of whether the village administration explained about the rice terrace ownership system to villagers, treated them with respect, and listened to the villagers' opinions. They also evaluated the effectiveness of the rice terrace ownership system in terms of whether it promoted re-cultivation of rice terraces, contribution to regional vitalization, and contribution to forge close ties with the city dwellers.
The results showed that the respondents' perception of the procedural justice in implementing the rice terrace ownership system affected their evaluation of the rice terrace ownership system and their decision to participate in it. The results also indicated that the procedural justice is crucially important in implementing a rice terrace ownership system.
