2026 Volume 64 Issue 2 Pages 104-109
This study examines regional trends in paddy field utilization and characteristics of farms opting out of direct payment grant eligibility by reclassifying as upland under Japan’s “Five-Year Flooding Rule”—requiring paddy fields to be flooded at least once every five years to maintain grant eligibility—using Kuriyama Town, Hokkaido, as a case study. Analysis of 30 agricultural districts revealed that reclassification rates were highest (53.7%) where paddy field proportions were low, infrastructure improvements had not been implemented, and large-scale farms existed. Case studies revealed that farms chose reclassification based on: (1) established crop rotation systems and (2) completed machinery investments with reduced debt repayment pressure, leading to phased reclassification applications. The rule produced disorderly mosaic reclassification patterns lacking spatial coordination. Furthermore, mid-term rule revocation created confusion over whether to proceed with or withdraw planned reclassifications, further complicating the situation.
