Abstract
This study clarified the change and present situation of Japanese boxwood （Buxus microphylla） log production in the profit-sharing forests on Mikura-jima Island, which is a popular area to produce high-quality wood. The profit-sharing forests, which are the main production areas at present, were set on municipal forests located in the Kurosaki-Takao district during the early Showa era. The government of Mikurashima village contracted the profit-sharing forestry for 60 years with villagers who planted and managed the Japanese boxwood trees individually. Subsequently, some of the contracts were extended twice, but most of the contracts were terminated because of management difficulties during grow-out. About 10 log producers worked in the forest and were almost unchanged every year. Most of the log producers cut logs in winter to sell to the Mikurashima village government. Some eager log producers were asked to harvest other contractor’s trees and they sold the logs to the Japanese boxwood customers independently. The profit-sharing forestry has played an certain role in terms of increasing Japanese boxwood resources. On the other, the role of the profit-sharing forestry has been limited in terms of contractor’s income resource because of economic changes.
