This paper examines the establishment and development of the farmer learning movement known as “Shonai Rounou Daigaku”.
Agriculture was one of the many areas affected by the period of high economic growth in Japan. Many farmers were forced to seek outside work to supplement their income, thus increasing the number of part-time farmers.
In the Shonai region at this time, ‘agricultural high school’ was viewed as the school attended by future successors of the family farm. One young graduate of this school felt that the agricultural knowledge he had acquired in his education was inadequate in the new economic environment.
Accordingly, he established a voluntary learning organization, known as “Shonai Rounou Daigaku”. This young man was frustrated at the difficulties faced by farmers who made a living solely by farming. His objective was to find a way for farmers to survive without having to supplement their incomes with non-agricultural employment.
“Shonai Rounou Daigaku” seminars were held 22 times between 1970 and 1993. One objective of the learning movement was to teach farmers better management skills. It was also hoped within the community that city workers would participate. Despite these intentions, the movement did not take off within the local community. This was because the farming community of the time had different priorities and objectives.
In addition, non-agricultural workers felt that the problems of farming villages and agriculture were different to their own issues. These factors contributed to the gradual decrease in participants. Although “Shonai Rounou Daigaku” was unable to accomplish its original objectives, it was instrumental in getting its participants to become involved in regional activities. In this sense, it can be said that this learning movement became one of the supporting foundations of Shonai’s regional activities.