Abstract
IThis study is investigated the historical transfiguration of agricultural products, agricultural life and landscape in the Yamakoshi region of Nagaoka-city, Niigatta Prefecture. Before the great earthquake of Cyuetsu in 2007, this area was very popular for local cameraman and other people because of its beautiful agricultural landscape. Especially, pond terraces for breeding Nishikigoi carps created landscape characteristic of this area. In Japan, many people have loved Nishikigoi since the 1800s. Conclusion was that most of the landscape in this area went through major changes from 1960 to 1980, caused by the popular sales of Nishikigoi during the rapid economic growth. In this age, many rice terraces were transfigured into breeding ponds for Nishikigoi, and many houses were rebuilt. An agreement of rice acreage reduction started in 1970, pushing the change of rice products to carp production. Area dates of agricultural fields in Japan and in the Yamakoshi region, along with the area date of ponds in the Yamakoshi region confirm this situation. Transfiguration of agricultural products and life also help change the relationship of agricultural elements and people's life style. For example, the use of compost, woods for drying rice, sericulture, and carp's feed (pupa) was developed.
