In Japan, vegetable imports have increased rapidly since the mid-80s. However, the framework of import has changed since the beginning or the middle of 90s. The objectives of this paper are as follows. (1) To analyze the structural changes of vegetable import in 90s. (2) To examine how the trends of vegetable prices are influenced by the increased import. (3) To clarify the direction of the import volume of vegetables in the near future. The results are as follows. (1) China has become the most important export country to Japan since the late 1990s. (2) The number of the imported items has been increasing; consequently, the share of both onions and squash among total imported fresh vegetables dropped from 73% of 1988 to 41% of 2000. (3) The phenomenon of stabilization of prices at a low level has been observed for many fresh vegetable items since the mid-90s. (4)From now on, the imported volume of fresh vegetables will not increase rapidly because of stabilization of prices at a low level.

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1. This paper is a summary of a fixed point investigation and a field investigation undertaken in China and Korea subsidized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in FY 2001. 2. China (1) The planted area of vegetables has been increasing each year, constituting about 10% of total farmland. (2) The volume of export to Japan (CY2000:1,020 thousand ton) has grown five-fold in last 8 years and the export value to Japan accounts for above 60% of total export value. As above, Japan is a very important country to China for vegetable exports. (3) A summary of field investigation (primarily through interviews with exporters) Exporters (CONSU) are largely engaged in the production, circulation and export of vegetables in China. Many exporters indicated that the planted area for stone leeks was drastically reduced on the grounds of Japanese provisional safeguards. They were not satisfied with this measure. Exporters have 10 types of contracts with producers (for example: total amount of purchase, companies farm ownership ,cultivation under the contract, contract with administrative organ). There are four types of agreements between exporters and import company (for example: export volume and value determined by the balance of demand and supply in Japan, fixed on the export price before cultivation). 3. Korea (1) The volume of vegetable production (CY2000:11 thousand ton) has increased by 30% in the last decade. Green house products rose 3.2 times in this period. (2) A summary of field investigation (primarily through interviews with rural administrative organs and the agricultural cooperative societies) Paprika production has greatly increased in Korea, but there is worry regarding excess production caused by new entrants. Mean while, the producers ship the products that are widely consumed in Korea after considering the price for both domestic and export market. Domestic products carry through wholesale market. Exported products are selected and packed at each shipping point, then these are carried to the export port (Pusan Port).

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Recently Japanese vegetable production has been seriously affected by the increasing import of vegetables. Particularly in case of green onions the growers suffered from a sharp fall in prices. Under such circumstances, the Japanese government invoked a provisional general safeguard measure for green onions in April 2001. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effects of increasing imports of green onions on the growers' income and to examine the effects of introducing a new production system on supply costs. According to the estimated demand function of green onions in this study, the price elasticity of demand is -0.175. This means that a 1% increase in supply invites a 5.9% decrease in price. The sharp drop in price of green onions in 2000 under import increase was caused by such demand characteristics. As a result, the growers' income decreased to approximately half of that in the preceding years. As a countermeasure, green onion growers in the Tottori-Seibu region made a contract with agricultural co-operative for post-harvest work, such as grading and packing in order to reduce their work per 10 areas from 447 hours to 170 hours. In this case, assuming the price is constant at the FY2000 level, income per hour raises. However, they have to double their growing area to maintain income per 10 areas in 2000. Another problem is that, if the price falls below the 2000 level, income per hour falls below that of conventional production system, since the point of bankruptcy is raised under the new system.

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Since 1985 (especially post-1995) the import of vegetables to Japan has increased rapidly because of the strong Japanese yen and deregulation on the import of agricultural products. Recently imports from East Asia, including China, have been gaining a large share of the total. It is said that global sourcing activity by grocery retailers and food services is now prevailing in the field of not only processed foods but also perishable agricultural products. This paper analyzes the strategy and policy for vegetable procurement adopted by Japanese retailers and food services, based on case studies of ten representative corporations. The result of this study is as follows: There cannot be observed just a single direction of vegetable procurement strategies for the retail and food service corporations. While the corporations that pursue efficiency or low price are apt to choose procurement of imported vegetables, it is not applicable to the corporations that give top priority to the quality of their products and service. Quality-oriented corporations still stick to use of domestically-produced vegetables for sake of freshness and safety. Corporations being faithful to the chain store operation theory aim at the expansion of global procurement, while on the other hand, the ones adopting the diversification of store formula attach much importance to local procurement. Procurement decision-making is basically prescribed by the marketing and operational strategies, and finally corporate idea or policy.

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Some consumer-producer cooperatives have dealt with cases that originally aimed at food safety and relief with regard to foods deception problems which have occurred in connection with BSE related policy measures. This paper examines the pork deception cases in the direct dealings by Toto Consumer Cooperative and Tamagawa Agricultural-Cooperative, Toto Cooperative and Sousa Agri-Products Supply Center, in that these cooperatives have been evaluated highly as excellent models in foods direct dealings. While examines politic theoretical points such as why such deceptive cases have occurred in those highly evaluated direct dealing models. My summary points are as follows. 1 The deceptive indication case by Tamagawa Cooperative was actually a fraud, as the background points to structural spoils which have been formed through the stable system of direct dealings. 2 A similar case, Sousa Agri-Products Supply Center, cannot be said to be a fraud, but rather a managerial crisis, which has been brought by the case and made clear the vulnerability of managing structure and insufficient organizational level as a agri-cooperative-corporation of the Center. 3 The consumer-cooperatives' direct dealings have been a special distribution system, which was formed to assure foods safety and provide production information, but consciousness about that system with regard to daily business operation has been vague. 4 In order to secure food safety, it is important to assure not only democratic cooperative administration but also stable cooperative business management.

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The purpose of this paper is to analyze the price formation factor of the Japanese black calf. Therefore, the analysis method used quantification methods on the analytical data of the Tokachi market in Hokkaido, which consisted of trade result for one year, a total of 7318 head. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The effect of body weight and bull is the biggest for price formation factor of the Japanese black calf. 2. It is important the fact of the semen of the optimum in which security and body weight are efficiently increased for the expensive sale. 3. In the future, not only the individual farmhouse but also public cooperation is urgently required in order to effectively utilize the above result.

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The aim of this paper is to clarify the characteristics of the marketing channel policy of high-grade beef through a case study on the Maesawa beef, one of the best brands in Japan. The results are summarized as follows. 1) In general, the marketing channel policy consists of development and management. Marketing of high-grade beef is not an exception. However, the high-grade beef distribution system is characterized by auction at wholesale markets; therefore the channel captain can not adopt the limited channel policy. 2) Maesawa-cho in Iwate Prefecture, one of the best beef cattle fattening areas, has produced a large number of champions in the national carcass fair. The branded Maesawa beef formed the marketing channel in cooperation with some influential middlemen at Tokyo wholesale market. 3) Sales promotion of channel participants (bucher shops and restaurants) are supported by a promotional kit which is provided by the channel captain. In addition, the captain grants the participants a reward as a motivation for sales. Thus, channel members combined their efforts to super ordinate goals, i.e., they build up a widespread brand reputation as the differentiated strategy. 4) Channel conflict with profit sharing never arises between channel captain and channel participants, because the former trades with the latter by auction at Tokyo wholesale market. There the channel captain maintains channel cooperation.

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The business of consumer cooperatives in Japan (here after called co-ops) has been stagnant. This is thought to be due to diversification of preference among members. A previous paper analyzed members' diversified consciousness where the younger generation shows weak loyalty and the elder generation shows strong loyalty. Opportunistic groups in each generation were revealed. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between members' loyalty and their purchasing behavior based on commodity evaluation, taking up rice and milk as a case study conducted through a questionnaire to the members of Co-op GIFU. The main findings are as follows. 1) The younger members do not necessarily purchase at the Co-op. Elder members purchase at the Co-op more than the younger members do. That is, members' purchasing behavior is precisely accordant with the loyalty structure. 2) The members with a simple structure of the loyalty have also a simpler character in evaluating commodities. The younger generation purchases at super markets based on "price" and "convenience". The elder generation purchases at the Co-op based on "safety". The opportunistic groups, however, have complex dispositions in the evaluation and their purchases range over wilder variety. 3) The most importance is that all members, regardless of purchasing place, appraise "safety" as the primary advantage of Co-ops commodities. Centripetal force of members to Co-ops in milk is higher than that in rice, and that makes these findings clearer. It is not diversification of members itself but allowance of each generation for Co-ops commodities that makes members' loyalty based on purchasing behavior different. Furthermore, the distinction between Co-ops and other retailers with regard to "safety" results in no great difference. Consequently, Co-ops will need to come around again to focus on the "safety" of foods. Keeping up with the change of lifestyle must not be an excuse for pursuing it.

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[in Japanese]

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The silk industry is a traditional export industry of China and plays an important role in the global sild market because it has overwhelming superiority by virtue of its large quantity of products. In China's economy, silk exports occupy an important position. According to statistics from 1950 to 2001, the total amount of exports of the silk products earned over 50 billion dollars during the period and it is contributed to national economic development. In this article, by analyzing the historic and the present condition of Chinese silk trade, the comparative superiority of Chinese silk products in the world market and the relevance between Chinese silk export and production under the global economies are clarified. In addition, the market competition of Chinese silk products will face under the WTO system are also analyzed.

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The aims of this report are the following: firstly, to explain the trend of the market related to beef after September, 2001 when BSE was discovered in Japan for the first time; and secondly, to analyze the present state of the government's policy concerning the decrease in income of cattle farmers and to highlight the problems. We would like to state two points in the conclusion. Firstly, the decline in the carcass price and fattening dairy steer calf price and between Japanese beef cattle (wagyu) and dairy cow crossbreeds is drastic. Secondly, a countermeasure against condemned dairy cattle distorts a price mechanism. This countermeasure has brought negative action for the recovery of price of inexpensive beef such as dairy steer.

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The Japanese Sake market is separated into two parts. Inside of breweries, there is a large difference about contents of management between a few large companies and the other many small companies. The many small companies introduced the product differentiation by a higher-grade production, which is called "tokutei meisyousyu", this resulting new demand in the market of Japanese Sake. The small companies carry out risking, it is that moving "tokutei meisyou syu" -market. But "tokutei meisyou syu"-market has been moving a highly competitive market. I think that the demand will be a possibility of failing. Then, in this paper, the structure of "tokutei meisyou syu" distribution system is analyzed, and problem of "tokutei meisyou syu"-market is searched.

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The supply and demand of the Chinese feed raw material and the correspondence of feed industry on the production and demand of corn were analyzed. First, as for changes in supply and demand of corn, purchasing price based on consumption of corn for feed increased drastically and showed a tendency to rise greatly with an increase in demand for meat due to economic growth and rise in income. Next, the differentiation of the production area and demand area of corn was formed from the 1990s. Namely, the Southeast coastal part is a full raw material demand area, the Kahoku (North China) is a supply and demand area and the Northeastern section is a raw material supply area. As for the correspondence of feed industry, the example of Guangdong Prefecture was taken up and examined.

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The purpose of this paper is to clarify the measures which the import developers take in their marketing strategy in order to attract consumers. The conclusion could be summed up in two main points: The first point is the fact that import developers develop multi-production and multi-standardization. This not only gains a broad stratum of consumers' satisfaction but it is also a way to avoid the risk for import developers. Also, activity such as this securing the sales is acknowledged. Depending on the products, import developers strategically sell products combining high and low profitable products together to attract consumers' interests. The second point is that safety has become a greater issue in recent years, reflecting the consumption behavior of Japanese consumers. The focus on safety has been shown with the introduction of cleansing and selecting in the manufacturing process, and with the examination of the remaining agricultural chemicals during the process of cooking raw materials. Thus, it can be concluded that the increase in China-originating frozen vegetables is not just because of low prices. It is a marketing strategy that satisfies broad consumers' needs and at the same time attracts consumers' interests.

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This paper analyzes the actual situation in the exportation of Chinese Konnyaku powder to Japan and the development of tuber konnyaku producing areas. This paper is based on research undertaken in Sichuan Province and Chongqing Province, China. The result of analysis are clarified following: 1) The export of konnyaku powder to Japan was a circulation route which goes via a Japanese trading company and the China system trading company. Material exchanges were performed by the negotiated transaction from the farmer on the spot. 2) The local government was positively developing konnyaku production area.

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A false representation indicative of problems is incurring consumer anxiety and distrust regarding food. As for food processing businesses, there is an organic matter JAS certification as one countermeasure and it becomes a strategic means of product differentiation. In this paper, a case condition of product differentiation will be examined, before considering safety-relieved into a center and characteristics were considered as an example in a Japanese apricot processor of Wakayama Prefecture. By virtue of a processor acquiring the organic matter JAS certification, an image upsweep regarding safety can be attempted for product differentiation. Though merit is scarce by processing food at present, if only local end raw material are processed, product differentiation is also possible and the use of decreased agricultural chemicals cultivation raw material will require servicing of a system for the application.

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These days, reforming the old external-dependent development by making a "regional industrial complex" is being proposed as a concept which uses regional resources rationally. In this regard, "regional industrial complex" agriculture takes a very important position, and the role of the agricultural cooperative is large. Many agricultural cooperatives are actually tackling the processing business and positioning of the agricultural cooperatives in local agriculture is also high. In Tanabe City, the case area of this paper, not only production industries, but also processing industries and distribution industries exist in the area which focuse on plums as a key industry. Moreover, plum-related tourist attractions, such as plum forests, are found and form a "regional industrial complex". In this area, the Kinan agricultural cooperative plays important roles in promotion of production, contribution to bearer reservation, distribution, processing and sale of plums. Specially, having the processing section on the inside, the agricultural cooperative sell the plums as a processor. So it has functions of adjusting supply and demand of plums and keeping the level of its price for farms. In the processing business, it contributes to make employment in this area in employing staffs and part-time workers. Thinking about the future, keeping the "regional industrial complex" will be difficult by increasing import plums and so on. So, it is required that agricultural cooperative shows the initiative in making places for adjusting interests and exchanging news and tackling to improve the quality of plums.

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[in Japanese]

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At present, the traceability system is being used by the domestic livestock industry to create brand loyalty by displaying information on the producing region. Looking at the traceability of beef in Japan from the standpoint of safety, the system is currently used only in direct marketing routes between cattle ranches and consumer groups, but has not been established for the traditional route from cattle ranches to processors/distributors to consumers. The original purpose of the traceability system was to guarantee food safety. Therefore, it should be linked with HACCP in the production and distribution systems for agricultural and livestock products. In order to expand domestic beef production and supply consumers with safe beef produced under a HACCP system, financial and technical support must be provided by national and local governments. It will also be important for consumers to understand that higher beef prices will be necessary to ensure beef safety.

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