In this paper, using beef monthly wholesale prices of the past 45 years up to 2014, I analyzed the fixed cyclical fluctuation and the variable cyclical fluctuation as a function of time. The results of the fixed cyclical fluctuation analysis are: the dressed carcass wholesale prices in each of adult cattle beef, Japanese bullock beef, Japanese cows beef, dairy cows beef, dairy fattened bull beef have reflected fundamental periods of 172 months, 174 months, 170 months, 256 months, 258 months respectively. In the analysis of the variable cyclical fluctuation as a function of time, the periods of cyclical fluctuation of dressed carcasses wholesale prices are increasing in length in Japanese bullock beef and Japanese cows beef. But this period is decreasing in length in adult cattle beef. Due to the limitations of the data length, dairy fattened bull beef and dairy cows beef cannot be analyzed in terms of variable periods of cyclical fluctuations in each of dressed carcasses wholesale prices. The cyclical fluctuation in beef prices, the amplitude gradually decreased as the scale of domestic production farmers expanded until the end of the 1980s. The increase of imported beef from the beef import liberalization in 1991 has had an impact on cyclical fluctuation of domestic beef prices. Now, the cyclical fluctuation of domestic beef prices is not linked with the domestic production cycle of beef.

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The price of domestic soybean produced in 2013 increased drastically. The factor in this increase was that it was necessary for wholesalers and processors to secure the raw materials for the differentiation of product using Japanese domestic soybeans. Processors did not undertake an increase in product price for a long period, but they have raised it recently. In addition, processors dispersed production centers relevant to suppliers. The order of circulation is maintained by the premeditated shipment adjustment of National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations.

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This study clarifies the effects of growing up in mother-to-child households in childhood on eating behaviors in adulthood. We conducted a quantitative analysis, using individual data from the Japanese Life Course Panel Surveys for the Middle-aged and the Youth. Our statistical analysis indicates that adults raised in mother-to-child households are more likely to skip breakfast in adulthood in the aftermath of a skipping breakfast trend in childhood. However, although family circumstances in childhood affect having a nutritionally-balanced diet in adulthood, whether such behaviors emerge from mother-to-child households is not indicated.

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Agriculture in an island region has specific problems such as labor shortages, capacity of shipping facilities and instability of the agricultural products transport. Examining the potato production of Okinoerabu Island, it is considered that not only agricultural cooperatives but also merchants play an important role in the collection and shipping system. In this paper, we clarified and elaborated on merchant behavior and roles. Firstly, merchants are divided into two types, the collecting agent and the independent merchant. Secondly, the collecting agent doesn't select potatoes and ships to the large-scale vegetable merchants in Kyushu. The selling price and sales volume are judged by the large-scale merchant. At present, the circumstances of the collecting agent is not profitable and they show a tendency to turn to independent agents. Thirdly, the independent merchant selects the potatoes which have been carried out of the island and sells mainly to wholesale markets, shipment centers for processing, retail trade and to large-scale merchants. They have developed sales channels, decided the volume and price on their own and have sold potatoes aggressively. Finally, merchants have shifted the operation of selecting potatoes out of the island which has promoted the formation of potato production area on Okinoerabu Island. As such, the merchants of Okinoerabu Island are indispensable to maintain the production area.

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This report focuses on a major Japanese food retailer in Hong Kong, clarifying whether it plays a role in contributing to the expansion of exports of Japanese food products. Further, this report utilizes Product Life Cycle Theory to analyze whether this channel is beneficial should exports to Hong Kong increase in the future. Based on the analysis, it can be said that in the growth phase for exports to Hong Kong, sales profits and volume of Japanese food products will increase. Secondly, as the Hong Kong market has not yet reached its full maturity, the channel surveyed in this report can be seen as taking a pioneering differentiation strategy, which will continue to increase exports in the future.

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This paper focuses on Meat Importing Company A's Hong Kong food service marketing strategies. Company A was founded in Hong Kong in 2007 to import high quality Japanese beef. Company A then started to manage shabu-shabu and yakiniku restaurants for the purpose of expansion of the consumption of Japanese beef, including consumption in non-luxury settings. However, Company A is increasing their number of shabu-shabu restaurants for three additional reasons: a shortage of craft butchers, the economic slowdown in Hong Kong, and factors of Hong Kong dining preferences. However, these conditions also mean that the utilization rate of Australian wagyu beef has also expanded, meaning that Company A's actual situation is based on the difficulty of selling of Japanese beef in the Hong Kong market.

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[in Japanese]

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Many new entry companies have started factory operations in the rice milling industry in China recently, though there still exist sufficient rice milling capacity in existing rice mills. The objective of this paper is to describe the business background and clarify the intention to intrude into a saturated rice milling industry of such new entry companies. The main outcomes are as follows. First, the study revealed profit and cost construction of conventional rice millers in Jilin province. Second, the study proved the new entry companies' adopted tactics taking advantages of their core management know-how and advantages. Third, the market actions of the newcomers are reflected from consumers' requirements, which eventually might give big influences to farmers' market in future.

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This paper clarifies the characteristics of the Australian egg market, particularly animal welfare (AW) friendly eggs (i.e. barn, free-range, and organic) and investigates whether an appropriate retail price as per the breeding method was charged (a rise in egg price so that the production method was appropriate for animal welfare). This study elucidated various aspects of market, as follows: The price charged according to the breeding method was non-uniform across the industry. This was related to two factors: First, free range eggs can have various standards; however, this is not reflected with an appropriate price or label. Second, regardless of the breeding method, a large price discrepancy existed between PB and NB eggs, resulting in PB's free range eggs being cheaper than NB's cage eggs. These cheaper PB free-range eggs will contribute to provide for the expansion of the AW friendly egg market. The unresolved problems that were identified include the following: elucidation of the economic background and factors enabling different pricing despite the same breeding method and elucidation of whether egg pricing is justified given average production costs.

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This study reveals the significance and roles of urban-rural exchange programs on securing farmers and actors of farming areas. It has been shown that emigrants from urban areas might become a farmer and an actor of a farming area, and among all urban-rural exchange programs, working holidays in rural areas give urban residents the highest incentive. This study focuses on the exchange program Working Holiday Iida, because Iida city is an advanced area in urban-rural exchange. The findings indicate that, the roles of working holidays in rural area are first, providing urban dwellers incentives to immigrate to rural areas, second, preparing the base of life for such individuals (job, house and relation with inhabitants), and third, providing guidance through the exchange on management of farm and life after emigration. The research shows that participants in working holiday programs and rural farmers can deepen mutual understanding through exchange programs which provide a view of life in rural areas.

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