The purpose of this study is to identify the distinctiveness of the fisheries foreign trade in East Asia (Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asian countries). First, the dynamic change observed in the fisheries trade is explained with a focus on international division of labor in the fisheries and processing industries, and on an ever-increasing demand for fisheries products, driven by economic growth. Second, those appropriate systems and procedures in fisheries and processing businesses that would be required for achieving international competitiveness are discussed. The expansion of good aquaculture practice (GAP) is a controversial issue in global aquaculture development because of a perceived negative impact on small-scale farmers. However, in Thailand, the government has encouraged shrimp farmers to adopt GAP procedures in collaboration with the shrimp processing companies since the mid-1990s. Supported by extension services and research institutions, the farmers have invested considerable effort to improve their GAP-based aquaculture. Export-oriented processing companies have also accepted several certifications, including HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), and ISO. In East Asian countries like Thailand, fisheries and processing industries have systematized a part of the “farm to table” concept for food safety. Such a strategic approach substantially contributes in further development of the industries.

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In recent years, the importance of farm export in Japan’s economic globalization has been increasing. The purpose of this paper is to consider the innovation and farm export of an advanced fruit and horticulture farm (Fruit Garden Yamagata Co., Ltd.).
The features of innovation and farm export can be presented as follows: (1) The form of family business has changed dynamically with innovation; (2) Original technical innovation exists across all management aspects; and (3) Innovation and farm exports are related to community contributions.
Future research subjects derived from the above results can be summarized as: (1) Dynamic analysis of farm management; (2) Enhancement of research for farms run by family businesses; and (3) Multifaceted approach toward the relationship between farm management and community.

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This presentation highlights the development of the overseas operations of Fruit Garden Yamagata (FY). Based on the concept of raising strawberry farms, FY has developed advanced varietal farm businesses in Japan. Running the pick-your-own farm shop is an especially successful business with 10,000 customers a year. Additionally, FY has committed to exporting and raising strawberries in Hong Kong since 2012 and achieved outstanding results. One of the factors contributing to FY’s success has been uploading and sharing lot of relevant information on the internet by means of home page, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. They have been able to build a network that encourages and assists to embark on new businesses. In fact, IT has proved to be very beneficial for the overseas operations of FY. FY is now making a further plan for expanding overseas operations by expanding its network. Simultaneously, FY is making an effort to increase strawberry farms in Tokushima in order to build the city’s brand as the production area of strawberry.

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The crises linked with community and business in depopulated and ageing villages have been expanding. The aim of the regional symposium was to discuss the sustainability of community and business in hilly and mountainous areas, especially in Kyoto prefecture. Toward this objective, the following three presentations were scheduled in the symposium: (1) Community and community-based business in the hilly and mountainous area of Kyoto prefecture, by Toshio Ito (Kyoto Prefectural office), (2) Roles of co-operatives and thinking through regional markets Sanchoku sakurakome eggs, by Shinsuke Fukunaga (Kyoto consumers’ co-operative society), (3) Roles of community-based tourism businesses and college student village officials in China, by Shinji Takada (Kobe University). Finally, we discussed about the objectives of the work force support policy in Kyoto prefecture, the importance of decision-making system in the villages’ renewal project, and the possibility of community supported agriculture through food consumption based on social justice.

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