In order to identify problems in rural areas, this study analyzed reports on community support activities in Hyogo Prefecture by using text mining methods.
We collected 320 reports on community support activities conducted between 2007 and 2011 in the areas of Tanba, Tajima, and Awaji. After classifying the reports according to their sphere of activity (e.g., a village, several villages, a town), we used text mining methods to identify local problems specific to each level.
The main findings were as follows:
(1) All three levels shared problems related to children, the elderly, exchanges among local residents, and tourism.
(2) At the village level, the management of living environments and farming were the problems.
(3) The problem unique to the several-village level was with regard to the elementary schools.
(4) At the town level, food and welfare were the local problems.

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In this study, we determine the prerequisites for the effective functioning of a hosting organization managed by local inhabitants. By comparing the cases managed by the government and the local inhabitants, we identify that the hosting organization is required to (1) experience local culture, (2) cooperate with local whole organizations, and (3) serve as coordinator to secure the appropriate the number of hosting houses for students. We found that (1) is necessary for governmental support toward the hosting organization, (2) is not sufficient for effective cooperation, and (3) is necessary for cooperation with neighboring municipalities as well. Therefore, it is difficult for an organization managed only by local inhabitants to host effective experience-based education tours, and that it needs governmental support.

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This study focuses on the difference in moving expenses by examining past instances, and considers effective community contributions and support problems of effective university. I classified the support into four models: (1) solving problem model, (2) interchange model, (3) knowledge management model and, (4) discovering value model. Even when the activities were intermittent, I was able to confirm and categorize the activities according to intent. Results showed that the tendency of local cooperation, without considering moving cost, is the same for any traffic distance. Those deciding on an appropriate strategy to facilitate local cooperation should be conscious of these four models to get a proper sense of the moving costs suggested in this study.

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It is essential to consider the various segments, or demographic groups, of tourists during marketing process planning and management of a historical townscape area. In addition, it is important to understand the motives for touring this type of area as one of the criteria of segmentation, since this segmentation enables town administrators to clarify the needs of tourists visiting their area. The purpose of this study is to typify tourists who visit the historical townscape areas of Kurashiki or Takayama. For this purpose, we apply the latent class analysis to the data about the motives for touring these two areas. Consequently, several classes of tourists are identified, divided by the importance of attractiveness from the aspect of motives for a tour. It can then be cleared which segments of tourists place a high value on the historical townscape area’s general attractiveness, a specific attractiveness, or no attractiveness.

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We investigated the use of local vegetable products in the hospital food services of both Koseiren and non-Koseiren hospitals through the distribution of a questionnaire survey. Results showed that 52.0% of the Koseiren hospitals that responded use local vegetable products almost every day, whereas 58.2% of responding non-Koseiren hospitals use the products. Thus, a significant difference was observed between Koseiren hospitals and non-Koseiren hospitals. The difference can be attributed to those hospitals established by the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) Group and the management of food services in Koseiren hospitals. The results of the study suggest that, first, there should be more active use of local vegetable products in Koseiren hospitals, and second, greater acknowledgment and a wider extension to hospitals all over the country are important.

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In many cases of local biodiesel fuel (BDF) production, the demand for BDF is greater than the BDF produced from the available supply of waste edible oil (WEO). In order to bridge this gap, it is important to analyze the factors affecting households’ intention to cooperate in supplying WEO, and identify measures to improve this intention, as a lot of household WEO is currently disposed as burnable waste. This study then analyzed these factors by using cross tabulation and quantification theory II based on the results of a questionnaire survey distributed to the inhabitants in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Finally, we present measures to improve households’ intention to supply WEO.

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This paper clarifies differences in consumer behavior toward fruits through a questionnaire survey given to Japanese and Taiwanese university students. The main results are as follows:
1) In both countries, eating habits of students are distinguished by their level of health consciousness (e.g., they think that fruits are well-suited for their health-conscious dietary life).
2) Overall, the students like fruits, want to eat them every day, and regard them as indispensable to their eating habits; however, Japanese students revealed a lower frequency of fruits consumption.
3) There are differences in the students’ images of fruits, purchase channels, and checkpoints for choosing individual fruits, such as price, color, shape, and seasonality.

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The main purpose of this paper is to identify about factors of unplanned purchasing for consumers at farmers’ market. For this study, we selected a farmers’ market located at a tourist attraction.
The results show that consumers can be divided into three types according to date, gender, companion and age. Most customers come to the market to purchase special products in the target area and vegetables; however, many customers have also shopped the sales floor for items other than vegetables. Therefore, unplanned purchases can be classified into different products categories. Evaluation, price, quality, and safety are affected by customer purchase. Then, it is considered that these assessments become important during the decision to purchase again.

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In this paper, actual conditions of outside-store retailing by farmers’ markets in hilly and mountainous areas were identified through questionnaire data gathered from farmers’ markets in Okayama Prefecture (n=80). Farmers’ markets located in hilly areas were more frequently (41.3%) left with unsold vegetables and were poorly attended. To mitigate these problems, they attempt outside-store retailing. Most direct sales of vegetables in hilly areas is via farmersʼ markets, which is one method of outside-store retailing, and holds significance for both farmers and city inhabitants.

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Upon examining farmlands in the suburban villages of Hunan Province, China, this study identified that farmland liquidity is becoming increasingly imbalanced, owing to four factors: (1) compulsory integration, (2) inefficient utilization, (3) embezzlement of land rent, and (4) back conversion of the farmland. This study asserts that these factors are primarily the result of governmental actions, namely under- or over-intervention of administrative services and the illegal infringement of the rights of farmers. In order to tackle these problems, this study suggests the establishment of a farmers’ cooperative society, which would protect the interests of farmers and provide them with a platform to negotiate with the government.

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This paper examines the present situation of in-situ conservation of traditional vegetable varieties in Nara Prefecture, and how local producers reproduce original seeds of Yuzaki Nebuka (onion) and Katahira Akane (red turnip) to retain geographical authenticity of the products. Local Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) play a vital role in collecting, storing, and allocating the seeds of Yuzaki Nebuka. In the case of Katahira Akane, however, villagers organize a competition for the turnip every year, in which plants of good quality are selected to multiply, as an attempt to conserve good seeds. However, there are few successors of both crops, partly because these brands are too narrowly defined in terms of producing areas. This implies that some flexibility is needed in order to establish geographical legitimacy and implement an effective in-situ conservation of traditional vegetables.

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[in Japanese]

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While Chinese people’s awareness of food safety is increasing, Shandong Asahi Green Source High-Tech Farm Co., LTD (Company A) uses advanced technology from Japan to produce safe milk and vegetables, and employs various strategies to increase sales.
Company A’s safe production is possible through a system that guarantees the following:
1) By carrying out both production and processing, Company A can confirm the milk production’s history.
2) This circular agricultural system uses non-chemical fertilizer and no agrochemicals.
3) A refrigerated system for producing and transporting milk.
This system is enabled through the use of Japanese advanced technology and the hiring of personnel capable of using this technology.

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This study investigates buyer functions in food service businesses, using vegetables and fruits as foods for differentiation, and considers the specialization of key functions comprising these businesses as a result of store franchising.
Results show that, like other key functions, buyer functions are also divided into specialized areas. Some buyers were identified as having the functions of searching for foods, proposing commercialization, and developing restaurant menus, while other buyers concentrate on the purchase, procurement, and supply of products to serve the food preparation sector. These findings suggest that food producers are more likely to achieve successful transactions when negotiating with buyers from food service businesses if they recognize not only the buyers’ job types, but also their functions.

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This study examines conditions and issues related to the marketing activities of vegetable and fruit producing centers, primarily those that target mass retailers from the perspective of “in-store push” and “in-store pull” marketing strategies.
Federations such as the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) Zen-Noh Prefectural Headquarters, which is the headquarters of the six prefectures examined in this study, have implemented both “in-store push” and “in-store pull” strategies. Many such activities use indirect approaches via the wholesale market, which can create challenges in building relationships with consumers, who are the ultimate end customers. Efforts to link “in-store push” and “in-store pull” directly were observed in some cases, in which the producers not only developed relationships with their target mass retailers, but strengthened their ties with the end customers (i.e., consumers) as well.
Continued integration activities will be needed, such as applying information collected during marketing activities to farming guidance for respective JA units.

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