The purpose of this paper is to clarify with whom children eat evening meal in Japan, and the factors. The items of eating classification are not only eating-alone and eating-with-family but also eating-besides-family, eating-with-brothers/sisters and eating-with-others. I also showed the consideration in classifying the above and in analyzing multinomial logit using anonymous data of Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities in 2006. My results indicates (1) junior high school and high school children in single-female-households tend to eating alone, (2) cramming school or learning out of school is the main factor disturbing eating-with-family, and (3) the parents’ working-long-hours is not the main factor of not eating-with-family.

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This study identifies behavioral and psychological characteristics of JA personnel in charge of marketing vegetable and fruit products and examines the response measures for future human resource development. Characteristics of JA activities for marketing vegetables and fruits consist of internal marketing activities to coordinate and persuade union members’ and producer associations’ actions, and external marketing activities to help customers achieve and continue sales. As such, JA is implementing various marketing activities by linking these aspects. Regarding human resource development, personnel acquire principles and skills of marketing activities by learning from others at the workplace (role models). For future development, JA requires policies addressing these personnel linkages and role models for the marketing of vegetable and fruit products.

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In this paper, we analyze the skill characteristics and extension system of wild vegetable farm groups. As such, we conduct a case study of a wild vegetable farm group in the Mamurogawa agricultural cooperative, and focus on related group activities skill extension. As wild vegetable farms are required specific skills, skill extension is related to small improvement activities in wild vegetable farm groups. Furthermore, the cultivation skill of wild vegetables is a difficult technique of this extension. However, a skill is shared and extended among members of similar qualities.

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In the Arida district, Wakayama Prefecture, a mandarin primary producing area, various shipping units supply their products independently, the market valuation of their products being relatively low. Consequently, this study clarifies the inefficient factors to improve the market valuation of mandarins produced in the district under the united brand “Arida QUALITY.” In the Arida district, low quality products are shipped because individual shipping units sort their products using their original standards. The united brand “Arida QUALITY”, which certifies high quality mandarins, cannot prevent individual shipping units from providing low quality mandarins and, thus, help improve their market valuation.

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This paper considers methods of helping farmers understand the merits of converting from traditional small-scale to community farming. We conducted a workshop in Miki town, Kagawa Prefecture, where traditional small-scale farming is prevalent, to present a numerical estimate on the merits of conversion to 19 farmers. After the presentation, farmers discussed freely their views on community farming. As such, four farmers positively changed their views toward the merits of conversion and nine others did not to perceive these merits positively after the workshop. Our survey shows that the majority of the latter was dissatisfied with the explanations presented in the workshop.

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This study ascertains perceived user value of online supermarkets, particularly addressing two use processes: the continuous use of online supermarkets from inception until now, and the process of use for not only the purchase of food products, but the post purchase cooking stage. At the beginning of online supermarket use, users assess their benefits by comparison with a supermarket cooperative. Subsequently, they develop the inherent value of online supermarkets by using them continuously, while applying personal conditions, such as convenience and objectives, which vary among individuals. The addition of the cooking stage to the process of using online supermarkets helps users actively create value and meaning for online supermarkets.

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This study discusses the applicability of the construal level theory to consumer behavior toward agricultural products, by investigating the evaluation axis of strawberry purchasing consumers under different psychological distances. Temporal and social distances affected the evaluation axis for strawberries, a result mostly consistent with the construal level theory. Therefore, the theory is reflective of agricultural products purchasing behaviors. As such, an adaptation of the theory would be useful in studying consumer behavior toward these products. On the other hand, spatial distance did not affect the evaluation axis for strawberries. Therefore, the theory may be ineffective in analyzing consumer behavior toward agricultural products compared to other goods, which can be explained by differences in purchasing frequency.

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In this study, we estimate the potential electricity volume and solar photovoltaic power generation profitability using abandoned agricultural land in Hokkaido. We assume the introduction of photovoltaic power generation facilities on all abandoned agricultural land in Hokkaido and perform the cost-benefit analysis of the investment for solar photovoltaic power generation facilities under the feed-in tariff scheme. The results show that the return of investment for solar photovoltaic power generation facilities was higher than the total investment cost.

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This study analyzes policy instruments for conserving hermatypic coral ecosystems in Japan. First, it reviews the regulations for conserving coral reefs in marine protected areas and, second, analyzes the necessary regulations against each type of deterioration factor. As a result, present guidelines are not sufficient for preventing degradation by overuse. To supplement these, the government provides a method that they officially authorize, that is, voluntary rule agreed by local stakeholders under the framework of the Ecotourism Promotion Law. However, the effectiveness of this approach is limited. Moreover, a case study of the Kerama Islands shows strong stakeholder incentive for establishing this rule is necessary for convention creation. Additionally, it is important to design the consensus building framework to save transaction costs.

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