Farm restaurants are becoming diversified in terms of service, menu, and orientation. This study investigated which managerial factors experienced by managers of farm restaurants result in their satisfaction by conducting a web-based ques­tionnaire survey of managers of farm restaurants in Japan in December 2014. The effective sample size was 63 out of 270 restaurants surveyed nationwide. We employed the conditional logit model to quantitatively identify the determinants of managers’ satisfaction by considering diverse types of farm restaurants. The estimation result revealed that the more a manager worked toward the enhancement of customer satisfaction in terms of the menu, tastes, interior design, and retaining of repeat visitors, the higher was the manager’s satis­faction. Therefore, in further evaluation of farm restaurants, it is crucial to consider capability building regarding these aspects.

This study was conducted in university farms and was authorized by the Inter-University Collabo­rative Education program for two purposes: first, to clarify the trend of agricultural training in univer­sity farms, and second, to identify the advantages and problems in collaborative education for both stakeholders: host and client universities. The results of the research revealed the following three points. First, the client departments were diversified in agri­cultural fields such as food science and nutri­tion, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. Second, the participation forms were classified into three types: order-made, ready-made, and free-ride. Many university farms largely preferred the order-made type. Third, although the clients’ evaluations were high, their continuous commitment to collabo­rative education may become difficult because of curriculum and financial limitations.

This study examines the internal effects of and framework for the evaluation of coworking local actions with university students. Based on the analysis of annual reports from the past 10 years in Enactus Japan, coworking of local actions with university students has made economic, envi­ronmental, and social contributions. Among these contributions, such coworking actions have provi­ded opportunities for the capacity development of individuals, organizations, and local communities. There are five ways in which coworking local actions with university students can help create sustainable internal effects. First is the construction of a developmental system in which trainees grow into trainers. Second is coworking with companies. Third is coworking with non-profit organizations. Fourth is coworking with the university center. The fifth is the establishment of a company by univer­sity students. Based on the above findings, this study demonstrated the internal effects of and framework for the evaluation of coworking local actions with university students.

In this study, I first summarized the shift of Japan’s agricultural policies with a focus on rice during the 44 years from 1970 to 2013. Then, I divided the 44 years into three periods and analyzed the formation factors of rice prices through the multiple regression analysis of each period. Factors that affected rice price formation differed based on shifts in agricultural policies and economic situations. In the 1970s and 1980s, the government’s purchase price of rice based on production cost affected the retail price of the voluntarily marketed rice. The production ad­justment of rice farms is an importance factor that affected the bidding price of the voluntarily market­ed rice between 1990 and 2003. Since 2004, the produc­tion volume and crop index of rice are important factors that affected the negotiated trading price of rice.

This study was conducted with the aim of examining the present condition of employee turnover based on the case analysis of large-scale paddy field farms. The results of the survey indicated that employee turnover of large-scale paddy field farms is very high and has become an important subject for their proprietors. The next match is needed to address these problems. In the adoption stage, it is important to promote under­standing to work of large-scale paddy field farms of a getting a job person. In the upbringing stage, it is important to plan for proper communication between the proprietor and the employees.

This study investigates the current state of perception and consumption of traditional vegetables by consumers in Kumamoto prefecture. By conducting a questionnaire survey of local residents and tourists, this study examines ways of expanding the utilization of these traditional varieties. We found that many local residents and tourists did not know about “Higo Yasai.” It was implied that presenting these vegetables as “traditional vegetables” in the farmers’ market would promote consumers’ perception of these traditional vegetables.

In this study, we analyze the role of small hydropower in solving the problems in rural areas from the environmental, economic, and social points of view. The research was conducted in Itoshiro village and Yoshino town, where the residents are involved with introducing small hydropower. The development of small hydropower leads to carbon dioxide reduction and also affects the productive diversification and economic circulation in each area. In order to enhance community participation in small hydropower projects, which is necessary to solve the problems in each area, the interrelationship between the local community and actors outside the region is important.