This study aims to explain the process of initiating meal preparation by examining changes in the behaviors and perceptions of meal preparation of men in two-earner households that prepared meals for themselves. In some cases, men started cooking for the first time when they lived alone but later discontinued the practice, only to resume it after getting married. For instance, one man acquired cooking skills through guidance from his wife and another man’s perception of cooking changed because of his wife’s expectations for shared housework responsibilities. The analysis revealed that, apart from perceptions of sharing housework, three interconnected factors played a vital role in sustaining their efforts: cooking skills, the meal preparation environment, and the meal preparation perception.

The objective of this study is to analyze the total factor productivity (TFP) of soybean in China. The present study used a multilateral index to measure regional soybean TFP and analyzed the factors affecting TFP. This study used province-level pooled data from 2004 to 2020. The results show that the trend of soybean TFP since 2014 seems to have accelerated. However, the contribution rate of conventional production factors has been remarkably high with the increase in soybean production. In addition, the improvement in water supply development and the reduction of the number of disaster areas contributed to the increase in TFP.

This study examines home living improvements in postwar Okinawa, focusing on the movement for the abolition of Senkotsu (cleansing remains) and the establishment of crematories. Women’s associations in Okinawa initiated the home living improvement before the government provided official extension services for it. As part of the home living improvement, the Kizyoka Women’s Association (KWA) in Ohgimi village started the movement. Senkotsu was very hard and painful for women, so the KWA proceeded with the movement, and finally a crematory was built. Meanwhile, the movement also spread to other villages. The government began to provide extension services for home living improvement, and home advisors sent to various areas supported the movement of women’s associations.

This study aims to explore and analyze the efforts made by local governments, understand the concerns of officials responsible for promoting the establishment of “Region Management Organization (RMO)”, discuss and examine the types of external support sought by local governments, and examine the challenges they face in receiving such support. This study is based on a questionnaire survey on the initiatives for establishing the RMOs of local governments in Oita Prefecture. The results indicated differences in the policies and support systems implemented for establishing RMOs of local governments. Moreover, most administrative staff responsible for RMO promotion lacked prior experience with workshops. Furthermore, the study revealed that the staff had a high level of understanding of the administrative structures. However, they displayed a lower level of understanding regarding effective methods to motivate residents to participate in RMO initiatives. In terms of external support, the staff primarily sought expertise and information to aid them in their efforts.

This study aims to clarify the ideal approach for governmental support in farm management development through a case study of the respective support in the developmental stage of farm management in agricultural extension services by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government. The study observes an actual farm management development which the Hiroshima Prefectural Government set as a benchmark of the agropolicy and focuses on the problems faced by farm managers and how they solved them; what organizations, such as local governments, provided support; and how farm managers increased their management abilities. According to this study, the Hiroshima Prefectural Government changed the method of establishing the policy goal of agriculture from promoting agricultural items to purposing an ideal image of farm management development. In addition, it set the index of farm management development according to the organizational system and human resource.

In community-based farming corporations, organizational continuity problems are becoming apparent owing to the aging phenomena of members and retirement of farmers. This study aims to clarify the present situation and strategic alliances of agricultural partner corporations through a case study of entrepreneurial farm businesses in an agriculturally disadvantaged area. The results of this study verify the following three points: First, it demonstrates that constructing a management strategy for a deep partnership with the rural community and aiming for the company’s development are important. Second, it clarifies that centralized management resources are crucial to realize business development and investment for regional revitalization. Third, it establishes that community-based initiatives are important for understanding and sympathizing with management philosophy.

This study focuses on the motives of out-migrants for becoming board members in their home villages, specifically in the case of Torii, Keihoku, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. Based on interviews with three out-migrants, it was revealed that they had four types of motives: 1) their own positions or characteristics, 2) the conditions of their parents or parents’ houses, 3) their feelings for their home villages, and 4) the relationships with residents in their home village. Therefore, for out-migrants to become board members in their home villages, it is important that residents create an opportunity for local children, who may be out-migrants in the future, to learn how adults maintain their villages, inform out-migrants of current situations in their home villages, and maintain out-migrants’ relationships with their former schoolmates of the same age.