This study examines the implementation of extension services for home living improvement in the occupied Ryukyu Islands during the early period, with a focus on the Amami Islands. Although the policy of the Ryukyu project closely mirrored that of mainland Japan, it emphasized greatly on the realistic and economic aspects because of the region’s extreme poverty. On the Amami Islands, public halls and social education officers supported the formation of women’s associations and pertinent activities in each area. Home demonstration agents collaborated with public halls and agricultural extension workers to promote home living improvements, mainly targeting women’s associations. The main activities included eliminating unnecessary expenditure, promoting thrift and savings, setting up community stores, and improving kitchens and kamado (kitchen stoves).

This study analyzes the evolution of buyer structures in the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market from 1958 to 2019, focusing on changes in distribution destinations. It highlights how shifts in Japan’s food distribution system, particularly since the 1980s, have been driven by the rise of large-scale retailers and the food service industry. These developments led to a significant decline in the share of traditional small retailers, who were gradually replaced by large buyers such as supermarkets and restaurants. The study also examines changes in distribution schedules prompted by large buyers’ demand for earlier transactions. The data reveal two major periods of transformation: the 1970s–80s and around 2000, both of which align with regulatory changes and the growth of direct and pairwise trading. These transitions reflect broader structural changes in Japan’s food and retail sectors.

This study aims to clarify how a farmer’s choice of shipping destination in urban agriculture is related to cultivation size and working hours during post-harvest operations. Our case study focused on Welsh onion cultivation in Chiba Prefecture. We conducted interview surveys to collect data on the management of Welsh onion cultivation and its marketing channels in urban and remote areas. In urban areas, farmers tend to choose different marketing channels based on cultivation size. This flexibility leads to differences in the work systems of post-harvest operations and work efficiency, as measured by shipping quantity per work hour. Conversely, in remote areas, cooperative shipping is dominant, resulting in fewer shipping destination options and smaller disparities in work efficiency among farmers. Urban agriculture enables diverse shipping destinations, allowing for the selection of shipping options based on production scale, which in turn enhances the work efficiency of large-scale farmers.