This study dynamically analyzes the organizational process of a new rural community organization, focusing on how a predecessor organization and its activities shaped this process. It focuses on two research goals: (1) constructing an analytical framework using concepts from MacIver (2009), and (2) clarifying the dynamics and success factors of organizing through a case study.

To achieve the first goal, a framework was developed to enable integrated analysis of social relations, social processes, and leadership formation in a rural community. This framework presents leadership as an evolving process incorporating socialization and individualization. It also embeds the mechanism through which a leader’s individual interests are gradually communalized within the community, showing how organization emerges through the interactive and parallel transformation of individuals and rural community structure.

The analytical framework was employed to analyze the process of establishing a new community-based group-farming organization in X Town, Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture. The analysis identifies four key success factors:

(1) A predecessor organization functioning as a “Ba” (a mediating association fostering the dynamic interplay of socialization and individualization in a rural community).

(2) Phased communalization of interests through careful consensus-building.

(3) A leader who diffuses individual interests throughout the community.

(4) The leader’s external experiences, which promote psychological maturity and provide skills unavailable within the community.

From a policy perspective, institutional support for associations serving as “Ba” is desirable, along with fostering new relational spaces that support phased communalization of interests and leadership development in rural communities.

This study empirically examined the relationship between executive loans to agricultural corporations and subsequent changes in profitability indicators. The analysis employed propensity score matching using financial data on agricultural corporations provided by Teikoku Databank. The findings revealed the following: (1) Agricultural corporations that received loans from their executives experienced a decline in operating profit margins from the year following the loan to the subsequent year. (2) This decline in operating profit margins was more pronounced when the funds were obtained for cash flow management purposes.

Amid the growing popularity of Japanese cuisine, soy source—an indispensable Japanese seasoning for this cuisine has also been attracting attention. However, demand for soy source has been declining due to dietary diversification and Japna’s shrinking population, raising concerns about the decreasing number of small breweries. This is especially concerning given the important role local breweries play in creating and preserving regional culinary heritage. Therefore, this study investigates the online direct selling activities of local soy sauce breweries and the factors contributing to their success. To this end, we employed ordered logit models using data collected from breweries’ websites. The estimation results revealed that breweries producing value-added soy source, using traditional wooden tubs, and receiving awards exhibited stronger online sales performance. In contrast, overseas expansion efforts were limited, primarily due to constraints in managerial resources.

In countryside tourism, offering diverse experiential programs and providing accommodations is essential. Farm inns, which combine lodging with hands-on activities, play a central role in this approach. Although promoting this policy and marketing farm inns require market analysis, recent research on farm-inn guests remains limited. This study examines the characteristics of farm-inn guests using ordered logit models based on data from an online survey. The analysis indicates that being male, younger in age and having had homestay experiences during childhood are associated with a higher frequency of farm-inn stays. To increase the frequency of these stays, it is important to disseminate information and attract individuals whose primary travel purpose is mass tourism.

Determining who cultivates the farmland in mountainous areas is a key challenge in Japanese agricultural policy. Publicly or cooperatively funded corporations are often viewed as the final option for maintaining cultivation. However, excessive pressure to accept leased agricultural land can jeopardize their viability. This study conducted interviews with third-sector corporations and farmers in the Tohoku region, revealing that successful management establishment requires a high level of managerial competence and significant discretionary authority by the proprietor in deciding whether to borrow land.

This paper examines the characteristics of the process leading to collaboration among region management organizations (RMOs) and the cooperative strategies related to business operations in the Risyu region of Ena City, Gifu Prefecture. It also explores the conditions necessary for agricultural support through inter-RMO collaboration. While each district in the Risyu region had independently managed its regional affairs, a shared sense of urgency about the region’s future prompted the formation of inter-RMO partnerships. This collaboration was achieved through the development of a joint action plan and its approval by local communities. In the realm of business, a strategy that prioritized cost-saving cooperative projects and considered potential local government support facilitated early implementation, effectively demonstrating the benefits of collaboration. However, significant disparities in the agricultural management conditions of the three districts hindered the realization of unified agricultural support through inter-RMO cooperation.

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent trends in agricultural finance among regional banks, using multiple regression analysis with financial indicators and regional statistics. It also examines the perceptions of regional banks toward agricultural finance and the evolution of their initiatives, based on interviews with three institutions. The analysis reveals that external factors such as the prominent role of agriculture in the regional economy, have a greater influence on banks’ willingness to engage in agricultural finance than their internal resources. Qualitative findings on the development process of regional bank’ initiatives highlight three key points: (1) the difficulty of risk assessment in agriculture has been alleviated through accumulated knowledge; (2) information asymmetry has been reduced as a result; and (3) a division of roles still exists between government-led financing programs and regional banks. Within this context, regional banks have begun developing strategies to explore new opportunities in agricultural finance.

This study aims to examine how information about biodiversity influences consumers’ purchase intentions for organic products, with the broader goal of promoting organic agriculture. Three videos were created to enhance consumers’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and experiential understanding of biodiversity. Changes in their purchase intentions for organic rice were assessed using a difference-in-differences estimation before and after viewing the videos. The key findings are as follows: (1) Video-based information significantly influenced the purchase intentions of potential and indifferent consumers, while having minimal impact on loyal consumers. (2) Among potential consumers willingness to purchase high-priced organic rice increased when exposed to information that enhanced self-efficacy. Conversely, among indifferent consumers, willingness to purchase low-priced organic rice increased when the information improved both self-efficacy and experiential understanding.

In this study, the agricultural sector is seeing an increase in the acceptance of foreign workers as Japan’s foreign worker system shifts to include the “Specified Skilled Worker” status. In this context, the aim of this study is to identify the employment intentions of foreigners seeking career advancement in Japan, focusing on the employment factors foreigners seek in Japan and the mechanism. The results showed that 1) Vietnamese and Indonesians advance their careers in the agricultural sector from foreign technical intern trainee to Specified Skilled Worker status. 2) On the other hand, people from Myanmar wanted to study abroad and work long-term on “Technical/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa.” In Japan, the number of Myanmar nationals taking the “Specified Skills Examination” in the agricultural sector is increasing, but it was also revealed that the actual number of those who pass the examination does not necessarily lead to employment.

The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of a sixth-industrialization project—cultivating popcorn and manufacturing microwave popcorn products—on the profitability of Maeda Grain Farm Co., Ltd. The analysis reveals that, in the initial phase of sixth-industrialization, challenges arise in all three key areas of economic activity: raw material production, food manufacturing, and sales. This period involves significant trial and error. However, as these issues are resolved and the project progresses from the initial phase to the growth phase, it becomes possible to better forecast outcomes in production, manufacturing, and sales. This improves the accuracy of planning and creates opportunities for business expansion. The study demonstrates that added value increases once the business gains stability after overcoming the challenges of the initial phase.

This study investigates the influence of regional characteristics on farmland leasing through Farmland Intermediary Management Institutions (FIMIs) across four agricultural regions in Japan. Using municipal-level data and beta regression model, the study identifies how infrastructure, economic conditions, and governance structures impact FIMI efficiency. Key findings include: (1) In urban regions, leasing is supported by infrastructure, profitable entities, moderate governance, and aging managers—although limited farmland and the preferences of younger managers pose challenges. (2) In flat regions, large-scale infrastructure and moderate community engagement improve efficiency, while younger managers and excessive meetings hinder it. (3) In hilly regions, small-scale infrastructure, profitable entities, and frequent collaboration foster leasing, while fragmented land, depopulation, and younger managers present difficulties. (4) In mountainous regions, paddy infrastructure and generational dynamics promote leasing, but multifunctional land use and governance fatigue remain obstacles. Region-specific strategies—such as tailored infrastructure investments, governance reforms, and economic incentives can enhance FIMI effectiveness.

A fact-finding survey in an advanced smart farming region of Hokkaido revealed that the actual use of robot tractors for unmanned operation remains limited. However, a simulation analysis comparing conditions before and after the introduction of robot tractors in paddy field crop rotation management demonstrated the potential to expand the scale of family farming operations and improve farm income. Furthermore, a focus on qualitative changes in farm management suggests that adopting robot tractors could significantly influence the future of regional agriculture.

Amid the declining demand and price of rice in Japan, the importance of introducing horticultural crops into rice farming is increasing. However, barriers exist in acquiring and accumulating intangible assets necessary for efficient farm management. While previous studies suggest that social capital is related to the acquisition of intangible assets, managerial values, and diversification, the pathways and timing of these effects remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative survey on the growth processes of five horticultural crop producers to clarify the impact of social capital on the introduction and expansion of horticultural crops in rice farming. The results reveal two types of processes for introducing and expanding horticultural crops. Our findings indicate that expansion processes were both related and unrelated to diversification. Furthermore, social capital influences the introduction and expansion of horticultural practices in rice farming by facilitating access to management resources and supporting business diversification.

This study aims to examine the factors influencing crop planning in paddy field management in early rice production areas. Miyazaki Prefecture is the earliest rice planting and harvesting area in Japan. In this study, the key factors considered are the timing of rice seed orders and the sales channels. The research methodology includes a questionnaire survey of and interviews with agricultural managers. The study found that rice seed orders are typically placed 2 years before sowing, and most agricultural managers determine sales channels in the autumn before harvesting. Therefore, crop planning decisions are made in the autumn prior to rice harvesting.