Coastal sand, tephra, and continental eolian dust are known to be the origin of sand layers of Japanese coastal dunes. However, the properties of the layers composing such dunes are still obscure. This study examined the genesis and geomorphic history of the Shiriyazaki dunes and the loam layer underlying them, based on physicochemical properties. The Shiriyazaki dunes are located on the Tanabu Marine Terrace (10–20 m high a.s.l.) and contain five sand layers (I–V) separated by five buried humic soils with height profiles of 10–30 m. Grain size distribution, total carbon content, pH (NaF) value, and color parameters assessed using the CIE-Lab system were examined in 34 samples taken from a dune profile. The results on properties of sand layers II–V and the loam layer are summarized as follows 1) The grain size distribution of the dune material was characterized by the coexistence of two peaks, a distinct peak in sand (≧20 μm) and a gentle peak in silt–clay (<20 μm), and the grain size became finer in deeper layers. Shiriyazaki loam mainly consisted of the silt–clay fraction. 2)The total carbon content of dune materials ranged from 0.5 to 6.5 wt%. Based on the optical properties of humic acid extracts (MI, PI, and ΔlogK), except in the top layer of the dunes the humic acid was classified as type A, with a relatively high degree of humification. In contrast, the humic acid of Shiriyazaki loam was type P, with less humification. 3)The pH (NaF) value of samples was ≧9.5, indicating that they were tephric. 4) Color values (a*, b*, L*) measured in organic free samples showed that dune samples had the same yellowish hue (7.5 YR) as the Shiriyazaki loam. 5) On the uppermost terrace scarp on the northwest coast, many blowouts were formed by the strong winter monsoon and parabolic, seif, and transformational dunes were formed behind the blowouts. These findings suggest that sand layers II–V of the Shiriyazaki dunes developed through a process different from that of coastal dunes. Silt–clay fractions in the layers were inferred to be materials from the Shiriyazaki loam, which were eroded and reworked in the profile. The accumulation process of humus was associated with the supply of such fine fractions, resulting in the relatively high carbon content (TC≧1%) and higher humification degree (MI≦1.7) of sand layers II–V. As chemical properties were similar to those of Kuroboku soil (andosol), they were considered to be tephric-loess dunes. In contrast, sand layer I of the dunes, which alone showed a single peak in grain size distribution, was considered to be a coastal dune that developed before the formation of the tephric-loess dunes.

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The aim of this study is to investigate the supply structure of crude tea in Higashihagima District, Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in order to determine how the quality of crude tea is decided through business transactions. This study analyzes the types of transactions between factories with crude tea and tea merchants according to the different types of businesses associated with each crude tea factory. In Higashihagima District, factories with crude tea are classified as individual factories growing raw leaves, individual factories purchasing raw leaves, agricultural corporations, and limited companies. The types of individual factories both growing raw leaves and purchasing raw leaves have closer transactional relations with tea merchants in specific areas due to direct and indirect transactions with agents. These relations create a high quality supply of crude tea. On the other hand, the types of agricultural corporations and limited companies have only economic ties with tea merchants in the greater area through the intermediary transactions of agents and agricultural co-operative associations. These relations result in a large supply of crude tea, but which lacks in quality. As a result, in Higashihagima District, the supply structure of crude tea, the transactional relations of factories with crude tea and tea merchants, and the relations between these factories and farmers who grow raw tea leaves have become complex.

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Lake Koyama-ike, located in the northwestern part of the Tottori plain, is a coastal lagoon sheltered by sand dunes/bars along the western San'in region, western Japan. We took depositional facial samples from the lake and alluvial deposits in coring and trench excavations in the Takazumi lowland at the southern coast of Lake Koyama-ike. In addition to facial observations of the deposits, diatom fossil assemblages of the cores were analyzed to examine Late Holocene geoenvironmental changes. Chronologic discussion of the cores was based on seven radiocarbon ages found using the AMS method and volcanic ash. Before the K-Ah tephra (ca. 7.3 ka), correlated with the Jomon transgression, the marine area expanded around Lake Koyama-ike, and a sandy tidal flat developed in the inland area of the Takazumi lowland. This tidal flat became a freshwater marsh no later than the K-Ah tephra fall. Subsequently, the freshwater marsh was buried by muddy marsh deposits and sandy flood deposits from nearby rivers and then was transformed into an inland forest ca. 5,200 calBP. However, in the northern lowland, the inner bay formed before ca. 5,800 calBP. Then, this inner bay changed into a brackish lake with the deposition of sandy sediments from rivers after ca. 5,700 calBP. Finally, the salinity of the lake water decreased at ca. 4,600 calBP and it became a freshwater lake. This environmental change was observed in other coastal lowlands around Lake Koyama-ike, suggesting the possibility that the marine water channel between Lake Koyama-ike and the sea are was sheltered around this period.

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This study illustrates how a stable delivery system utilizing information and communication technology (ICT) was developed in the northern part of the city of Kawasaki. The delivery system was part of a pharmaceutical wholesaler's management strategy reqiring massive investment as a means of differentiation as well as mediation by the regional pharmaceutical association for increasing the ICT penetration rate of member pharmacies. The regionally specific healthcare environment involved a large market; scarce medical resource such as pharmacies, hospitals, and hospital beds; and dependence on St. Marianna University School of Medicine Hospital for many of its medical resources. The pharmaceutical wholesaler made a massive investment in an information system development based on this environment. The regional pharmaceutical association represented the interests of each pharmacy to avoid the risk of a shortage of pharmaceuticals and provided indirect support for introducing ICT. Previous studies examining the relation between ICT and cities tended to focus only on technological characteristics and assumed that ICT is introduced equally regardless of region. However, the present case study shows that ICT function is affected by the environment specific to urban pharmaceutical supply chains including locations of pharmacies and hospitals, topographic conditions, market size, and demand distribution. The behavior of the related actors also allowed ICT to support a stable pharmaceutical delivery system.

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