There are many large old-growth Japanese horse-chestnut (Aesculus turbinata) trees growing in the Kutsuki region, Shiga prefecture, central Japan, with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥1 m. Large old-growth trees are ecologically important as keystone structures in forests as they provide valuable habitats for many animal and plant species. In recent years, however, large old-growth trees have rapidly declined in many places around the world. In this study, we examined the characteristics of the growth environments of large old-growth Japanese horse-chestnut trees and analyzed the natural and social factors related to the establishment of these trees in a catchment area in the Kutsuki region. In our field survey, 230 Japanese horse-chestnut individuals including young trees were identified in the riparian zone, and 47 (20%) were large old-growth trees. These old-growth trees were mostly located in the upper parts of the catchment area and partly on the knick line of the side slope and upper part of the head hollow zone compared with the location of the small- and medium-sized individuals with DBH <1m. Additionally, we found that most of them were distributed along belts 15–20m in height above the riverbed and that the smaller individuals tended to grow in the lower zone. These results show that the large old-growth trees were probably established under more stable geomorphological conditions with fewer topographical disturbances. Additionally, intensive use of the deciduous broad-leaved forest in the Kutsuki region has occurred throughout history, such as periodic gathering of wood for firewood and charcoal production, and branches for fertilizer for rice cultivation. However, Japanese horse-chestnut trees are unsuitable for these purposes. It was also strictly prohibited to cut them under the customary law of the local government during the Edo period. Local inhabitants also collected the nuts to mix into rice cakes for consumption. Considering the social aspects, the large old-growth Japanese horse-chestnut trees have been maintained in the region under satoyama (traditional border zone between mountainous and arable land) conditions and by the selective conservation policies of the local government and local inhabitants. We conclude that the large old-growth Japanese horse-chestnut forest was established under a combination of relatively stable geomorphological conditions in the catchment area, selective conservation, and periodical disturbances by other tree species transplanted by local inhabitants.

In mountainous areas of Japan, people's lives are restricted by the natural environment, which makes it difficult and inconvenient to buy commodities or visit a hospital. These factors often contribute to decisions to relocate. In these mountainous areas, peddling traders have played an important role in providing commodities and enabling interactions with people in other areas. The number of peddling traders, however, declined after the era of rapid economic growth, and there are currently very few studies that examine the role and significance of current peddling traders in mountainous communities. This study aims to identify historical changes in the interactions between peddlers and local residents, as well as the characteristics of current customers in the Kutsuki area, Shiga prefecture, Japan. Existing peddlers are examined in the context of depopulation and aging, two ongoing issues in this mountainous area. Interviews were carried out with residents of Kutsuki and peddlers who currently operate in the area. In addition to these in-depth interviews, one peddling trader's activity was recorded using GPS. The results show that there are different types of social interactions between the peddlers, who played a vital role in the community until the late 1950s, and Kutsuki residents. During the 1960s, variations in population and employment led to a decrease in the number of peddlers as well as opportunities to use the peddling trades. This study also illustrates that while the current number of peddlers is small, they play a valuable role in offering an alternative method of shopping, as well as providing social interaction and communication that are vital to the elderly in Kutsuki who wish to remain in the area.

Recently, geospatial information has been expected to play an important role in providing technological support for the travel of people with visual impairments. However, excessive expectations risk falling into optimistic technical determinism. To develop measures for supporting travel behavior, it is necessary to define an alternative framework.

This study had two objectives. The first was to consider how to create “enabling space” for people with visual impairments using geospatial information. The second was to investigate the potential and challenges of supporting travel with geospatial information technology, with a focus on the relationships among space, technology, and the body. The subject of the research was the activity of making “verbal maps,” as carried out by a nonprofit organization called Kotoba-No-Michiannai in Tokyo. We performed a content analysis of 1,692 verbal maps, interviewed members of Kotoba-No-Michiannai, and conducted participant observations of mapmaking activity.

The results are summarized as follows: 1) While the development of information and communication technology has allowed the visualization of geospatial information, Kotoba-No-Michiannai makes verbal maps to support travel for people with visual impairments by representing information on fixtures that are recognized through touch such as tactile paving. 2) Since information is of little benefit if it is merely listed on the map, the information must be conveyed in an orderly manner. To avoid concentrating the attention of people with visual impairments on specific objects, verbal maps are designed to emphasize expanses of space by using words and phrases such as “station yard” and “sidewalk” frequently. 3) However, in spaces where there are no fixtures, it is difficult for verbal maps to fulfill their function and they impose physical burdens on people with visual impairments. Therefore, it is suggested that mere technological innovation is not sufficient to support travel, but creating spaces where technology can function effectively is necessary.

Historically, people with mental disabilities have been isolated from the local community. Against the trend of deinstitutionalization in Western countries, the number of psychiatric beds in Japan increased from the 1960s to the 1990s. In more recent years, policies regarding mental health have been enforced at the community level, but so far have not yielded dramatic results. Under such circumstances, this article examines support activities for people with mental disabilities in the town of Ainan, Ehime prefecture, as this town's activities are considered more advanced than in the rest of the country. The local psychiatric hospital has been central to Ainan's community, and leaders of support activities include local residents as well as mental health professionals. In this study, the process toward acceptance of people with mental disabilities in the local community is illustrated through the transformation of actors' relations and “negative attitudes.”

First, staff at the local psychiatric hospital and neighborhood residents became familiar with one another. After the director of the hospital set up a rehabilitation facility, its inhabitants began to blend into the local community through participation in local agriculture, aquaculture, and traditional events. Next, mental health professionals organized a support group to discuss issues related to the rehabilitation of people with mental disabilities. Throughout these discussions, the professionals advocated for the enlightenment of local residents. As a result, a support group was organized for local residents as well. Local leaders, such as professionals and managers of local enterprises, serve as the core of this organization, which has encouraged many local volunteers to take part in this group. In recent years, the aim of support activities has changed to become more inclusive.

Initially, local residents had a negative attitude toward people with mental disabilities, although this has transformed gradually into an attitude of acceptance due to changes in actors' relations. The main factor in the transformation was face-to-face relations with people with mental disabilities, which have since allowed these people to acquire roles within the local community. The number of psychiatric beds in Ainan has decreased notably in comparison with other municipalities in Ehime prefecture; however, a difference has surfaced in actors' awareness regarding the ideal method for implementing support activities. Furthermore, the lack of successors to lead these efforts has intensified with an aging, decreasing population.

Film, an important tool for spreading information on tourist destinations, has attracted wide attention from the industry and academic circles. Many examples have confirmed the driving effect of film on tourism development. However, previous research has paid little attention to the development mechanism of film tourism and related actors as well as their roles. The development of film tourism not only needs impetus from a film, but also requires the participation of related stakeholders, including tourists, hosts, intermediates represented by travel agencies, and the surroundings. This study attempted to fill this gap by investigating systematically how the movie If You Are the One induced tourism.

If You Are the One is a Chinese movie in which Chinese characters discover the existence and charms of east Hokkaido, Japan. With a famous director and actors, humorous dialogue, and beautiful views, the movie has created interest among the Chinese public in the eastern part of Hokkaido. Accompanied by marketing efforts by various actors from the state to local governments, it has accelerated the promotion of east Hokkaido as a tourism destination for Chinese.

Based on the analyses of the contents of the movie and the tours depicted in it, we found that the movie has played a key role for Chinese to recognize the east of Hokkaido and motivated them to visit. The film locations are the most important parts of tours in east Hokkaido and elsewhere on the island.

Local hosts' attitudes toward Chinese film tourism also explored in this study, which is based on a case study of the town of Shari. Shari is pinpointed in both the movie and tours, but has received only limited visitor numbers and limited benefits from Chinese film tourism because of difficult access. Therefore, although there are many local stakeholders interested in Chinese tourists, few take active roles in hosting visitors.

If You Are the One attracts Chinese tourists to multiple areas, thus facilitating the decentralization of inbound tourism. Nevertheless, the short-term effectiveness of film tourism, asymmetric supply-demand ratio between guests and hosts, and political barriers between the two countries must be examined further in practice.