In this study, we improved and further developed the existing GIS-based model for screening terraced rice lots in its conservation priority with focuses on three aspects; landscape value, agricultural efficiency and disaster prevention function. Then the model was applied to the Wakayama Prefecture area within the Kii Peninsula region in central Japan, in which has a clear north-south gradient in geological features. As the results, constructed model performed effectively in selecting rice lots with higher conservation priority within 10km spatial scale. Moreover, in the northern part of the prefecture, agricultural efficiency was an important aspect in the model, whereas landscape value and disaster prevention function were also detected in the middle and southern parts, respectively. Prefectural governmental officials in charge of terraced paddy conservation policies, who were interviewed, supported an applicability of this model in actual institutional fields because it was guaranteed by scientific approaches. Based upon these figures, we proposed that at prefectural spatial scale the model calibrated among three aspects depending on geologic and topographic conditions could be utilized for prioritizing terraced paddies without serious regional inequalities in institutional supports.

Old residential areas in Japanese suburbs have challenges in maintaining planted trees due to current residents' aging and new residents' less interest in tree maintenance. As a solution to the problem, the present study considers increasing residents' motivation for maintaining trees by demonstrating the value of trees as ecosystem services using i-Tree. The quantified value was presented to residents through the questionnaire (n=782), and their perception change in the tree was analyzed. The result shows an overall positive perception change by offering quantified ecosystem services. However, there is a difference depending on the type of perception: necessity, amount, and motivation to further maintenance. Furthermore, although the whole perception change was positive, there was a group whose perception change was negative. The group was characterized by older, retired, longer residence length, and high tree maintenance motivation. Those people may have felt that the quantified ecosystem services were not worth the effort that they made for a long time.

Alternative food networks (AFNs) are an alternative to the conventional food system that aim for environmental and social sustainability from food production to consumption. While previous research has examined individual types of AFNs, there is no survey giving a full overview of the different types of AFNs in Japan. Therefore, we examined fifty-six cases of AFNs, and categorized them according to their characteristics. Firstly, using the Multi-actor Perspective framework, we categorized AFNs based on the social positions of the actors comprising the network whether they belonged to the state, third-sector, community, market, or intermediate organizations. Secondly, we categorized AFNs by their logistics into five types: direct, intermediary, real platform, online platform, and information media. Finally, in each category of AFN, we determined the key actor that determines what aspects are valued in the agricultural products?landscape conservation, environmental friendliness, etc. We found that the type of the key actor affects the commitment of the AFN to environmental and social sustainability. In particular, the results indicated that it may be difficult to achieve commitment when the “consumer” is the key actor. We concluded that two points to focus on for assessing AFNs are (1) Who is the key actor? (2) What are the values and intrinsic motivation of the key actor?

The planning and practicing workshops about park use are being conducted against the backdrop of the growing importance of expansive personal use and the fact that many parks are about to undergo a period of redevelopment. This research, focusing on the expansive personal use in planning and practicing workshops for park redevelopment, aims to identify findings that will be useful in redeveloping parks and the value of utilizing parks and to suggest how this value can be enhanced. Based on the questionnaire surveys conducted in the planning and practicing workshop, the social experiment at Kongo Chuo Park, and the interview survey with the workshop organizers, the following points were clarified. The values of utilizing parks are increasing the expandability of daily personal uses in the parks, cultivating a positive awareness of others, creating the awareness of objectively evaluating their own personal uses, and changing the consciousness regarding parks. The finding for park redevelopment is for planners to recognize that they are important to focus on improving the autonomy of park use and to create highly visible parks. To increase the value of the workshops, it is important to procure tools to spend on its own, and to decide where to spend, too.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of goats for weed control in public green spaces from the perspective of reducing the environmental impact, recycling resources, and creating new landscapes, in addition to compensating for shrinking budgets and workforces of municipalities. However, due to the lack of systematic information on the challenges of organizations working on such projects, the key to successful goat weeding remains unexplored. Therefore, a trial experiment of goat weeding for organizations with no experience was conducted at five facilities, and exploratory interviews were conducted with 15 employees. The narratives obtained were presented as a time-series diagram of their experiences using the Trajectory Equifinality Modeling (TEM) approach. The factors that give rise to changes in awareness were used to identify problems in introducing goat weeding in public green spaces managed by organizations and effective measures to deal with them. The results suggest that providing training before introduction, building consensus within the organization, clarifying the division of roles in rearing work, providing feedback to rearing staff on evaluations by users of the facility and staff and establishing a goat weeding support system are important.

Miyazaki Hanatabi 365 project, which includes 11 public and private gardens in Miyazaki City, is one of the Japan Garden Tourism project organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. This study aimed to clarify the present situation and performance of the Miyazaki Hanatabi 365 garden tourism project from the perspective of garden tourism project managers and discuss the potential for future garden management and collaboration in local cities. Questionnaire analysis of the component garden managers revealed differences in their understanding of the project and its continuation. In particular, public and private organizations had different understandings of the issues and importance of the project. In addition, interviews with the Miyazaki Prefecture, Miyazaki City, and the Secretariat of Miyazaki Hanatabi 365 revealed that organizations lack a mutual understanding of the positioning of garden tourism, future development, and project management. In the future, it is important to share the business situation of garden tourism and develop flexible public-private partnership operations suited to the characteristics of local cities.

This research aims to know the effects and the possibilities of GI implementation by analyzing its scenario, focused on the relationship between land use, land coverage as well as the form of land use and stormwater runoff control. The research site is Ooka river upper basin, located in Yokohama city that was selected based on the hazard risks and public land ratio after analyzing 54 basins. After reviewing GI related policies and actual conditions, GI scenarios of three classifications of land use were analyzed and compared. First, the control volume of stormwater runoff of each scenario was calculated. Scenario 1 (Facility based GI implementation) and Scenario 2 (concentrated GI implementation on public land) indicated subtle difference of the control volume of stormwater runoff. Second, as shown in chart 4, all the items were analyzed based on the different level of 3 classifications, land use, land coverage and the form of land use. The results indicated step by step, feasible options of effective GI implementation can be created, in comparison with the current consideration of rough GI implementation based on land use. As a result, GI scenarios based on the relationship between 3 classifications of land use and stormwater runoff suggested feasible and highly versatile options for GI implementation.

The purpose of this study is to obtain suggestions for potential future land use for recreation. We focus on park golf courses in three cities on underutilized land affected by the tsunami in Miyagi. We analyzed three aspects: land acquisition, management methods, and actual use. In each case, three cities created the land for the park golf course on the former site of group relocation. The Yamoto-Kaihin-Ryokuchi PG Center in Higashimatsushima and the Kesennuma PG Center in Kesennuma were managed by the designated manager, taking advantage of the climate conditions. Users come from both within and outside the city. The Yamoto-Kaihin-Ryokuchi PG Center is attractive for its large scale, while the Kesennuma PG Center is attractive for its community-based management. On the other hand, Ishinomaki City has established “Kenko Zukuri Park”, where people can play PG. The population is rapidly declining, and there is a high possibility that the facilities alone will not be used appropriately. When considering the recreational use of low-underutilized land, we suggested that site selection that anticipates the demand for the site usage, land securing efforts, and consideration of sustainable management methods are likely to make it easier for residents to accept the use and management of the site and to ensure that it attracts visitors.

In future city planning, it is necessary to consider not only the hardware aspect but also the inner aspect of consciousness in order to properly maintain and manage the space. The purpose of this study is to clarify the following; 1.Creating and demonstrating a comprehensive awareness index for territorialization behavior. 2.Clarify the difference and direction of consciousness between those who perform maintenance around the store and those who do not. This study takes the consciousness of the store owner who set up the planting space as an example. Therefore, response data was obtained by directly distributing and collecting data at the three shopping streets in Gunma. Through the research, following were clarified; 1.It was proved that “Interest in greening”, “Secure feeling in the social field”, “Consciousness of city planning”, “Effect of policies”, “Resistance to others”, and “Resistance to activities” are related to the comprehensive consciousness index of territorialization behavior. 2. There was a difference in six consciousness between those who performed maintenance around the store and those who did not. Considering the values, it seems that the direction from those who do not do to those who do is to raise consciousness of “ Consciousness of city planning”

This study aimed to examine changes in the awareness of project managers of eight councils, one for each plan, operating garden tourism under COVID-19 measures and important issues for the project's future development. The research method was to conduct a questionnaire survey of current garden tourism councils to identify important issues for future business project development. A textual analysis of the three-year report on the council's activities revealed changes in important keywords. The results further indicated that the council focuses primarily on "strengthening management and collaboration among gardens" and "strengthening the inbound response". The social changes assessed yearly before, during, and post-corona showed that "awareness of collaboration" was less likely to change, while "awareness of inbound" was more likely to change significantly. In future park management, it is important to construct goals that are not bound by change and project evaluations of activities based on social changes.

Evergreen oaks are widely used as landscaping trees in Japan. Litter removal has been carried out as a part of traditional tree management, and its negative effect on tree growth and vitality has been examined. Although oak roots are associated with mycorrhizal fungi to form ectomycorrhiza (ECM), which plays an important role in tree growth, the effect of litter removal on the environment of the trees has been scarcely studied. In this study, we investigated the effect of litter removal on the number of root tips and mycorrhizal formation rate associated with four ectomycorrhizal exploration types of two evergreen tree species. Results revealed that the abundance of root and ECM tips was lower in the litter removal plots of C. sieboldii and Q. glauca. The ectomycorrhizal exploration types of C. sieboldii and Q. glauca mostly comprised contact and short-distance types, whereas other exploration types were rarely observed with or without management. The absence of long- and medium-distance ECM implied that nutrients and water could only be obtained from nearly around the fine roots in the soil, which the litter, the source of nutrients, removed. These results indicate that litter removal management negatively affects the ECM root systems and partially explain the decline of oak trees owing to litter removal treatment.

Based on the analysis of classical literary works, this study elucidated the presence of references to the flower Dianthus spp., the types of emotions associated with it, and the descriptions related to its growth in riparian areas. Keyword extraction from the waka poetry database of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies revealed that D. spp. is mentioned in 444 poems written from the Asuka Period to the Muromachi Period. The most common type of sentiment felt toward this flower was awe in front of its beauty throughout all eras. However, the proportion of lover’s substitutes decreased as time progressed. There were no significant differences in the percentages of emotions between the term “Nadeshiko” and “Yamatonadeshiko”. The term “Kawaranadeshiko” first appeared in 1459 and was used in waka poems to describe the melancholy or sense of impermanence evoked by water flowing away along the riverbank. In contrast, only 57 references to D. spp. have been detected in literary works other than waka poetry anthologies, indicating that D. spp. is mostly associated with waka poetry. Fifteen cases mentioned its growth in riparian areas, which are associated with rivers. This study argues that within the Japanese cultural context, people’s perspectives toward D. spp. developed in two directions as they approached modernity.

While it is known that a guild of gardeners and plant dealers called "uekiya-nakama" existed in Kyoto by the 18th century, it is unclear how the guild was established because at that time some areas outside of Kyoto’s urban area were included in it. In this study, it is noted that the names of several “uekiya” (gardeners and plant dealers) are found in publications related to chrysanthemums that were popular in Kyoto during the Shotoku (1711-16) and Kyoho (1716-36) periods. The activities of uekiya at the chrysanthemum exhibitions of the time are explored, and the establishment of the uekiya-nakama is discussed with respect to trends in chrysanthemum. From the records of chrysanthemum exhibitions and publications on chrysanthemums of the time, it is revealed that the people driving the trend in chrysanthemums were hobbyists from different professional backgrounds. It is thought that uekiya who had been dealing in trees and flowers from olden times started their activities as a group to avoid missing out on the chrysanthemum trend, in which seedling trading had developed into a big business. It is also suggested that this activity surrounding the chrysanthemum trend may have led to the formation of the uekiya-nakama.

Geothermal power generation is one of the renewable energies that can contribute to realizing a low-carbon society in Japan, as it is one of the most abundant energy resources in the world. In order to create favorable regions for the utilization of geothermal power generation, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of geothermal power generation facilities. This paper aims to identify the characteristics of geothermal power generation facilities and their location environment in Japan through statistical analysis. The main findings are as follows. (1) Most of the medium and large geothermal power generation facilities (installed capacity: 2000 kW or more) are operated by electric power companies that started operation between 1965 and 2004. They are mainly of the single or double flash generation types. Small (installed capacity: less than 2000 kW) geothermal power generation facilities are often operated by renewable energy companies that started operation in 2005 or later. They are mainly of the binary cycle generation type. (2) Medium and large geothermal power generation facilities are often located in natural park areas, relatively far from Densely Inhabited Districts. Small geothermal power generation facilities are often located in urban areas, with relatively high population or population and accommodation facilities densities.

In this study, we focused on the phenomenon of technology transfer to Japan of walking trail projects originating from overseas cases, and conducted case studies on “footpaths” (UK Public Footpaths and Japan Footpath Association), “Olle” (Jeju Olle and Kyushu Olle Certified Regional Council), and “Kurort Health Waking” (German Climatic terrain cure and Japan Kurort Research Institute) to compare the relationships among stakeholders and the planning technical elements of the walking trail projects, and obtained the following four suggestions. First, there is planning technology related to the road environment as the basis of the walking trail project; second, in the process of technology transfer, the technology is introduced step by step rather than aiming for immediate and complete replication, thereby adapting to the social conditions and local resources in the country and region; third, it is important to develop the walking trail project not only as a physical space improvement project, but also as a tourism and recreation project., and fourth, it is essential to have a continuous relationship between the overseas normative cases and the domestic development organizations.

This research focuses on the role of urban parks as a place to inherit and transmit local nature and historical context. We conducted a field survey targeting neighborhood parks in the 23 wards of Tokyo, and analyzed and evaluated the current situation from the perspective of inheritance and transmission of local context. As a result, the parks that opened up to the 1950s were developed as places to inherit the local context. However, from the 1960s to the 1990s, urban parks emphasized function, efficiency, and fairness, and it was found that the local context was not sufficiently conscious. In addition, as seen in the location of famous places in the early modern Edo period, parks located on slopes with high recreational potential tended to be developed to reflect the local context. Neighborhood parks that have been developed since the 2000s tend not to have a clear awareness of the direction of inheriting and transmitting the local context, despite changes in related administrative policies and legal systems.

Most residential complexes in Japan have been developed for more than 40 years now, and due to aging, a functional decline in local communities has been reported. To address this challenge, this study aims at regional exchange with a butterfly garden-on a field at Tamondai Central Park in Tarumi district, Kobe city-where children can collect insects. The garden design in the park was executed on September 19, and a total of 381 pots of flower seedlings of 13 species were planted by 32 local children and adults. A comparison of changes in citizen exchange revealed that, after the implementation of the design, the number of users increased by 1.87 times than before the implementation. This also showed that the exchange between children and older adults increased significantly; hence, it can be said that the butterfly garden had a distinct effect on the community’s redevelopment.

The purpose of the study was to understand the occurrence of indicator birds and their factors in order to confirm the biodiversity of alleys and narrow streets, which are familiar spaces for urban residents. The study was deemed significant because urban biodiversity has become increasingly important in recent years, and contact with nature has a positive effect on people. The study site consisted of 24 alleys in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto. Bird surveys were conducted eight times each between September and November 2020. The results showed that bird species commonly found in urban areas accounted for the majority of the identified bird species. However, a few bird species that are not common in urban areas also appeared. The PCA results suggest that these bird species are influenced by the man-made structures and the percentage of area occupied by open space within a 50m radius buffer centered on the alley or narrow streets of interest. On the other hand, vacant lots are considered to have negative impacts such as degrading the urban landscape. Therefore, it is considered necessary to further investigate in detail the impact of the presence of vacant land in urban areas on cities, people, and organisms.