In the last decade, the domestic production of canned mackerel has increased approximately 80%. Besides the increased demand for raw mackerel for canning, mackerel exports have also increased, thereby intensifying domestic procurement competition. Therefore, this study investigated how the canned mackerel industry been procuring the fish. Accordingly, this study first identified the current situation of domestic demand for mackerel for canning by examining changes in domestic mackerel supply and demand faced by mackerel canning companies in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. Second, this study identified the challenges associated with the procurement of raw mackerel and the increasing difficulty securing the fish for canning as well as potential responses. Our analysis showed that the prices of raw mackerel for canning are rising sharply because of increased prices for large fish due to increasingly biased catch compositions, intensifying procurement competition among industries for small and medium fish, and intensifying procurement competition for small fish due to export growth. Furthermore, given the increasing difficulty of procuring raw mackerel, industry profits are declining, and there are currently no effective measures to counteract this trend.

This paper analyzes, based life histories of two locals, social factors that have formed the history and structure of the sardines industry in Minamikushiyama, Nagasaki Prefecture. The first factor is the relationship between sardines fishers and dried sardines manufacturers, which has changed over time. The second factor is the relationship between the sardines industry and local agriculture. Local farmers were essential both as crews and as dried sardines manufacturers, but as local agriculture became more stable, the relationship also changed. The third factor is the change in resources such as regime shifts and the change in technology. Finally, this paper clarifies that the dynamics of individual livelihood strategies and the dynamics of local sardines industry are mutually influenced.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the consumption trends and attitudes toward the yellowtail diet as the “fish for Toshi-tori (a traditional custom to celebrate the New Year)” in the Kiso and Ina region, Nagano prefecture, Japan. According to the results of a questionnaire survey, a majority of survey respondents know the custom of Toshi-tori and continue to consume yellowtail at the time of this event. However, there was a difference in the frequently used menus between the Kiso region and the Ina region. In these regions, "Shio-buri (salt yellowtail)" which is a popular item in the Hida region, is not used. The trend on the perception of yellowtail as the “fish for Toshi-tori” in these regions was different from that in the Hida region.