This paper quantitatively examines by simulation the extent to which plot exchange can consolidate fragmented farmland. We first show that individual, decentralized, one-to-one plot exchanges, which are currently conducted by some leading farmers, cannot accomplish sufficient consolidation. This is because the occurrence of "double-coincidence-of-wants" that is necessary for voluntary exchange is too rare. We then propose a collective, centralized approach, based on the top trading cycle algorithm by Shapley et al., in which many farmers simultaneously exchange plots. This approach mitigates the restriction of "double-coincidence-of-wants" and can raise the consolidation rate by more than twice than that of the individual-decentralized exchange. We also find that the consolidation rate improves dramatically as more farmers participate in the exchange. Our results suggest that it is essential to attract as many farmers as possible and to conduct collective and centralized allocation of plots in order to attain better consolidation.

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The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake deprived us of many things. I had a lot of valuable experiences from the disaster. In the beginning, we prefectural officials provided instant noodles for evacuees but city officials demanded something easier to eat; for example, rice balls and bread. Three days after we started to provide them, however, city officials complained that it's tough to eat cold items for every meal. It was important to identify the needs of evacuees, which change day by day. I remember it as if it were yesterday. From these experiences, I developed a strong belief that having a heart of appreciation, tolerance and consideration is necessary for crisis governance.

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A more than 6 JMA (Japanese Meteorological Agency Seismic Intensity Scale) earthquake hit northern Nagano Prefecture just one day after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011. This paper employs the case of the Village of Sakae to: 1) illustrate the damage and recovery from the earthquake; 2) identify challenges to promote participation of residents in the planning for reconstruction; and 3) point out efforts generated for, but also challenges encountered in, the mobilization of local resources for reconstruction and the establishment of internal and external stakeholder networks. Based on original interviews, statistics and collected documents, this investigation establishes that not only did retirement from farming after the earthquake occur because of this natural disaster but it was also due to the deterioration of living conditions, the advanced age of the local population, and the decline of agricultural commodities' prices. As the reconstruction plan in the Village of Sakae centers on a policy of “participation by all," including small and family owned farms, it significantly departs from the policy of “creative reconstruction" or “shock doctrine." However a number of challenges to residents' participation remain and need to be addressed.

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To generate a discussion of the agricultural restoration and revitalization in the 3.11 Tsunami disaster area, we have arranged local government statistical data and analyzed interview data from farm managers. As the result, the following five points were found. First, the restoration progress of agricultural land and facilities has been delayed as compared with its scheme because most of the materials and labor are being used for construction in metropolitan areas. It is a serious problem for farmers to be provided infertile surface soil on their paddy fields. Second, agricultural structure reform is rapidly progressing in the tsunami disaster area as many large-scale farms are emerging through agricultural land integration. Third, some managers of large-scale farms positively introduced new technology to improve their productivity. They also have a future plan to maintain their community and to improve the inhabitants' welfare with diversified farming. Fourth, it is not easy to recover the market share that had been lost because of the 3.11 disaster. For agricultural revitalization, it is important to analyze the change in consumers' preferences and to cope with it. Finally, acquisition of farming skills is essential and most important to the new agricultural corporation that employs unskilled labor.

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This paper summarizes the desirable future direction of the measures against reputational damages based on evaluating the current status of reputational damage, radioactive contamination and efforts to overcome the disaster which occurred with the Great East Japan Earthquake. Specifically, we evaluated the significance the following countermeasures against the reputational damages and radioactive contamination. 1) Building a mutual trust and assistance system among consumers and victims by using relationship marketing, 2) construction of a radioactivity risk management system with an emphasis on prevention and response when a disaster occurs, 3) rumor prevention by using risk communication, and 4) correspondence with moral hazard.

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