Based on the premise that "the sociology of food and agriculture (SFA) as a discipline has not been established in Japan," this paper outlines the current state of research on SFA. Next, the author defines "his" SFA, based on his own research experience, as "a discipline where sociologists can collaborate with agricultural scientists by acquiring knowledge of agriculture", and explains its characteristics. Finally, the author points out "the heterogeneity of sociology and agricultural sciences as scientific knowledge systems" and "the invisible barrier that divides agriculture and food". If sociologists can overcome these barriers, they will open up a new research frontier in agricultural production, and it will be possible to apply sociological concepts and theories, and to create new sociological concepts and theories through collaboration with agricultural scientists.

The sociology of food and agriculture and the study of consumer society both discuss the consumer citizenship. To clarify this issue, the current paper examines three specific problems: (1) consumer autonomy/heteronomy, (2) consumer public interest, and (3) division and integration of consumers.

The results revealed the following: (1) Consumers' interest in organic vegetables is related to consumer autonomy. (2) Consumers' interest in organic vegetables is related to consumers' public interest. (3) Food risks have the potential to divide consumers on the one hand, and to connect consumers on the other hand.

These results indicate, first, that the current interest in organic vegetables is linked to citizenship, just as was the case in the organic farming movement that spread from around 1970. In addition to this, the said results signal that different evaluations of risk, while having the potential to cause friction among people, can also serve to connect people.

This paper focuses on the inheritance of food ‘in-between’, in the light of overview of recent international affairs and domestic/overseas food issues. Although the ‘sustainability’ has become a common keyword worldwide, there have also emerged various kinds of discourses regarding food and agriculture over several decades. One of them is the issue of food access. The people have developed the food storage system historically, for example, the storage of cereal in the Edo Period. Nowadays, some new channels to improve food access have been expanded gradually. We can see that, not only the actors of those channels, but also the participants in the agricultural activity have been widespread recently. These new trends of inheritance of food ‘in between’ might be interpreted as the potential for sustainable food system for all and future generations, though the view suggested here is hypothetical, which needs more detailed investigation both empirically and theoretically.

This paper examines conditions of farmers’ life in China with a focus on women who has remained in rural areas in the increased social mobility today. Although we found that many women have moved away or become migrant workers, it is not uncommon for women to reside in the district. They are not released from helping with farm work and multiple household chores, childcare and so on. But there have raised expectations to women as cash earners due to the increase of off-farm employment opportunities within commuting distance. In this context, while childcare and childbearing are seen as compulsory, especially for the younger generation of women, the expansion of social sphere of friendships through employment opportunities and the rise of domestic status because of their cash income have enabled women to have a certain amount of leisure time activities and initiative in the family budget management. In this way, we can confirm and discuss the current situation in which women are gaining a certain degree of autonomy as long as being bound to domestic roles.