Tradition and Japanese vegetables: history, locality, geography, and discursive ambiguity

Yuta Uchiyama,Yoshinori Fujihira,Hikaru Matsuoka,Ryo Kohsaka 한국식품연구원 2017 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.4 No.3

Background: Traditional vegetables are produced and consumed throughout Japan. Individual vegetables, including Kyo vegetables and Kaga vegetables, are individually defined with their own criteria for history and quality standards and are registered in their respective regions. Several traditional vegetables are utilized as symbols of regional revitalization. For example, Kaga vegetables are tourist attractions, and Noto vegetables are promoted in the Noto region and were registered under the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Methods: We will review the distribution, public standards, and definitions of dento-yasai, traditional Japanese vegetables. Quantitative analysis on the status of the branding of traditional vegetables will be conducted. Results: First, the ambiguity and distribution of traditional vegetables are demonstrated. Next, as a case study, the results of a quantitative analysis of Kaga vegetables and Noto vegetables are provided. Kaga vegetables have their own quality standards and definition, and producers have acknowledged the positive impact of the regional certification, GIAHS, on the amount sold. However, a social conflict has been caused by their standards and definition. On the other hand, Noto vegetables do not have a strict quality standard, and they were registered relatively recently. Because of their comparatively lax standard, producers could not acknowledge the positive impacts of GIAHS certification. Conclusion: Origins of traditional Japanese vegetables and relationships with their regions have innumerable ambiguous points. The results of the analysis of two types of traditional vegetables show that quality standards and definitions strongly influence branding and brand management.

Apiculture knowledge transmission in a changing world: Can family-owned knowledge be opened?

Yuta Uchiyama,Hikaru Matsuoka,Ryo Kohsaka 한국식품연구원 2017 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.4 No.4

Background Ecosystem services of pollinators have been gaining importance, as mentioned in the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services thematic report on pollination in 2016. Apart from wild bees, human interventions including apiculture can contribute to management of ecosystem services. Ecological and local knowledge of management is transmitted through various processes, varying in content and quality. Methods We analyzed the processes of knowledge transmission, beekeeping productivity, and their interactions with each other. The study was conducted in the Nagano Prefecture, Japan, where the largest quantity of bee honey is produced nationally. Beekeeping knowledge in Nagano is transmitted through different information channels, including families, friends, and books. We categorized the beekeepers based on their information channels. The relationship between productivity of beekeeping and information channels was also analyzed. Results It was identified that beekeepers who obtained their knowledge from their parents had relatively large number of bee colonies. Furthermore, we observed by interviews with them that they tended to understand the importance of ecological conditions for sustainable beekeeping. Conclusion The results implied a challenge to open the knowledge transmission channels beyond families, potentially transforming the knowledge from tacit knowledge among limited members to an explicit manualized knowledge in an aging society.

Expectations of residents and tourists of agriculture-related certification systems: analysis of public perceptions

Yuta Uchiyama,Yushi Tanaka,Hikaru Matsuoka,Ryo Kohsaka 한국식품연구원 2017 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.4 No.2

Background: To reveal the level of recognition of regional and product certifications related to agriculture, an analysis of the official minutes of assemblies and the perceptions of tourists was conducted. This is one of the first attempts to combine analysis of residents and tourists at the product level (Geographical Indications, trademarks) and landscape level (registration under Food and Agricultural Organization [FAO] or United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO]-related certification systems). Methods: The research sites were Itoigawa and Sado, two municipalities in Niigata prefecture. The former is certified as a Global Geopark, and the latter as a National Geopark and Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). The text-mining approach was conducted to analyze the official minutes of the municipal assemblies, and the questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the recognition of tourists on the certifications. Results: The results of the analysis of assemblies and tourists provide issues and possibilities of the certification systems. Tourists' recognition of the GIAHS and its weighting in the assemblies are relatively low. Residents and tourists have different expectations for regional certification. Residents expect education, while tourists expect tourism. Conclusion: It is necessary to evaluate the GIAHS's contribution to tourism and industry when municipalities and international organizations manage the GIAHS sites. Considering the gaps between residents and tourists and taking measures to resolve them can contribute to managing certificated areas by collaboration of stakeholders. Regarding products aimed at branding, consumers need to be informed about the GIAHS as a regional certification in addition to product certification to share the historical and environmental characteristics of agricultural products.

Public recognition of traditional vegetables at the municipal level: Implications for transgenerational knowledge transmission

Yuta Uchiyama,Hikaru Matsuoka,Ryo Kohsaka 한국식품연구원 2017 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.4 No.2

Design of Nonlinear Attitude Control System for Spaceplane Using Disturbance-Accommodating Control

Yuta Akai,Yuzo Shimada,Kenji Uchiyama,Akio Abe 한국항공우주학회 2008 한국항공우주학회 학술발표회 논문집 Vol.- No.-

In this paper, we describe a design of robust attitude controller for a spaceplanc based on feedback linearization. The feedback linearization method with a timescale separation concept has attracted research interest regarding the design of attitude control systems for aircrafts including spaceplanes. The features of this technique are the elimination of the need for any approximation in the linearization of the vehicle's dynamics and the coverage of a wider flight region. However. since this technique involves the cancellation of the nonlinear dynamics, the accuracy of the cancellation cannot be guaranteed in the presence of changes in aerodynamic and other uncertainties. Therefore, we propose the application of a nonlinear control law. which deals with the feedback linearization, using disturbance-accommodating control (DAC). Unmodeled phenomena are estimated as a new state variable by a DAC observer. Furthermore, the sensitivity function and the complementary sensitivity function in the frequency domain are shaped to design the DAC observer. Finally, Monte-Carlo simulations were performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed attitude control law.

Do historical production practices and culinary heritages really matter? Food with protected geographical indications in Japan and Austria

Katharina Gugerell,Yuta Uchiyama,Pia R. Kieninger,Marianne Penker,Shuichiro Kajima,Ryo Kohsaka 한국식품연구원 2017 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.4 No.2

Background Geographical indications (GIs) are collective intellectual property rights that protect food and other products uniquely linked to the production area, local geophysical conditions, and traditions, namely, with the terroir. Thus, GIs can contribute to the transmission and retention of culinary heritages and historical production practices. Methods Based on an analysis of application documents, we compare the historical linkages of all the Japanese and Austrian GI products. Although more than half of the Japanese applications refer to historical roots in the 20th century, the median of the Austrian GI linkages is in the 17th century. To closely examine these GI linkages, and to better understand their relevance to current cultivation practices, we compared three Japanese cases with roots of diverging depth to the first Austrian GI regarding motivations, geographical and historical linkages, and current cultivation practices and governance. Results The comparison found that all four products refer to the historical roots of the product name, the product varieties, or cultivation techniques. However, deeper roots did not automatically translate into higher priorities of protecting these historical linkages. The four in-depth case studies found that historic provenance and traditional production methods, although prominently highlighted in the official GI documents of all four GIs, were eclipsed by commercial motivations for GI protection and/or current production practices. In the cases analyzed, we found some potential mismatches between GI historical claims in registration documents and actual GI cultivation and GI management practices. Conclusions We conclude that our four GI cases do not represent “museums of production” or overly fixed perceptions of history. However, the collective action of the producer group has resulted in dynamic local cultivation practices without restricting innovation. The GI status has rather resulted in the protection of local farmers' collective action and old varieties than in the protection of old production methods.

Internal processes of Geographical Indication and their effects: an evaluation framework for geographical indication applicants in Japan

Ai Tashiro,Yuta Uchiyama,Ryo Kohsaka 한국식품연구원 2018 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.5 No.3

Background: The internal processes of geographical indications (GIs) by the applicants in rural specific regions primarily remain unexplored, although GIs can facilitate retention of long-term accumulated traditional knowledge in ethnic foods. This article sheds light on (1) analysis of phase-wise internal processes of GI registration and (2) examine relationships between the duration of application and perceived effects of GI registration in Northwestern Japan. GI in Japan is a comparatively a new system introduced in 2015. Methods: This article applied thematic analysis. The criteria for evaluating the gap of GI registration effects among the seven GI cases were descriptive and analytical with the information and data coming from official documents, questionnaire survey, and personal communications with key informants of the GI applicants. Qualitative information with quantitative data was also applied to visualize the complex internal GI registration processes and their effects. Results: This article identified that GI applicants who took a relatively long time to complete GI registration tended to perceive the relatively weak registration effects. Alternatively, GI applicants who took a relatively short time to complete their GI registration tended to evaluate the effects of the registration highly. For the preparation process, the most difficult phases for applications were drafting the application documents and long-term communication with a GI regulator. Conclusion: This article provides insights on the methods to uncover the complex, both ex-ante and expost, GI registration processes to reorganize current members of GI applicants and to fill the gaps and enhance the effects of GI registration.

Use of the Forest Environment Transfer Tax for forest data developmentand exchange: evidence from all 47 prefectures in Japan

Ryo Kohsaka,Yuta Uchiyama 한국산림과학회 2022 Forest Science And Technology Vol.18 No.4

To facilitate forest management as part of climate change mitigation and adaptation, theForest Environment Transfer Tax (FETT) was introduced in Japan in 2019, representing aform of payment for ecosystem services. In this study, we focused on the introduction ofthe tax and the status of its use based on an analysis covering Japan’s 47 prefectures. Thisinvolved reviewing policy processes related to FETT and conducting a survey among rele-vant prefectural officers to identify how FETT is being used, with a focus on plans, policies,and systems related to forest data development and exchanges. The proportions of bothtotal and FETT budgets used for forest data development were significant. Several prefec-tures are improving forest-related data in a two-way manner by coordinating with munici-palities. Correlation analysis revealed that prefectures with greater proportions of privatelyowned forests allocated more budget to forest data development, which is in line with theFETT’s intended purpose. This result suggests that the absolute size of such forestlands isless important, but that the proportion of privately owned forests carries political and socialweight that could be a critical factor in budget allocation.

Beekeeping and honey production in Japan and South Korea: past and present

Ryo Kohsaka,박미선,Yuta Uchiyama 한국식품연구원 2017 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.4 No.2

Background Bee honey is a main ingredient in traditional food culture in different regions of the world. Honey is widely utilized as an ethnic food item. Methods This paper analyzes the historical and present status of beekeeping and honey production in Japan and South Korea based on the relevant literature and statistical data. Results The findings reveal that Western honeybees are dominant in the two countries for economic and physical reasons. Honey production has declined and the amount of imported honey has increased in Japan and South Korea. The domestic and global honey markets closely influence reciprocally. Furthermore, urban beekeeping has emerged in these two countries as a hobby and an industry; it contributes to producing domestic honey and enhances the quality of the environment. Conclusion To ensure sustainable forestry and conserve biodiversity, native beekeeping is necessary. This paper provides insight into beekeeping and honey production in Japan and South Korea.

Capturing the relationships between local foods and residents: A case in the Noto region, Japan

Ryo Kohsaka,Hikaru Matsuoka,Yuta Uchiyama 한국식품연구원 2016 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.3 No.2

Background: Under the influence of global trends, most regions are at risk of losing their local-food knowledge. In this context, analyzing the transmission of the knowledge, understanding the context of transmission, and implementing precise activities and policies are required. Noto is known for its unique ethnic fermented food products. Methods: Through our questionnaire survey and analysis of the Noto peninsula, we explore the relationships between the attributes of local food producers and the variety of foods they produce, attempting to identify the key attributes related to making diverse local foods and the transmission of local food knowledge. Results: Our analysis showed a correlation between the diversity of local foods made by residents and the number of years they had lived in the municipality. Conclusion: The results implied that adequate management of social networks by local residents, who depend on the local environment, is required in transmitting the knowledge of local foods.