Abstract

This paper demonstrates a case study to comprehensively understand Japanese rural society, proposing an integrated approach to visioning sustainable rural society in the context of developed countries. We first provided an overview of Japanese agricultural history and conducted interviews with individuals regarding their life histories in two peripheral research fields in Japan. We then analyzed these life histories and compared them with the macro trends of agricultural policy. In particular, our analyses shed light on the interactions between agricultural policies, individuals’ life and local resource endowments in rural areas. Specifically, human, natural and man-made capitals in Japanese rural society have changed in the way they are used while agricultural policies have exclusively focused on rice production. Based on the observation, we argue that Japanese policy might have hindered farmers’ efforts and attempts in the country’s periphery. We conclude that integrating macro analysis and field research facilitates the understanding of local resources and residents’ wellbeing for conceptualizing and approaching the future of farming villages.

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