Exploring food and agriculture from economic and management perspectives.

Noriaki KAWASAKI[Associate Professor]

To understand roles of diverse organizations and institutions relevant to farm businesses

The pluri-sector-business endeavor combining agricultural production with processing/manufacturing and service businesses, also known as Rokuji-sangyo-ka, has been rapidly growing and impacting on rural economic dynamics. The abovementioned changes in farm sectors in transition urge us to renovate theoretical and practical designs for emerging entrepreneurial farming entities and for rural community revitalization. Thus, to arm students with foundational and practical insights in the topic, this laboratory addresses the basics of the governance and management of diverse farm entities and regional agri-food clusters and networks surrounding them.

Kunihisa YOSHII[Professor]

Agricultural Insurance Program

Christopher O. SUNG[Professor]

Exploration of agricultural economics based on precise economic theory!

I study the various economic phenomena and issues that arise in the agriculture and food sector in relation to other sectors of the economic system. In other words, my main research interest is in agriculture as an industry and rural areas as a community, and I approach the various issues arising from these in an integrated manner from an economic perspective. I am also studying Metaverse, sharing economy, basic income, emissions trading, and biblical economics etc.

The Possibilities and Prospects of Farming Solar Photovoltaic by the PPA Model

Toshikazu URADE[Associate Professor]

"Rural resources" are essential for regional revitalization. The most typical rural resources are natural resources and landscapes, but other than that, everything that represents the uniqueness of a region can be considered a regional resource, such as food, traditional events, and traditional culture. However, rural resources are still not being utilized effectively. We work to discover rural resources and explore their effective utilization and appropriate management methods.

Yutaka TANEICHI[Professor]

Naotoshi YAMAMOTO[Professor]

Explore what fresh food distribution in Japan should involve.

In order to evaluate the current significance of the wholesale market system, which represents the public distribution channel, I have been conducting analyses of transaction problems and relations among supermarkets that are currently leading price and deal negotiations and their vendors. This analysis is based on the strategic behavior of procurement and sales by supermarkets as the focal point. Additionally, I have planned to investigate how major amendments to the wholesale market law (neo-liberal reform, rationalization of intermediate distribution) impact existing distribution and transactions.

Food industry structure & its playersʼ behavior

Kumi SOEJIMA[Associate Professor]

Thinking about the world of food and agriculture through marketing

How would you choose food? The cheaper, the better? Would taste be most important? Safety? Convenience?
Recently, the demands of consumers regarding agricultural produce, seafood and processed food have become more varied. How should producers, distributors and consumer facing businesses market to these consumers? We will be linking up case studies and theory.

Agriculture, fisheries and consumption of food from women’s perspectives

Jessy R. DAI[Lecturer]

Explore the “hidden side” of our “dining table” in the era of economic globalization.

Our diet, including grains for livestock feed, is greatly supported by imported products. As the geographical, temporal, and social distances in the process from raw material production to consumption are constantly expanding, the people, goods, money, information, etc. that make up the chain of business activities in the distribution process transcend national boundaries. Our purpose is to elucidate this complex distribution structure and to create a better system that contributes to achieving the SDGs.

Food Market and Distribution

Taichi KITAGAWA[Professor/Department Head]

A co-operative that connects food and agriculture

One of my research interests is co-operatives. Co-operatives such as agricultural, consumer, and fishery co-operatives play an important role in supporting our food, agriculture, and the community in various aspects such as production, distribution, sales, and consumption. In recent years, agricultural producers, rural entrepreneurs, and people working on community development have begun to form their own co-operatives. So what kind of philosophy and mechanism does co-operatives connect food and agriculture? It looks forward to listening to the lecture.

Development of community based agricultural corporations and co-operatives

Ueru TANAKA[Professor]

Learning in the Field: Practical Approaches to Poverty Alleviation, Ecosystem Conservation, and Rural Development under Fragile Environments in Japan, Asia and Africa

Exploring potential local resources, learning from indigenous and empirical knowledge, in depopulated areas in Japan and rural areas in Asia (Central Vietnam and Sulawesi Island, Indonesia) and Africa (Zanzibar, Tanzania), I work on researches to innovate practical techniques and livelihood systems which concurrently achieve livelihood improvement and ecosystems conservation. There, I am conscious of how to deal with vulnerable environments (society, resources, ecosystems that are easily deteriorated by human activities) and how to cooperate with vulnerable people (e.g. elderly households, economically poor households, etc.).

Kana NAKATSUKA[Associate Professor]

Food & Agriculture Education for Sustainable Society with the Global Environment

Yoko TANIGUCHI[Associate Professor]

Seeking ways to promote sustainable food system for the realization of a sustainable society.

In this laboratory, we are investigating the ways to promote production and consumption of organic and other kind of foods with ethical aspects, using economics, marketing, and other approaches in social science. We are currently working on the following research topics: 1) Understanding consumer behavior and identifying factors that contribute to the growth of organic food market; 2) Explicating the characteristics and market structure of organic food system; and 3) Clarification of measures that serve to more reliable and internationally comparable organic food market data.

Sustainable Food System