Research & reports

Ryozo Noguchi, Tomohiro Akashi · Agricultural Information Research · Japan

A crop cultivation case database (DB) system was developed in Japan in 2004 for allotment garden (kleingarten) participants who garden as a leisure activity, aiming to provide cultivation information drawing on the knowledge and experience of skilled participants. Built as a web-based system, it allows users to browse and store information, and comprises a general information database, a case database, a diary database, a search engine and a management system. The general information database was built from basic cultivation method data for 11 major crops grown at the Utsunomiya University citizen farm, while the case database was built from 211 case records extracted from participants' farm diaries.

Eriko SUZUKI, Akira Koshizawa · Journal of The Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture · Japan (Sapporo)

This study summarizes the history of Sapporo's Shiroishi Park, which was designated as a city planning park in 1942 and simultaneously approved as a two-year continuous project. Shiroishi Park was characterized by its integration with a scenic district, 40% of its area planned as a community garden, and its status as the largest among five parks planned concurrently. However, after World War II, it became subject to land allocation for independent farmers, leading to a significant reduction in its scale.

Fujio Hirata, Sheauchi Cheng · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan

This study investigated American community gardens, particularly in San Francisco, to define their concept in Japan where activities to create community gardens are emerging. It found that while American community gardens are superficially similar to Japanese citizen farms, their operational methods differ significantly. The role of coordinators, chosen by participating citizens, greatly influences the environmental formation of local communities in these gardens.

Takashi Watanabe, Makoto Yokohari, Ryuto Matsuzawa · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan (Tokyo)

This study clarified farmers' responses to agricultural activities involving urban residents in Tokyo. The findings showed that over half of the farmers engaged in agricultural activities in cooperation with urban residents, and those enthusiastic about such activities tended to excel in farm management. Furthermore, municipalities within the target area were categorized into three types based on the proportion of farmers conducting agricultural activities with urban residents.

Takashi Watanabe, Makoto Yokohari, Ryuto Matsuzawa · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan (Tokyo)

This study clarified farmers' responses to agricultural activities involving urban residents in the Tokyo Metropolis. The findings showed that over half of the farmers engaged in agricultural activities involving urban residents, and those enthusiastic about these activities often demonstrated excellent farm management. Furthermore, municipalities within the target area were categorized into three types based on the proportion of farmers involved in urban resident-associated agricultural activities.

Takashi Watanabe, Makoto Yokohari · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan

This study investigated the implementation status of urban agriculture promotion policies by local municipalities in Japan's National Capital Region, specifically those involving urban residents. It aimed to clarify the actual conditions of these policies, some of which predated the revised Production Green Land Law of 1992. The research emphasizes the importance of urban residents' understanding and active involvement in urban agriculture, necessitating proactive intervention by local governments.

Nobuyuki MINO, Isao NAKASE · Journal of The Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture · Japan

A study investigated the usage patterns of allotment gardens in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. In urban allotment gardens, users were predominantly in their 60s, utilized gardens frequently and from nearby, and derived satisfaction primarily from agriculture and forestry. In multi-natural residential areas, users were slightly younger, mainly in their 50s, engaged in more diverse uses, and found satisfaction not only from agriculture and forestry but also from landscape and community interaction. From these findings, it was considered that allotment gardens in multi-natural residential areas have the potential to be a core for urban-rural exchange, with agriculture, forestry, and the surrounding environment functioning as mediators.

Yasunari Miyake, Yasuo Matsumoto · JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION · Japan

This study clarified the features of an allotment garden set up within an agricultural park in Anjo City, Japan, comparing it with a general allotment garden to examine its added value and associated issues. Two distinguishing features — location within an admission-fee agricultural park, and function as a place to learn crop-growing methods — were found to shape users' usage patterns and evaluation of the garden. The analysis found the garden's educational function was reinforced compared with what is typically achieved at general allotment gardens, and it points to a need for a maintenance plan suited to these features.

정진영, 손상목, 김영호 · 한국유기농업학회지 · United States; Japan

This paper studied the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement in the USA and Europe to provide ideas for establishing and promoting CSA in Korea to support organic agriculture. In a CSA system, farmers grow food for a group of shareholders who pledge to buy a portion of the farm's crop for the season. This arrangement provides growers with upfront cash and higher prices by eliminating middlemen. CSA shareholders expect organic farming to protect the environment, maintain soil fertility, preserve diversity, recycle resources, maintain organic food integrity, and develop new technologies considering long-range social and ecological impacts.

Yasunari Miyake, Yasuo Matsumoto · JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION · Japan (Kobe City)

This paper clarified the process of village reorganization in Matsumoto district, Kobe City, Japan, which began with an allotment garden in a suburban agricultural area. Five conditions were identified as crucial for the approval and promotion of this reorganization: the presence of proactive leaders, the effective role of land improvement projects, public relations to residents, an administrative promotion system, and the district's specific location and social conditions.

Isami Kinoshita · Journal of The Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture · Japan

This study analyzed residents' awareness of edible plant cultivation on their properties and the formation of edible landscapes in public spaces, in relation to childhood experiences and memories. The findings showed that childhood experiences influenced the formation of edible landscapes on private properties, which held multiple meanings, but the attribution of meaning to edible landscapes in public spaces was weak, highlighting resident involvement as a challenge.

Megumi Higuchi · Japanese Journal of Human Geography · Japan

This paper analyzed the Minuma Fureai Garden in Kawaguchi City, Saitama prefecture, finding that its operation costs exceed annual income from user fees (15,000 Yen/person/year), with municipal subsidies covering 18% of total income. While land use regulations keep rent low, deregulation could threaten the garden's existence. A user survey revealed 70% of users were over 50, and 60% re-applied after a one-year contract, though this varied by distance.

Isami Kinoshita, Jin Yoshikawa · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan

This study identified the meaning and role of edible landscapes in urban residential areas by comparing three districts in Japan: Nezu, Taishido, and Kokubunji-shinmachi. Through observation, interviews, and questionnaires, five common meanings and roles were found, including providing fresh food, fostering memories, promoting communication, preserving folk customs, and encouraging ecological thinking despite maintenance challenges.

Hyeong-Seok Choi, Yoshiyuki Amemiya · Journal of The Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture · Japan

Artificial planting soil layers used in settings such as rooftop gardens typically have a two-layer structure: a coarse drainage layer and a planting layer. Assuming no irrigation, this study examined the required layer thickness based on soil physical properties and weather conditions. Using 30 years of rainfall records for Tokyo, the logarithmic cumulative distribution of the number of days between rainfalls was well fitted by a normal distribution, with the number of days between rainfalls corresponding to 95% and 99% occurrence probabilities being 29 and 64 days, respectively. Numerical calculations for a two-layer system with a 100 mm lower layer examined the relationship between layer thickness and the time until the planting layer wilts on average from initial moisture; at 99% probability, the required planting layer thickness was 236 mm, roughly half the 424 mm required for a single-layer system.

Yasunari Miyake · JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION · Japan

This study used a Geographic Information System to analyze the location of allotment gardens for elderly users in Gifu City, Japan, measuring both direct distance and road distance from users' homes to the gardens, and ran simulations of changes to garden provision. Increasing the number of garden plots and changing the composition of users shortened the user distance to some extent, while newly opening gardens in the city center — where none previously existed — greatly shortened the user distance.

Ren Azuma · Journal of Rural Problems · Japan; Europe

This paper examines the potential for recreational use of farmland by comparing dual land use policies between Japan and Europe (mainly the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands). While Europe has not considered allotment gardens as dual farmland use, Japan is promoting them for both recreation and agricultural production through new legislative measures. Additionally, small-scale caravan sites using farmland are exempt from strict planning controls in many European countries to promote recreational use, but Japan lacks an equivalent. In conclusion, the paper suggests that Japan needs to introduce or further expand dual farmland use policies for recreation and agricultural production in these three policy areas.

Hikaru Hoshi, Keiichi Moritsuka, Yoshiyuki Tokunaga, Hiroshi Suda · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan

Based on a comparison of allotment gardens in local cities versus metropolitan areas and on-site inspection of several gardens, this paper proposes a facilities and management policy for allotment gardens in local urban areas of Japan. It finds that in local urban areas most allotment gardens are located in suburban areas, whereas in metropolitan areas they are mostly located downtown; even the simplest garden type is expensive in metropolitan areas, while some enriched-type gardens with modest fees exist in local areas. It also discusses the relationship between how allotment gardens are evaluated and their facilities and management, concluding that local-area garden managers need dedication and users need to communicate with managers, guides, and other users.

Yasunari Miyake, Yasuo Matsumoto · JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION · Japan (Ichinomiya City)

This study examined the future of allotment gardens in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, by interviewing 20 landowners regarding land ownership and land use. Allotment distribution expanded into marginal urban regions, with new allotments concentrating in frontier areas. While most landowners were satisfied and intended to maintain allotments, those in urbanization promotion areas faced financial difficulties due to high taxes and motivation for land use conversion, indicating that allotment management will fail in these areas.

Yasunari Miyake, Yasuo Matsumoto · JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION · Japan (Gifu)

This study investigated the user radius and attitudes of allotment garden users for the aged in Gifu City, Japan. The average user radius was 1,280m, with 10 out of 19 gardens having a radius of 1,000m or less. A significant negative correlation was found between user radius and residential density within 1km, and the absence of gardens in the city center led to an expansive user radius. Over 90% of users continued to use the gardens with high satisfaction, but distance significantly affected usage frequency and time spent, with assessments declining dramatically beyond 1,500m.

Rie Matsunaga, Hong Tae Lee, Isoya SHINJI · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan

This study aimed to gather ideas about desirable physical characteristics and management of allotment gardens in an urban area. Standardized questionnaires were mailed to 660 subjects, with 345 responses received. The results clarified current user attributes and usage situations, proposing future improvements regarding traffic means, distance, contract terms, use size, cultivation guidance, facilities or equipment, use charge, and services for urban allotment gardens.

Hiroshi Suda, Tetsuaki Kusunoki, Yoshiyuki Tokunaga · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan (Sendai)

This paper analyzed the needs for allotment gardens among citizens of Sendai using a questionnaire and quantification method. The needs were categorized into three types: simply type, enrich type, and middle type. It also discussed differences in citizen awareness of allotment gardens between local cities and metropolitan areas, proposing policies for providing allotment gardens in local cities.

· 法令（e-Gov法令検索・402AC0000000044） · Japan

The 1990 act promoting the development of shimin-noen (citizens' allotment gardens). Municipalities designate allotment zones and operators obtain certification of a development-and-management plan; the law treats the leasing of farmland and the building of garden facilities as one package.

· 法令（e-Gov法令検索・401AC0000000058） · Japan

The 1989 special-measures act exempting small, short-term, non-commercial farmland lettings (the allotment-garden pattern: under 10 ares, up to five years) from Farmland Act transfer permission. It let local governments, agricultural cooperatives and others run citizen farms, forming the legal foundation of Japan's allotment gardens.

Chiaki Negoro, Atsushi Tunekawa · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan

This paper examines the public perception of urban agricultural land as valuable open space in urban fringe areas. The study found that urban agricultural lands are considered valuable "green" spaces, with orchards (mainly persimmon trees) and farms being particularly highly evaluated. These positive perceptions were observed in both agricultural and nearby residential areas.

Youko Yokokawa, 洋子 横川 · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Japan

This 1988 report describes changes in Tokyo's agricultural structure driven by urbanization alongside the state of urban residents' diets. Labor and farmland shifted from Tokyo's special wards to the Tama area, where intensive cultivation of fresh produce such as vegetables was concentrated, while in mountainous districts agriculture was combined with forestry. Cultivated land had shrunk by about 60% over the preceding 25 years, and the number of full-time farm households had fallen by 70%, while part-time farm households roughly doubled. Taking advantage of proximity to a large consumer market, 118 vegetable species were cultivated, with production of daikon radish, spinach, and komatsuna increasing year on year. Self-sufficiency rates for key products were 12.7% for vegetables, 7.2% for milk, 3.4% for eggs, and 2.4% for meat. In the urban diet, average nutrient requirements were largely met, though calcium was somewhat lacking and vitamins B1 and C slightly insufficient. Intake of beans, seafood, and vegetables was low by food group, and average daily salt intake was 13.4g, above the 10g target. Eating out and skipping meals were relatively uncommon overall, but skipping meals — especially breakfast — was more common among high-school-age students and older.