Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
9 results
Composting behavior in Japan: an application of the theory of consumption values
2025Ana Catarina Morais, Akira Ishida · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Japan
This research investigated factors encouraging Japanese households to engage in composting, applying the theory of consumption values (TCV) and evaluating hypotheses using ordinal partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings indicate that household composting in Japan is influenced by social approval, behavior visibility, composting knowledge, convenience, interest in gardening/farming, and individual availability. Factors like emotions, gender, housing type, and household size did not significantly impact composting practice.
CompostOrganic cycleFood lossDIYコミュニティガーデンにおいて組織に縛られず参加者の自由な活動が確保される条件に関する研究 ―タマリバタケを事例として―
2022新保 奈穂美 · 世田谷区 都市農業関連研究報告 · Japan
Analyses Tamaribatake, a community garden piloted under Setagaya's proposal-based partnership programme, clarifying conditions that secure participants' freedom without rigid rules and offering operational insight for municipally supported community farms.
CommunityFood educationDIYH29年度 都市と農・緑が共生するまちづくりに関する調査 都市部未利用地のコミュニティ農園活用方策検討調査 報告書
2018特定非営利活動法人 Co.to.hana, 金田 康孝 · 国土交通省 都市と農・緑が共生するまちづくりに関する調査（平成29年度） · Japan (Osaka)
Co.to.hana's second-year MLIT study codifying how to reproduce Minna-no-uen's effects — activity data analysis since 2011, international comparables, intermediary-organisation needs, trial social-impact metrics, published as this report and at minnanouen.jp/research.
PolicyCommunityEconomicsDIYBiodiversity東京における改修による菜園付きオープンスペースで経験される都市空間の質
2018グエン トラン イェン カン, 涼 村田 · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Japan (Tokyo)
This study clarifies users' roles in urban space creation by examining two renovated open spaces with urban gardening (OSUG) in Tokyo. Through a mixed survey, the spatial settings and user experiences were analyzed, revealing quality parameters such as "usage," "space affordance," and "image of identity." These factors illustrate seven OSUG scenarios, from private resting spots to public playgrounds and community gardens.
CommunityDIYHealthH28年度 都市と農・緑が共生するまちづくりに関する調査 都市部未利用地のコミュニティ農園的活用方策検討調査 報告書
2017特定非営利活動法人 Co.to.hana, 金田 康孝, 西川 亮 · 国土交通省 都市と農・緑が共生するまちづくりに関する調査（平成28年度） · Japan (Osaka)
First-year MLIT-commissioned study by Co.to.hana validating usefulness and replicability of community farms on urban unused land, using Kitakagaya Minna-no-uen as the model — surveys, environmental monitoring, stakeholder interviews and an expert panel producing a start guide and dissemination roadmap.
PolicyCommunityEconomicsDIYFood educationEvaluation of Life Cycle Carbon Dioxide Emissions through Sustainable Lifestyles Related to Food Production and Consumption: Case Study of Osaka
2012Yugo YAMAMOTO, Asami ORITA, Motoyuki NAGAI · Studies in Regional Science · Japan (Osaka)
A questionnaire survey was conducted among LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) and general consumers in Osaka Prefecture to identify sustainable lifestyles related to food production and consumption and evaluate their effect on CO2 emissions. LOHAS consumers tended to participate in local food production activities and make purchasing decisions based on health and environmental consciousness. Their total daily life CO2 emissions were 15% lower than regular consumers, but their transportation-related CO2 emissions were higher due to roundtrips to local farm shops.
CommunityClimate changeDIYDESIGN LIVE LOADS FOR ROOFTOP GARDENS BASED ON SURVEY RESULTS OF URBAN DETACHED HOUSES
2011Takao Koyama, Takayuki Minagawa, Tsutomu Hanai, Hideki IDOTA · Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering (Transactions of AIJ) · Japan (Tokyo)
The validity of using residential design live loads for rooftop gardens has not been confirmed. This study proposes new design live load values for rooftop gardens based on building survey results from 24 steel-framed houses in the Tokyo area. The proposed design live load value will enable rational structural design for residences with rooftop gardens.
DIYVegetable Growing as a Teaching Material for Environmental Education : (1) Utilization of LISH (Low-Input Sustainable Horticulture) and Vegetable Garden as a School Garden
2000智 藤田, Satoshi FUJITA · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Japan
At Keisen Women's College farm in Japan, the potential of using Low-Input Sustainable Horticulture (LISH) and vegetable gardening as environmental education materials was investigated over 15 years, starting in 1984. The study found that 16 different vegetable varieties could be grown organically, but cucumbers, other fruit/vegetables, and Cruciferae were virtually impossible to grow organically. However, damage could be reduced for some varieties through specific cultivation methods, and the vegetable garden was found to maintain beauty even in cold seasons and provide a suitable hands-on learning experience for environment and food.
Limited or null effectFood educationDIYOrganic cycleAbout the Meaning and Role of Edible Landscape in Urban Residential Area
1999Isami 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.
CommunityFood educationDIY