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- Convenors:
-
Munehiko Asamizu
(Yamaguchi University)
Abhik Chakraborty
- Location:
- Hall 4
- Start time:
- 16 May, 2014 at
Time zone: Asia/Tokyo
- Session slots:
- 2
Short Abstract:
This open panel provides a forum for discussing ecotourism and rural tourism in Japan. The main discussions of this panel will be sustainable development, local revitalization and natural conservation. Speakers from all countries are welcome.
Long Abstract:
This panel discusses the future vista of anthropology of nature-society relationship in Japan. Japan is a unique case in Asia, a country that has witnessed rapid economic development in the postwar phase, serious pollution incidents, surprisingly rapid cleanup and restoration of the landscape, rural depopulation, and a continuing growth of various 'localized', 'rural' and 'nature conservation' perspectives. As the country faces another critical juncture in its history, in the aftermath of the Tsunami and Fukushima disasters, it is particularly important to assess the aims and scopes of such trends. This panel features a series of papers on the themes of rural revitalization and ecotourism--two themes that have generated scholarly and policymaking interest as prospective countermeasures against demographic transition. Japanese countryside areas, most of which are considered 'remote' due to a lack of urban and industrial infrastructure, and are predominated by mountainous landscapes--retain important natural resources for a society that must find a way beyond industrial modernization. In this sense, ecotourism and rural revitalization schemes have been identified as focal areas to generate knowledge for 'sustainable living' and popularize a low impact lifestyle. But while such initiatives are regularly lauded for their potential of resisting decline, how do they signify a general social transition in 21st Century Japan--and with what ramifications to its culture and lifestyle? Through 8 different case studies located in 8 different regions, the panel aims to provide an anthropological perspective to this ongoing change.
Accepted papers:
Session 1Paper short abstract:
This paper offers a brief general description of ecotourism and rural tourism in Japan. Nature-based satoyama experiences are popular among tourists from urban areas. The national government and some municipalities in Japan have been supported in developing rural tourism.
Paper long abstract:
Japan's nature-based tourism is categorized into two major types, ecotourism and rural tourism. Ecotourism is supported by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) with the Act on Promotion of Ecotourism (Ecotourism Suishin Hou), which was enacted in 2007. Major destinations for ecotourism include UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites and national parks in Japan. Nature-based activities such as mountain climbing, trekking, animal watching, canoeing and more are also common in Japan.
Meanwhile, rural tourism (green tourism in Japanese) is another kind of sustainable tourism. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has been supporting rural tourism with the Green Tourism Law (Green Tourism Hou) of 1994 (enacted in 2005). Nature-based satoyama experiences (in the natural surroundings around rural villages), agricultural activities and farm stays are popular, particularly among tourists from urban areas.
In addition to the sustainable tourism supported by the national government, community-based sustainable tourism is also available in Japan. Some municipalities, such as the former Ajimu Town in Oita Prefecture, Tohno City in Iwate Prefecture and Iida City in Nagano Prefecture, have been supported in developing rural tourism. Though Yamaguchi Prefecture has some mass tourism destinations, the prefectural government is also politically and economically supporting local founders of community based tourism programs.
Paper short abstract:
This paper discusses the recent popularity of geoparks in Japan, and their relevance for nature conservation and ecotourism development by providing a cultural anthropological perspective.
Paper long abstract:
Geotourism is a relatively new field of Nature-Based Tourism, its clear origins dating to the 1990s. Japan is one of the most successful countries in terms of proportion of its geoparks getting recognition as Global Geoparks—over 20% of its geoparks are members of the UNESCO-Global Geoparks Network. However, geoparks are not merely collections of geologically interesting features or landscapes (geosites), but they should be linked with community life, and promote conservation of geodiversity (biotic and abiotic natural diversity) through local participation. To explore the challenges and prospects geoparks face in this regard, this paper examines anthropological profiles of tourism management in two sites: the Oki Islands Geopark in Shimane, and the Izu Peninsula Geopark in Shizuoka. These two are very contrasting sites: while Oki has a long history of local autonomy of tourism management and today faces extreme depopulation, Izu Peninsula is heavily influenced by urban tourists from Tokyo. A comparative assessment of these cases, therefore, provides an interesting perspective: casting light on how these sites face pressure from opposite poles of demographic trends, contrasting tourist behaviors, and distinct forms of nature conservation through local participation. Based on review of literature, stakeholder analysis and qualitative field research, the paper concludes that while geoparks provide a platform to integrate conservation and tourist demands, cultural interpretation of nature rooted in place needs a stronger voice to counter the negative effects of 'tourist gaze' and manage geodiversity in these sites in a sustainable manner.
Paper short abstract:
Although tourism is seen as a magic industry to fix demographic and economic problems, an examination of a consolidated “city” in Akita suggests that tourism is not likely to be very effective. Critical are infrastructure, semi-isolation, social structure, land use, and conservation.
Paper long abstract:
One of the common thoughts, particularly found in prefectural offices in non-metropolitan Japan, is that somehow currently shrinking communities will be able to switch from previous economic foundations to a new economic foundation, often tourism, which will revive the communities and cause a declining population to expand. Tourism is seen as some sort of magic panacea for the economic and demographic problems that plague non-metropolitan Japan.
This paper examines a recently consolidated "city" in Akita Prefecture which has many of the characteristics that mark it both as a declining community (losing population since 1955 and one of the most aged communities in Japan) and as one which may be seen as "ripe" for tourism (great scenery, not too isolated, some viable infrastructure, a historical "pull") as a way to regain economic strength. In addition, like much of Japan, the prefectural government has tried to support local economic activities, especially tourism.
However, it has not worked. Why has tourism not been able to revive this community? There are a variety of reasons including isolation and inadequate infrastructure. However, the major issue seems to be one of interest or intention. For most people living in this city, the "irritant industry", tourism, is simply not really considered positive. This paper argues that—at least for most residents—successful tourism would involve changes that they simply do not want to see happen—mainly involved with social changes, shifts in land use and conservation of of what are perceived as natural resources.
Paper short abstract:
Recently, Japanese tourists travelling abroad has increased annually. The ruins of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are a popular destination. The author designed a social studies lesson on Latin America, focusing on archeology. Lesson of Amish and tourism as ESD education will be also introduced.
Paper long abstract:
Recently,the number of Japanese tourists travelling abroad has increased annually by over 16million.
The ruins of Machu Picchu,a UNESCO World Heritage site,are a popular destination,despite being far away. However,Japanese tourists often know little about Latin America's ancient history. Therefore,the author designed social studies lessons on Latin America,focusing on archeology.
Additional reasons for this study are as follows;
First, social studies text book in Japan lack content on Latin America, especially in comparison to their coverage of Western Europe and the U.S.
Second, Japan has seen as increased number of JSL (Japanese as second language) students coming from Latin America.
Understanding Latin American history will benefit both JSL and Japanese students.
Third, archeological research is progressing rapidly.
The following three models lessons
1) present a comparative timeline of the Andes and Japan
2) focus on food,a topic familiar to students
3) discuss arheological hypotheses.
Lesson1: Machu Picchu as a World Heritage and Pre-Inca Times
Lesson2: The Inca Empire and Potatoes
Lesson3: Why did the Andes civilization develop in the mountain area rather than river basin?
These lesson models will be effective in social studies education.
References;
(1)Kihachiro Sakai (1995) Social studies lesson design of culture studies to foster scientific cognition by using anthropology and time axis.
Syakaika-ronsou Vol.42
(2)Shinya Watanabe (2013) Andes bunmei keiseiki no Shinden syakai.
Research Papers of the Anthrophological Institute.Vol.1
(3)Yuji Seki (1997) Andes no Kokogaku Doseisya
※I also introduce my lessons(e.g. Study of Amish County, Study of Horikawa river, Study of National Heritage conservation as ESD education)