ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the historical development and status of the cropping patterns and landuse systems in Japanese agriculture. It examines the problems and policy issues of Japan's land-use systems. The chapter discusses the long-term development and research needs for keeping Japanese agriculture and its land-use systems sustainable. One of the major factors restricting the development of Japanese agriculture is that there is so little land for agricultural purposes. While the agricultural population was decreasing dramatically between 1970 and 1988, more and more farmers tended to take off-farm jobs and to become part-time farmers. Japan's agricultural situation is made clearer by the role of Japanese agriculture in the gross domestic product. Wide differences in climate also provide Japan with a great variety and abundance of vegetation. Since the high-economic-growth period, Japanese agriculture has become more and more energy-intensive and resource-exploitative. The Japanese government has endeavored to combat the surplus rice production through diversification.
