ABSTRACT
The past six chapters have been vibrant with the changes taking place in Japan's agricultural, livestock and industrial economies. Farm size is increasing rapidly and becoming ever more commercialized. The cattle industry, long a dormant subsector, has not only awakened but is making great strides forward. Production of beef per head of cattle inventory is among the highest in the world and the ratio promises to continue expanding now that commercial, large scale feedlots have become commonplace. Furthermore, the marketing system for cattle and beef uses some of the most sophisticated procedures in the world such as electronic sales of boxed beef. But, despite all these advances, considerable leeway exists to improve existing operating procedures, as well as to introduce new technologies.
