The Bamboo Resource Using Status in Kagoshima Prefecture:

Abstract

The demand for raw bamboo materials become sluggish in recent years, consequently, the untouched bamboo forests keep increasing in Japan, which make the sustainable use of bamboo resources becoming an important issue. In order to consider the future revitalization of bamboo industry in Japan, we conducted fundamental research by means of questionnaire survey to investigate enterprises that are processing and selling bamboo products in Kagoshima Prefecture. One Survey conducted in September 2018, on total 45 enterprises, collection rate 64.4％. The questionnaire covered the current operation state of company, bamboo resources utilization and products distribution. We examined the changes and regional characteristics of bamboo industry. The results indicated that 1) The number of enterprises especially the traditional craft-enterprises decreased significantly from 1974 to 2018, the aging of craftsman and increasing of import may the main causes, 2) The item composition of bamboo products has also changed, 3) Many enterprises sustain through newly designed products and cultivation of sales channels. It is considered that the number of traditional enterprises may keep decreasing in the future. For the preservation of bamboo industry in Kagoshima, consequently, it is necessary to securing the bamboo forest which can produce high quality bamboo and Inheriting traditional bamboo products processing technology or wisdom. It also considered important to understand the trends of productions and distribution of bamboo products in China.