The chisan-chisho movement: Japanese local food movement and its challenges

Abstract

This paper examines the increasingly popular chisan-chisho movement that has promoted the localization of food consumption in Japan since the late-1990s. Chisan-chisho emerged in the context of a perceived crisis in the Japanese food system, particularly the long-term decline of agriculture and rural community and more recent episodes of food scandals. Although initially started as a grassroots movement, many chisanchisho initiatives are now organized by governments and farmersÕ cooperatives. Acknowledging that the chisan-chisho movement has added some important resources and a conceptual framework, we nonetheless point out that chisan-chisho has been refashioned as a producer movement by government as well as the Japan Agricultural Cooperative, capitalizing on local foodÕs marketing appeal. Chisan-chisho to date has not been able to become a full-fledged citizen-based political mobilization nor address the issue of marginality in the food system.

Strawberry fields forever? Urban agriculture in developed countries: a review

“…As with other developed countries, Japan's post-World War II food policies promoted modernization, industrialization, and globalization and encouraged the rural farming sector to join the growing industrial sector (Ichikawa et al 2006;Kimura and Nishiyama 2008). Japan's importation of agricultural goods increased steadily in the post-war years, and domestic agricultural production decreased.…”

“…Since the mid-1990s, there has been a movement to re-localize food production in the city through the chisan-chisho ("locally produced, locally consumed") initiative (Kimura and Nishiyama 2008). Started by nongovernmental organizations, the movement was later taken up by local governments and Japan Agriculture Cooperative farmer collectives.…”

“…Started by nongovernmental organizations, the movement was later taken up by local governments and Japan Agriculture Cooperative farmer collectives. Actions range from raising awareness about the benefits of local food, encouraging food education and gardens in schools, promoting local eating through marketing campaigns, "eat-local" days, and direct farmer sales stands known as chokubaijo (Kimura and Nishiyama 2008). Chisan-chisho gained further legitimacy when the national Japanese government included it in its 2002 Revitalization Plan for Food and Agriculture and in the 2005 New Basic Plan as a way to increase domestic consumption (Kimura and Nishiyama 2008).…”

“…Actions range from raising awareness about the benefits of local food, encouraging food education and gardens in schools, promoting local eating through marketing campaigns, "eat-local" days, and direct farmer sales stands known as chokubaijo (Kimura and Nishiyama 2008). Chisan-chisho gained further legitimacy when the national Japanese government included it in its 2002 Revitalization Plan for Food and Agriculture and in the 2005 New Basic Plan as a way to increase domestic consumption (Kimura and Nishiyama 2008). While chisan-chisho focused primarily on changing social perceptions around local food as a safer and better option, rather than encouraging self-production of food, arguably such a social movement is necessary for the success of an alternative food system.…”

Shrinking communities in Japan: Community ownership of assets as a development potential for rural Japan?

“…Even with regard to the local food movement in Japan, Kimura and Nishiyama (2008) criticized the fact that, although initially started as a grassroots movement, many local food initiatives are now organized and misused by the government as a tool to appease consumers worrying about food safety and security, and not to change structures in the agricultural sector. Reflexive development requires local communities to become more independent from central government influence and to integrate the people into locally based development policy and planning processes.…”