ERAHS
The 5th ERAHS
in MINABE・TANABE, 2018

Since then, beginning with the 1st ERAHS conference held in Xinghua in Jiangsu Province, China in 2014, the conference between the three countries have been held every year, with the conference held in Sado in Niigata Prefecture, Japan in 2015, Geumsan South Chungcheong Province , South Korea in 2016 and Huzhou in Zhejiang Province, China in 2017. Researchers, govern-ment officials and farmers all gather together at the conference to learn about the preservation efforts of the various agricultural heritage sites and deepen their exchanges through joint re-searches and future collaborations. I have attended each conference since its inception, and in addition to the increasing scale with each conference, I am extremely pleased to see the friendships becoming stronger between the participants of the three countries.

This year’s 5th annual conference will be held in Minabe and Tanabe in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, the site of the “Minabe-Tanabe Ume System,” which was designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System(GIAHS) in 2015. This is unique system, which is lo- cated on nutrient-poor and rudaceous slopes, conserves torest and prevents collapses while producing Kishu-binchotan charcoal and cultivating ume (Japanese apricot) using the polli- nation by honeybees. My grandparents actually lived in Tanabe and it is a nostalgic area that brings back memories of when I used to visit when I was a child. I look forward to welcoming all of the participants from China, South Korea, and various parts Japan.

In addition to offering my sincere gratitude to all representatives from Wakayama Prefecture, Minabe and Tanabe, as well as those from China and South Korea who helped make this conference possible, I have extremely high expectations that the success of this conference will lead to the further development of the ERAHS Conference as well as the development of GIAHS in East Asia, with a focus on Japan, China and South Korea, as well as the rest of the world.

This region is located in the central part of Wakayama Prefecture and is blessed with many gifts from nature, such as a temperate pluvial climate. Over 50% of Japanese ume production is carried out in the farmland extending from the coast to the mountainous regions, as well as the production of high-quality Kishu-binchotan charcoal in the mountainous areas, and the harvesting of abundant fish and shellfish in the coastal areas where the national park is located. As the region features a lot of sloping terrain, there is a lack of land suitable for rice paddy fields. However, despite the terrain being unsuitable for rice farming, the temperate climate and free- draining gravelly soil is optimal for cultivating ume. As a result, ume cultivation started in this region approximately 400 years ago. Farming practices such as laying ubame oak (the raw wood used for Kishu-binchotan charcoal) on top of the soil in ume groves prevents the collapse of earth, preserves the ecosystem, and best utilizes natural resources such as water, enabling continuous and sustainable farming to be carried out. Such practices are the start of the ume system.

Our predecessors exercised their knowledge and insight regarding the various social and economic changes surrounding this ume system, and continued to respond flexibly, passing the system down to the present day. It is our duty to pass on this system to the next generation.

Like other rural areas throughout Japan, this region is currently facing significant challenges to preserve and pass on agricultural production areas, such as the aging of primary industry workers, lack of successors, bird or animal damage, and the consequent increase in abandoned farmlands. As a certified Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System region, in order to preserve and utilize the ume system it is therefore important to - founded on local residents’ understanding of the significance of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems - foster pride as a designated region, recognize its importance, promote self-sustaining and continuous efforts with the participation of various entities, and aim to revitalize the local region.

Given this background, this conference - which gathers together representatives of the certified regions of China, South Korea, and Japan - is an important opportunity not only for the venue region, but also for other certified regions. Through this gathering, I hope for richer sharing of information, experiences, and issues relating to preservation and utilization efforts of agricultural heritage sites as well as building inter-regional networks, and many results to come from it.

In conclusion, I sincerely hope for the continued success of this conference, everyone involved in it, and the certified regions, as well as the increased value of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. I warmly welcome you all to our region.

Wakayama Prefecture, which is located on the southwestern part of the Kii Peninsula, the largest peninsula in Japan, is mostly covered by the Kii Mountains, with the Seto Inland Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The region is the home to some of Japan’s top tourist attractions, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” including Koyasan and Kumano Kodo. Moreover, the Kii Peninsula including was selected as one of the top five places in the “Best in Travel 2018” by Lonely Planet, a popular worldwide travel guide book. As you can see, Wakayama Prefecture has been receiving a lot of attention from around the world.

Also, in the agricultural sector, a key industry of Wakayama Prefecture, fruit tree cultivation has thrived thanks to the region’s favorable weather and geological conditions, and the prefecture boasts the country’s top production volume of ume, mandarin oranges and persimmons.

Ume cultivation in the Minabe and Tanabe region was started over 400 years ago, and today it has become major production area that boasts approximately 50% over of the production of Japan. The production of Kishu-binchotan charcoal is also thriving in this region, and forests of fuelwood used as its raw materials offer preservation functions including watershed conservation and collapse prevention. In addition, the symbiotic relationships between ume groves and Japanese honeybees that inhabit the fuelwood forests have been built by using the Japanese honeybees for the pollination of ume flowers. Moreover, the region has preserved the natural landscape of the farmlands and mountains and maintained the rich biodiversity. As a result of comprehensive recognition of these elements, the “Minabe-Tanabe Ume System” was certified as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in 2015.

The high quality ume produced under these environments are processed as umeboshi (pickled ume) and ume liqueur. Approximately 70% of the region’s workers are involved in the ume industry, and we are actively working to preserve and pass down the agricultural heritage system by training successors with an eye on the future and to promote the production.

Following the “Minabe-Tanabe Ume System,” efforts aimed at obtaining important agricultural heritage system designations have begun in other regions within the prefecture, and we are actively offering support in these endeavors.

Under these circumstances, I believe that this conference, which brings together participants of the certified region and researchers from the East Asian region to exchange information relating to the preservation efforts of the agricultural heritage sites and expand their joint research and exchanges based on the theme of “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and sustainable societies,” significantly contributes to the sustainable development of the East Asian region, which is attracting a lot of attention from around the world. It is expected that these efforts will produce great results.

In conclusion, I sincerely wish the success of this conference and all the best for everyone involved.