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14 - Japanese Agricultural Reform under Abenomics

from Part IV - Third Arrow of Abenomics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2021

By
Patricia L. Maclachlan  and
Kay Shimizu
Edited by
Takeo Hoshi  and
Phillip Y. Lipscy
Takeo Hoshi
Affiliation:
University of Tokyo
Phillip Y. Lipscy
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
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Summary

After 2012, Prime Minister Abe prioritized agricultural reform as a signature objective of the structural reform, or “third arrow,” component of Abenomics. But while the Abe reforms have enhanced competitive market signals in the farm sector and accelerated the long-term political decline of conservative LDP politicians, farm bureaucrats, and Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) – the “farm lobby” – in the policy process, the lobby remains a significant obstacle to more sweeping change. To illustrate these points and the ongoing tug-of-war between neoliberal reformers and the farm lobby, this chapter explores some of the successes and failures of the government’s agricultural agenda against the backdrop of a deepening demographic and economic crisis in the countryside.

Keywords

Shinzo AbeAbenomicsagricultural policyfarm zokuJapan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA)Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)Ministry of AgricultureForestryand Fisheries (MAFF)
Type
Chapter
Information
The Political Economy of the Abe Government and Abenomics Reforms , pp. 421 - 444
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

References

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JA representatives, Kumamoto City, June–July 2014.

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Sakae Hirose, mayor of Yabu City, Tokyo, June 5, 2014.

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Officials, Kumamoto Prefecture Bureau of Agriculture, Kumamoto City, June 5, 2014.

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Interviews

Ikuo Kabashima, governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto City, June 4, 2014.

Masayoshi Honma, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, May 29, 2014.

JA representatives, Kumamoto City, June–July 2014.

Taro Kohno, LDP lower house member from Kanagawa Prefecture, Tokyo, August 2014.

Sakae Hirose, mayor of Yabu City, Tokyo, June 5, 2014.

Takeshi Noda, lower house member from Kumamoto City, Tokyo, June 6, 2014.

Officials, Kumamoto Prefecture Bureau of Agriculture, Kumamoto City, June 5, 2014.

Kazuhito Yamashita, Canon Institute for Global Studies, Tokyo, January 5, 2015.

Kazuhito Yamashita. October 7, 2017.

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