Japan – Food Security
How did Japan's food security change, rehabilitate, and succeed?
Japan has always been a very food secure country, with abundances of a variety of nutritious food, including the national staple food, rice. To this day, Japan remains one of the worlds most food secure nations, with less than 5% prevalence of undernourishment in the population, and the title of the world's 22nd most food secure country. This statement is huge considering it is one of the worlds most densely populated countries for its small size. However, although Japan is currently thriving, the future of food security is not as much so promised due to one big factor; climate change.
Where is Japan?
Japan is located in South East Asia, in the Pacific Ocean.
A country abroad Southeast Asia, Japan is made up of four major islands, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is currently one of the most densely populated nations around the world, home to approximately 127 million people within 377972 square kilometres of land. This means an allowance of approximately 349 people per each square kilometre. To put this astounding figure seriously, put it in contrast to Australia: which only has 3 people per 1 square kilometre! Japan is located on the geographic coordinates of 35.0000° N latitude and 136.0000° E longitude, and interestingly enough placed upon both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. One of Japan's most distinct and problematic geological features is that is it is located promptly above the boundary of the Eurasian and Pacific plate, meaning earthquakes and tsunamis are not uncommon. All of these factors have big effects on Japan's food security.
The pacific plate intrudes slowly towards Japan, clashing with surrounding plates in the process, resulting in earthquakes or even tsunamis.
Developed or undeveloped?
The definition of a developed country, or first world country, is "a country with a lot of industrial activity and where people generally have high incomes". That being said, Japan is therefore labelled a developed country as industrial activity is at its most advanced and the average household net adjusted income per capita sits at $27323 USD per year. However the top 20% income earners can earn as much as 60% more than the lower earners. This puts Japan at a respectable name of the country with 15th highest average wage earner in the world.
Japan's infrastructure is beyond first world expectations, being the creator of some of the world's most breakthrough technology. This includes its ultra efficient railway and subway networks, and of course the revolutionary bullet train, or Shinkansen, the fastest train to be created by man, reaching speeds of 300 kph.
Being defined as a developed country also means Japan's food security comes at high sources, quality and abundances.
Japan's main biomes
Japan's most prominent biome that covers approximately 72% of the country is mountainous biome (mountain ranges). This is supported by Japan's iconic Mt Fuji, which rises 3776 metres above sea level. Forest ranges also cover about 68% of the environment. Japan is so mountainous due to the fact that it is (as previously mentioned) placed above the Eurasian plate(s) and Pacific plate. When geological activity takes place, not only are earthquakes and/or tsunamis the result, but also the creation of mountains and even volcanoes. However, a striking feature of Japan's agricultural system is the shortage of farmland, therefore the mountainous land that is able to be cultivated, which is approximately about 20%, is cultivated so farmland can be created to grow crops. Rice paddies, staple Japanese agriculture, is the result of the cultivation, and takes up a fair percentage of Japan's countryside. However these biomes are affecting Japan's food security in that the available type of arable land is diminishing, as along with forests, the source of renewable oxygen.
Rice paddies cultivated amongst the mountainous biomes of Japan.
Japan's climate
As Japan lies on both Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the temperate changes as you go north or south. The general climate throughout the year in Japan is quite temperate. Winter in the south is usually dry and rarely drops below 0°, however moving up north you will experience mild to heavy snowfall regularly. As for the summer, similar rules apply; the north is mildly hot, whilst the south can reach sweltering heats up to 40°. Nationwide experiences large amounts of humidity and rainfall during summer, called the rainy or monsoon season. Autumn and Spring vary between mild and cool but don't have any big affects on crops. The climate in Japan affects food security in that the rainy season that arrives in summer is vital for all crop growth throughout the year, rice in particular, and with global warming nearing, the amount of rainfall received in this time is put at major risk. Without the monsoon season in the summer, rice paddies, vegetable, barley, wheat and potato crops are all at risk of decreased yield and therefore puts Japan's food security at major risk.
The annual mean temperature throughout Japan from 1971-2000. Note that this visual representation will change in the near future due to climate change if nothing is done about it.
Japan's food security management
Although climatic change is a huge problem Japan may have to face in the future, Japan is currently doing well in their food security performance in many areas. The four main areas include availability, accessibility, stability, and the ability to apply know love in order to prepare.
Currently, Japan is abundant with a variety of foods, including both locally harvested and the growing rate of traded goods as due to the growing influence of food customs from other nations. Japan also accounts for 8% of fish consumption per day. However with the haunting climate change and over-fishing warnings, this factor can easily change within the near future.
Sources for healthy food are easy to get at manageable distances all around Japan, eg. advanced supermarkets and fresh food markets are plentiful. Stability is ensured for the current moment, but again, is not promised for the future of Japan's food security. And consecutively, Japan's education system remains one of the most advanced in the world; the second best in the world, following South Korea. All health and safety precautions are closely followed and applied with knowledge and previous education which makes Japan one of the most 'food-safe' countries.
Food accessibility and availability are currently in impeccable form, displaying varieties of healthy, nutritious foods from supermarkets to fish market, at nearly unlimited stocks.
How can food security in Japan be improved?
Food security in Japan is currently outstanding, therefore there are no real particular points that need to be improved in order to let Japan's food security to continue to thrive. However, if I could, a technique or word of advice that I would consider mentioning to Japan's government is that in order to maintain a stable food security, focus on climate change/global warming that will affect crop yield and potentially Japan's entire food security. Focus on finding ways to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere, for example, making more public transport and vehicles run on electricity, that doesn't contribute to global warming.