Shiroyone Senmaida: Analysis of the Process of Patrimonialization

Extract

[...] These rice terraces, which run along the coastline of a hillside, were created in a very special geographical context. The steep slopes of the area make it unsuitable for agriculture, which is why the rice terraces are ideal. What's more, the site is located in a temperate zone and in a monsoon region, which is favourable to rice growing. The historical context has also played a part in shaping this landscape, which is now considered to be typically Asian. Indeed, since ancient times, rice has been the staple food for a large proportion of the Asian population. [...]

[...] In 2006, the Shiroyone Senmaida Aenokoto conservation organisation was created. In 2007, the ownership system was set up at Shiroyone Senmaida. This voluntary civil agriculture project is a conservation initiative involving the participation of city dwellers in agricultural activities. A plot is allocated to each volunteer, who receives ten kilograms of rice and edible wild plants each year in exchange for a membership fee (Qiu et al., 2013). However, although these activities increase interaction with city dwellers (Ishizawa, 2018), the latter are often inexperienced: the gain in labour rarely compensates for the learning time required (Bixia et al., 2018). [...]

[...] It should also be pointed out that the site's isolated geographical location means that it is still not very attractive to foreign tourists. What's more, the problem of labour shortages has not yet been resolved. Sources : Akira K. (2015, septembre). La glocalisation de la protection du patrimoine folklorique : l'exemple des coutumes liées à la riziculture dans le nord de la péninsule de Noto (traduit par JM. Butel). Dans Patrimonialisation et identités en Asie orientale (52). Ebisu, 61p. Bixia C., Zhenmian Q., Nisikawa U. [...]

[...] More recently, a third threat, this time geographical in origin, has emerged: water pollution. Ishikawa Prefecture, like many coastal prefectures, is suffering from the arrival of abundant plastic waste from neighbouring countries. This is due to ocean currents, in particular the Tsushima current flowing from the south to the north of the Sea of Japan, and seasonal winds from Korea (JapanGov., 2020). For 25 years, the prefecture has been running a clean-up campaign involving local communities. In Wajima, an association has been set up to clean up Sodegahama beach and raise awareness among young people (JapanGov., 2020). [...]

[...] In 1999, he named Shiroyone Senmaida one of the "100 most beautiful rice terraces in Japan" (Qiu et al., 2013). In the same year, the Foundation for Global Peace and Environment organised the inauguration of the Come-Come Rice Forum for Global Environment at Shiroyone Senmaida (Akira, 2015). In 2000, a number of events were organised, including the Thousand Rice Fields Wedding Ceremony, which enabled three couples to marry in the rice fields. This was a particularly effective way of promoting the rice paddies (Akira, 2015). [...]