ISSN 1341−2418

OUTH PACIFIC NEWSLETTERSKAGOSHIMA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER
FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
1-21-24, Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-8580 JAPAN ●T E L: +81-99-285-7394
FAX: +81-99-285-6197

⿅児島⼤学国際島嶼教育研究センター
郵便番号 890-8580
⿅児島市郡元１丁⽬21番24号
電 話 099-285-7394
ファクシミリ 099-285-6197

E-mail: shimaken@cpi.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
WWW Homepage URL:http://cpi.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/index.html

March 2 0 1 4

No.25

KAGOSHIMA UNIVERSITYRESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDSCONTENTS
Page
Expecting More Extensive Education and Research Activities in Island Areas······························· 1
Yakushima: The Island of Hope········································································································ 2International Symposium···················································································································8Open Seminar·····································································································································12
Research Seminars ···············································································································15
Field Research ············································································································20
Recent Publications·····························································································································22

Cover photo: People who return from Weno Island to their island by a boat (by Shinichi NODA)EXPECTING MORE EXTENSIVE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIESIN ISLAND AREAS
Shinichi NODA
Director, Kagoshima University Research Center for the Pacific Islands
I will retire from Kagoshima University Research Center for the Pacific Islands in theend of March 2014. Since I started for my new assignment in the center in July, 1998, itmeans that I worked at 15 years and nine months in the center, and 37 years in Kagoshima
University. The center started afresh with new scope of investigation and objectives in April
1998. The new center aimed to promote interdisciplinary studies on island and island-zones
in Oceania and its surroundings.
My first visit to Micronesia was Yap Island on February 1999. The purpose of the visit
was the preparation of a comprehensive scientific investigation using a training ship
(Keiten-Maru) of Faculty of Fisheries. It was scheduled for the autumn. The festival “YapDay” in order to continue customs and traditions of Yap was held during my stay. This visit
became meaningful in subsequent my studies. Using Keiten-Maru, more than 30 researchers
participated in the investigation made on Yap Island in 1999 and on Ulithi Atoll in 2001. The
advantage of using the ship is that the ocean observation during the voyage, transport of thematerials, and excavation of the research theme by researchers of different fields. As thedengue fever outbreak in Yap State, the Federated States of Micronesia was reported
between June and July 1995. As a few investigations of mosquito fauna in the Federated
States of Micronesia were conducted, I started the investigation of mosquito fauna in fourstates of the Federated States of Micronesia. I completed the investigation of mosquito fauna
in 2012, and the results were released as papers. The review was published in “South PacificStudies”.
In activities of the center, interdisciplinary researches on the islands area has beendeveloped and implemented by the collaboration of researches of many faculties andresearch institutes of Kagoshima University. As a variety of human resources are gathered in
the center, I am convinced that characteristic research and international exchange will be
continued.
The center is contributing to education in the Kagoshima University. The center hasoffered a subject “An Island System” intensive course in Yoron Island from 2005 for general
education course in addition to a subject “Island-Zone in the South Pacific”. The graduate
education special program started in 2010. The center has played the central role of “Island
Study Course” of graduate education. The center has offered core subjects “Island Study I”
and “Island Study II”, and open subject “Field Study on Subsistence in Pacific Islands”. I am
expecting the improvement of lecture contents.
I earnestly hope that the center can achieve its objectives, dedicated to the developmentof Oceania and its surrounding regions, and further the welfare of all people through its
research activities.
1

YAKUSHIMA: THE ISLAND OF HOPE

Herman HIDAYAT

Visiting Professor, Research Center for Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University, Japan,(November 2012 to March 2013); Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)

Traveling makes someone fresh and getting inspired on ideas. For this reason travelingin particular space for instance in the beach and forest ecosystem or what so called“eco-tourism” is very popular in recent time in Japan. The object destination which is fully
required both requirements sea side (beach) and forest ecosystem sceneries namely
Yakushima island. Yakushima is categorized one of National Park and World Heritage inJapan. It located 60 km south-southwest of Kyushu mainland, Kagoshima Prefecture. As it
known that Kagoshima owns 605 islands including 28 inhabited ones. Hence Kagoshima isvery rich island among Japan Prefecture. As a specific Yakushima National Park and World
Heritage is very unique ecosystem from viewpoint of water, biodiversity and fauna such as
deer, monkey and birds, red and black turtle in Nagata beach. Besides, in collection of forest
trees especially Japanese Cedar (Sugi Cedar) in Yakusugi land. One of biggest sugi cedar is
Jomon Sugi, which a circumference of 16,4 meters, with a height of 25,3 meters andestimated to be from 3,000 to 7,200 years old. These collections on ecosystem of Yakushima
are very fantastic that eventually affects on thousands of domestic and overseas tourists aswell visit Yakushima.
Based on findings toward three actors of who run business of Minshuku (Japanesehome style and accommodation), tourist-guide agency, and agro businessman. Among three
actors business-they frankly argue that Yakushima is island for hope from viewpoint of
refresh on ecosystem, climbing the mountain and diving in the sea and river stream sport
getting income generating.

First actor related to Minshuku (Japanese home style and accommodation)
Asada is (58 years old). He is owner of Minshuku Rokmeikan near Yakushima Airport,
Anbo. He was born in Osaka and previously worked in Stock Security Exchange Bonds(Soken Toritsu) in Osaka. He decided to quit from his job before he was retired. The
company gives early retirement fees about JPY 10,000,000 and he got also normal2

retirement JPY 35,000,000. He married with his wife in 1980s and got one daughter and one
son. Her daughter married and lives with her husband in Chiba Prefecture. His daughter
owns one son. And his son still not married yet and works in Osaka. Their family visited
Yakushima at least twice in a New Year and summer vocation in August.
He previously visited Yakushima as tourist
and he interested in fishing area and no parking
fees for boat in the beachside. The YakushimaIsland provides with a fascinating fishing area andmuch fishes production and no parking fees. So far
while he stayed in Osaka, he should pay his boat
ship annually JPY 800,000 for parking fees. Thisbackground eventually interested his decision toremove in Yakushima Island. He bought land 600 Fig. 1. The interior design of Minshuku
Rokmeikan, near Nagamine, Anbo.

Tsubo, approximately 2,244 meters width fromprivate company. He pays for the land more than JPY 40,000,000 .His land is far from thehighway 200 meters, but very strategic near the Yakushima Airport in Anbo. He finallyestablished Minshuku in 2008. The Minshuku provides with a good design and architecture,owns three rooms and the capacity for 12 persons, and onsen room for taking bath. Besides,
the rest of his land provides for timber hand crafts making and the products such as ballpoint accessories, Hazaire (place for smoking ashes) and key holders are sold to visitors. But,
he opens training to make cups, key holder, plate and statues from timber Yakusugi waste forvisitors. Therefore for this training he provides some tools and machine equipment fromcutting wood, design and crafting timber (Fig. 1).
The philosophy of his business is spirit; survive with a good management; a diligent
work, keep in touch with visitors and give excellent service to customer (interview on 5
February, 2013). Based on his experience for this strategy most visitors visit again for 2-3
times to his Minshuku. The visitors to spend night in his Minshuku usually contact withinternet and made reservation 2 months prior the time in peak session, especially for golden
week holidays (in May) and for summer (July-September). The price reaches JPY 7,000
includes for meal in dinner and breakfast per day. The Minshuku business is very optimist to
be progress with a good management and gives excellent service to customers. So far hisbusiness not yet expands for the making branch in Yakushima, Island because limited capitaland manpower who ready for temporary works.
3

Second actor related to Tourist Guide Agency
Matsumoto Takashi acts as President of Yakushima Nature Activity Center(YKNA/Tour Agency). He previously stays in Tokyo. Now his wife acts as ‘editor’ of the
Journal ‘Shemeno shima’ (The Life in island). He likes to stay in Yakushima island, because
the environmental sphere, a good for education his children and no pollution. He thoughtthat tourist sector is rapidly developed and will be challenging industry, inherently
appreciate the excellent on environment by urban people.
The company was established in 1993. He needs just 8 months to decide to establish
company, after he eventually carries out field work and feasibility study to start the business.
The philosophy of his company is to keep the ecosystem namely nature, forest and waters.
Besides is how to actively involve tourists to appreciate the mindset of tourist to keep thenature well. In this sense eco tour the most favorite target for tourist is going to ‘Jomon
Sugi’. Because the tourist could see ecosystem offorest, landscape, geology, plants, animals, insect
interaction, etc. Or tourist by traveling to Jomon Sugi
with takes about 5-6 hours by walking can utilizes 5
senses

eyes,

nose,

hearing,taste,

andhand.

Yakushima National Park and World Heritage could
Fig. 2. Profile of owner Yakushima
Nature Activity Center.

represent as complete environmental ecosystem suchas forest, plants, waters and animals (Fig.2).

The contribution
The company has obligation to keep and conserve nature program by giving lecture to
Shogakko, Chuogakko and Kotogakko (from elementary until high school) at least once
annually. The subject of training and discussion with pupils in school consists of practical in
the field on ecosystem interaction. Besides, the lessons on eco guide how to keep pupils’
mind in order to appreciate the nature. Among of high school pupils are interested to become
guide for tourist and they can join with the company. This company is open for any guide
who would like to practice and get income generating. The rationale is Yakushima is big
resources and still interesting for many tourists to visit here.

The manpower
The permanent staff of the company is 4 persons. But the guide profession is around4

200 persons. They can join with the company especially in golden time (in May) and insummer time (June-August), while the peak of tourists visit Yakushima for hiking, climbing
the mountain, play of Kayak in Anbo and visiting Nagata Inakahama for seeing turtle in thebeach. In 2012 in July-September tourist reached 1,300 visitors/per day. Ten days in
September tourist spend 2 and 3 days, reached 300-500 people. The flood of tourist insummer has been made the company was very busy to give guide service. The guide fees for
one day trip to Jomon sugi costs JPY 15,000/per person.
The peak of tourist to visit “Jomon Sugi” in summer and mostly spend one night,
eventually consider to discuss a regulation to bring “Portable toilet” and to pay every tourist
JPY 1,000 to enter the Jomon Sugi area to maintain the environment and nature. The
stakeholders related Tourist Association includes the travel agency Hotels, Individual Hotel,
NGOs on Environmental nature, Ministry of Environment, Branch Office, Forestry Agency
habe been invited by Yakushima Town Office to discuss the regulation to bring portable
toilet and entrance fees this year 2013. According to the Yakushima Cho (town) Officer will
be decided this year. So far up now the company no paying Tax to Yakushima town office.
The company just voluntary gives donation to Yakushima office town.

Third actor related to Agro business (Orange farm)
The farmers own land is outside the national forest Agency
of Yakushima. Local farmers occupied the land which is theborder of national forest since a long time. According to theinformant their land originally comes from their grandparents(third generation). In Mugio district near Anbo live 156
households. The amounts of 30 percent are categorized as
farmers. In 30 years ago approximately in 1993, while
Yakushima Island was decided to be World Heritage, most thefarmers cultivated orange farm and were very fruitful andFig. 3. Writer and the owner productive. But recently is different, most of them are becomeof Tankan Orange Brand in
Mugio, near Anbo.
an aging society (65-70 years old) and no regeneration. In

contrast, most their young generation now works in Kagoshima City and other cities. Now
still left a few households still continue working on orange farm. For instance, Michihiro, 60
years old and his wife Chiyomi 58 years old. Michihiro has two daughters (Fig. 3). One ofhis daughters has been married and now she and her husband would like to continue working
5

as farmer. This family owns 4 ha of orange farm area.
Michihiro previously worked as shop seller in Miyanoura. He gets more experiences inagricultural local products, distribution and marketing of agricultural farm. Therefore he isfamiliar with trading and got license certificate of agricultural management frominstitutional training in Kagoshima City, before he finally decided as agricultural farmers.
In operation of farming, this family support by volunteers from Tokyo Agricultural
University. As an illustration in 2012, the volunteers work temporary in orange farm for 1- 2
months with no salary, just get accommodation. According to Daisuke, one of informant,
he prefers to be volunteer to learn in the field for practical farm, production, distribution andmarket. This valuable experience is necessary for his future job, while he wish to beentrepreneur.
Michihiro previously worked as shop seller in Miyanoura. He gets more experiences inagricultural local products, distribution and marketing of agricultural farm. Therefore he isfamiliar with trading and got license certificate of agricultural management frominstitutional training in Kagoshima City, before he finally decided as agricultural farmers.
In operation of farming, this family support by volunteers from Tokyo Agricultural
University. As an illustration in 2012, the volunteers work temporary in orange farm for 1- 2
months with no salary, just get accommodation. According to Daisuke, one of informant,
he prefers to be volunteer to learn in the field for practical farm, production, distribution andmarket. This valuable experience is necessary for his future job, while he wish to beentrepreneur. The specific Tangkang Orange from Kagoshima has been originally developedin Okinawa, Ogasawara, and Miyazaki most areas are fell down the production. For example
in Okinawa, previously suffered insect contamination and fell down the production during adecade. In contrast, the orange products which have been planted no fertilizer and chemical
used are very fruitful. The orange appeals so called Tankan orange from an organic farm (Fig. 4).
Based on the observation that Yakushima is suitable for the climate, weather and soil to plantand develop this orange. In its operation of the farm originally just use fertilizer from waste
and animals. The brand of production this eco farm is called “Hankan Tankan” (Fig. 5).
The production in 20 years ago (1993) while the orange plant is young reached 30 tons per
hectare. The most production occurs in January and February (winter) or mostly happened inrainy time. But, recently the production just reached 15-18 tons, because most plants are to
be aging. The aging plant of some trees will be cut, because theoretically base their plants
will be renewing soon after 20-25 years old.
6

Fig. 4. Orange trees owns by Tankan Brand
in Mugio.

Fig. 5. Tankan Brand of Orange Company.

Actually the government of Kagoshima Prefecture throughout Yakushima Cho Office
gives an economic ‘incentive’ to the farmers, especially for orange farm. The incentive has
been given ‘subsidy’ to farmers no direct money-but by making fence about 50 percent fromits cost to protect monkey for maintaining farm. Besides, government also establishes watersupply pipe under the road to water farming area. The rationale is highlights on maintenancethe brand image, that Yakushima Island is the largest orange production in Kagoshima
Prefecture. Therefore ‘Tankan orange’ is very fruitful and fascinating for ‘Omiyage’ (specialgift) for tourists and display in various shops in Kagoshima City, particularly in Miyanoura
and Anbo.
Philosophy of “Tankan’ Orange highlighted should be sustainable business. Therefore
to achieve the aim the company share knowledge to the young generation, especially whowish to explore the voluntary work for orange farm. The company also develops on theprinciple teachings on mutual help, understanding, and friendship, to deliver the productover Japan market on time, entrepreneurship, and accountable management. The company
has been prepared for regeneration and be able to compete with other companies in the
future. To implement this aim, the Tankan Company is open for any students to practice anagricultural principles, production, and management. Because this company has success tomaintain her existence as orange farm production and other processing industries fromorange materials such as juice orange, ice creams, chocolate and sweets. Processing
industries economically is viable, and give additional values such as income generating, job
creation and diversification business.
The constrain of orange farm in the field facing a threat because of growing diseases
such as the coming of birds, monkeys, heavy rain and sometimes occurs Taifu (storm) in thewinter time.
7

Finally I do hope the existence and development of Yakushima Island as National Parkand World Heritage is properly maintained and accountable as “eco-tourism” destination
among domestic and overseas tourist as well. It is necessary to highlight ‘collaborative’
management among stakeholders movement from the viewpoint of central and local
government, tourist agency, hotel and restaurant association, transportation association,
farmers association, national park management officer and so on.

International Symposium

2 July 2013
Kagoshima University
Yanagida Kunio’s Folklore, Re-Overlooking Sea-Road of the East Asia
12:30

Greeting
Sueng Man NA (President of Comparative Folklore society)
Shinich NODA (Director of Research Center for the Pacific Islands)

12:40

Seen as the photos of, folklore and life in Amami Archipelago
Yoon Sun LEE (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University)

13:10

Yanagida Kunio’s “Kaijyo no michi”: 100 years form “Kainanshouki no tabi”
Hidedoshi YANAGAWA (Kagoshima University)

13:50

As a metaphor “Kaijyo no michi”: Imagination space of poetic language
Satodhi UDO (Kagoshima University)

14:30

Coffee break

14:40

Characteristics and music method of shima uta in the Amami islands throughcomparison of Korean music
Hye Jung KIM (Kyunggi Educational University)

15:10

Disaster prevention and community relations in the Amami islands
Xian Chen MENG (Northeast Financial and Economic University, China)

15:50

Social status of Danggol (Korean Shaman) and Noro
Kyung Yub LEE (Mokpo University)8International Symposium

6 July 2013
Kagoshima University
The Power to Change the Island Society:
Information and Communications Technology to Promote the Remote Islands
The utilization of information and communications technology (ICT) is expected to fix
various difficulties of remote islands, and it is estimated to be an effective tool to promote
the islands' culture, community, industry, education, medicine, welfare, and so on.
For instance, the broadband by which we can access to the internet at a high speed isthought to be essential to improve living standards, economic development, administrative
efficiency and digitization. When a broadband environment is prepared, it is possible topromote contents industries that do not require any logistics operations, offering tourist
information as well as selling special local products over the internet. Internet can narrow
the cultural and educational gap by providing various educational opportunities throughe-learning and acquiring necessary information such as news, weather reports, and evenfurthering exposure to entertainment such as music and movies. The development ofbroadband infrastructure in remote islands has not yet finished and not all residents ofremote islands can receive the benefits of the broadband connection.

However, thebroadband environment is gradually becoming widespread and we can observe someadvanced utilizations of ICT in remote islands.
ICT carry the potential to be the ultimate tool to close various divides in remote islands.
In this symposium, we would like to review how ICT was developed, how it will be utilized,
and any discuss considerations for the future. We look forward to your proactive andconstructive contribution in the discussion of new possibilities to promote the remote islands
using ICT.
Keynote Speech: Does computerization of remote islands produce innovation?
Masato YOKOYAMA (Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science, Faculty of Environment andArchitecture)
In less fortunate areas including remote islands, the communication infrastructure andother frameworks are gradually improving. With the rapid advance of information andcommunication technologies, these less favored areas are entering a new phase of progressin the field of regional computerization. In fact, various projects are being implemented with9

the goal of promoting utilization of ICT in remote islands all over Japan. However, does
computerization really contribute to the solution of local problems, regional vitalization andother forms of regional innovation? We would like to discuss the current challenges andfuture trends of computerization by taking the remote island area in Nagasaki Prefecture as
an example.
1: Cloud computing and the increased availabilities of advanced ICT services in remoteislands
Hitoshi MITOMO (Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University)
With the collective efforts of the central and local governments and concerned parties,
broadband is now available even in remote islands in Japan. However, it is believed that
advanced ICT applications or services are not available there due to smaller population size
and many other disadvantaged conditions. One of the reasons for lower utilization of ICT
would be that solutions to local problems have been sought within a local area. Even if an
ICT application or service is considered to be efficient as a solution to a local problem, itcannot be realized in most cases because its business feasibility is extremely low in an areawith a small population. However, if an application can be shared with other areas to seek ascale merit, the business feasibility to supply the service will be increased and then it canbecome available even on a small island. Cloud computing has made this kind of sharing
possible. This presentation focuses on education and shows how an efficient service can besupplied in remote islands by utilizing the cloud computing system.
2: The elimination of zero-broadband areas: The most advanced broadband islands
Masato MASUYA (Computing and Communications Center, Kagoshima University)
Government financed and managed broadband access services have finally launched on
three islands in Mishima village and seven islands in Toshima village. These services havelong been in demand. In Mishima, submarine cables were newly laid and easy-to-bury
FTTH cables have beenused on each island. In Toshima, a leased circuit service has been

adopted as a backbone network and fixed wireless access systems have been deployed foraccess lines. Now, the broadband Internet access provides its services to every household in
Mishima and Toshima. He will introduce the most advanced broadband infrastructure ofthese islands which have eliminated their zero-broadband areas.
3: The education cloud connects Yoron town elementary schools to the rest of thenation, supported by NTT Group companies
Fumihiko NISHIDA (NTT Learning Systems Corporation)
A field trial utilizing education cloud service, tablet PC and interactive whiteboard has
10been conducted in Yoron Town, the southernmost island of Kagoshima Prefecture, with NTT
Groups since FY2011.

Broadband network is already used nationwide at lower price.

Although the ICT is being deployed in public services such as education and medical/healthcare, its utilization is relatively lower than that of foreign countries.

NTT Groups

collaborated with ten public schools in five districts in order to launch the "Education Squarex ICT Initiative" to find practical opportunities and identify potential issues in order topromote the ICT utilization in education.

I will share the findings from the trials conductedin three Yoron elementary schools and discuss the future of integrating broadband ineducation on islands.
4: IT industry fever miracle on Amami-Oshima
Shinichiro KATSU (ICT Industry Incubation Manager, Amami City)
The Amami Islands Group has identified Tourism, Agriculture, and IT as an industrial
development triad, and Amami City opened the business incubation facility “ICT Plaza
Kasari” in April 2012 as a base for IT industries.
This facility offers 8 individual rooms. It has been extremely popular to a point where
there were no vacancies 6 months after the facility opened, and over 15 people have been
newly employed.
Since the vacancy rate is high in many facilities for business incubation across thenation, ICT Plaza Kasari attracts many curious visitors from around the country.
Shinichiro Katsu, Incubation Manager, ICT industry, Amami City will explain how to
attract companies and jobs to the region, and reveal the secret of facility operations.

Prof. YOKOYAMA, Prof. MITOMO, Prof. MASUYA, Prof. NISHIDA, and Prof. KATSU(from left to right)

11

Open Seminar

14 December 2013
Kagoshima University
Living Thing and Person Health on Island according to Environmental Perturbation:
Current State and the Future
Living thing, and person’s living and sicknesses have changed dynamically according
to the change of the environment. The island where the environmental perturbation isreceived easily can be called the model of suitable in thinking about the influence. Eachspecialist who is actually investigating plant according to the environmental perturbation,
animal, helminthes, and person’s livings and sick current states in the solitary island ofKagoshima Prefecture field show past and present status, what change by what cause, andthe problem in the change. After these are based, future tasks and correspondence are
examined. Information to which the suggestion is abundant can be offered to the event withthe possibility of staying up in the entire Japan, and occurring in the future already byreceiving the influence of the environmental perturbation easily, and examining the case in
the island that appears in shape with a visible result as a model along with the environmental
perturbation.

Prof. TAKEZAKI, Prof. NODA, Prof. SHIOTANI, and Prof. TERADA (from left to right)12

1: Vegetation change in islands brought by the change in the activity of the person: The
hometown ground and the hometown mountain are now
Hitoshi TERADA (Faculty of Education, Kagoshima University)
The population of Japan is swelling up to 130 million people now at the early stage ofthe age of Jomon though was 20,000 people in the estimate. However, depopulation
advanced in the remote place including the islands part for changing the industrial structure
and the population outflow etc. to the city in the 1955's. Vegetation that is basic of naturalenvironment has changed because the agriculture and forestry industry of the major industry
that has relied on the resource of the hometown mountain declines, and it changed anindustrial form. That is, the uncultivated field of hometown mountains proceeds thevegetation succession, disappears, the firewood mountain becomes a secondary forest near
the wildwood, and Takeyama has done the reckless driving expansion. Moreover, alive what
is leveled the surrounding of rolling and the cropland because of efficient management ofagriculture and loses the levee, and exists in the crevice environment doesn't live easily. In
addition, Kawabe reclaims, decreases the marsh, the coast part is scooped out by the beacherosion, and the maritime vegetation has been changed.
2: Climatic variation and animal event in Kagoshima Prefecture: The influence forYakushika and mongoose event by the incidence of the cold event
Katsunori SHIOTANI (Wildlife Measures Team, Environmental Living Thing Section,
Environmental General Foundation Kagoshima Prefecture Technological Society)
The number of “Fuiri-mongoose” individuals is thought that the possibility to beminimized is high by the capture business of Kagoshima Prefecture though it has misgivings
about the “Fuiri-mongoose” population in the Kagoshima City Kiire district that is theexoticism when the increasing tendency is actualized in 2009, and the ecosystem integrity inthe region is made dangerous. When the process of minimization was verified, it wassuggested that the increasing rate not have risen more than the expectation. As for the factor
that the population in the Kiire district had stayed by a low increasing rate, it is 1) existence
and 2 of the competing kinds) existence and 3 of the natural enemy) the vegetation structureand 4 including the man-made forest) geographical features and 5 by the Kagoshima graben)Though the low degree etc. of production through the four seasons of the living thing of foodare thought, there is a possibility that the cold event (Winter snowy at low temperature)
where thermal belt in addition to them is visited influences These are habitat factors that do
not exist in Amami Oshima and main Okinawa island to which outpatient population
extended everything similarly.
It is in the situation that increases by misgivings about the influence on local vegetation
and a scarce plant at present about “Yakushika” to live in Yakushima Island. The monitor of13the density that changes and attaches is being done by the Ministry of the Environment andKagoshima Prefecture at the same time as capture specific plan being set by Kagoshima
Prefecture, and being advanced by the effort such as the Yakushima-cho, local hunter
associations, and the Forestry Agency. There are still a lot of unclear matters on the direct
influence to “Yakushika” of the coming cold event in this prefecture with a lot of clement
regions at several decades’ intervals in the analysis of the density pattern. It is necessary to
clarify why the population of “Yakushika” increases till causing of the influence on extreme
vegetation in recent years, and why it was not observed in the past.
Based on the above-mentioned case, it will be argued on the need for the attention
about the different change on the invasion, colonization, and increased number of various
living things including the exoticism with a hunting pressure and the change's in a peculiar
environmental geometry different from the past in addition to the climate change influence.
3: Parasite: Parasitic diseases before the global warming is an issue
Shinichi NODA (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University)
Tropical diseases such as malaria occurs in Japan along with the global warming are aconcern. The main reason is that the number and distribution area of mosquitoes thattransmit malaria increase in accordance with the warming. By the number of malaria cases
throughout the country in 1938-1934, the number of patients in Kagoshima Prefecture is lessthan Hokkaido, and patients occur often in Shiga and Fukui Prefecture. I consider theprocess and why malarial patients decreased in number in Japan. I also consider the processof filariasis in Kagoshima Prefecture.
4: The change of lifestyle and disease with the change of environment
Toshiro TAKESAKI (Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima
University)
Amami island region of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, has a relatively higher
proportion of longevity population. On the contrary, their life span is not concordantly long,and the mortality rate among middle aged men (40-64 years) is 1.5 times higher than theJapanese standard rate. The mortality rate among aged women (65 years and over), however,is 0.9 times lower than the Japanese standard rate. The rate also shows an increasing timetrend during these 20 years.
Why does the mortality rate among the middle-aged men of Amami island region
increase? I think the answer will be obtained from the environment change. Various foodmaterials were imported from the mainland according to the transportation development andincreased the chance to take high-energy and/or fatty foods. Road development and farmmechanization produced more convenience, and decreased daily momentum.
14

We are conduction an epidemiological study for lifestyle disease prevention andlongevity in Amami regions and found that the proportion of obesity population was twotimes higher than the Japanese mean rate. The proportion of the people with high blood
cholesterol levels is rapidly increasing.
The island has the characteristics to be easily influenced by the environmental change.
The change related to not disease but health is required at the present day when lifestyles arechanging with the environment.

Research Seminars

No.136, 18 February 2013
“My ecological research of a tropical forest during the last 40 years”
Tsuyoshi YONEDA (Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University)[ABSTRACT]My ecological research could be started at the Pasoh Forest Reserve in Peninsular
Malaysia in 1972, and be followed at Ulu Gadut, Padang area in West Sumatra from 1980.
Forest area in Sumatra has been reduced by half during the period from 1985 to 2007. A
forest in Ulu Gadut has been also largely damaged from illegal logging and severe drought
weather after the middle of 90’s. These dynamic changes of stand structure could beobserved during the period through field observation. Big canopy trees have suffered fromhigh stress under unstable environmental conditions in a fragmented tropical forest becauseof their high physiological activities. I now interests in behavior of these big trees.
Regeneration process at a selective logging site in the tropics is my present research topics in
Pasoh. The outline of these researches would be presented.
No.137, 15 April 2013
“My 40 years fascinated with the foraminifera”
Akio HATTA (Faculty of Education, Kagoshima University)[ABSTRACT]
It is the beginning of “foraminifera research” that the foraminiferal fossil came out
from the field, when I was student. When I lived in Chiba Prefecture, I investigated theforaminiferal fossil from Boso Peninsula, and the foraminiferal fossil in the Late Paleozoicof Thailand. After I came to Kagoshima University, I investigated the fossil foraminiferafrom southern part of the Tanegashima, and recent foraminifera from various parts of15

Kagoshima. When I stayed in the University of the Ryukyus as a researcher about ten
months, I studied the foraminifera of the “sekisei-syou-ko”(coral-reef lagoon), and createdthe monograph of recent foraminifera of this lagoon. Since the “Nankaiken” of the past of“Tousyoken”, I have joined the investigation party to Republic of Palau, Federated States ofMicronesia, and Papua New Guinea, and have investigated the recent foraminifera. As aperson of science education, I also studied and proposed about the practical use to thescience education of the foraminifera. I introduce and explain the foraminifera produced
from the investigation area in this lecture.
No.138, 11 May 2013
“Ecosophy of Felix Guattari and contemporary philosophy”
Stephanne NADAUD (CME de Montreuil)[ABSTRACT]
Felix Guattari (1930-1992) is the thinker of the late 20th century who was an active
psychoanalysis in various fields, social movements, and political thought. After the
Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, an international trend to re-evaluate the ecologicalthought of Guattari is growing. The thought of Guattari, which has pursued the way ofknowledge (Ecosophy) to re-capture as “ecology” the mind, the society and theenvironmental not to cut them off each other, is an important guideline in considering theway of the modern world. In this presentation, through the decoding of such thought ofGuattari, I would like to discuss the direction and role of the contemporary philosophy in theecological problem.
No.139, 27 May 2013
“Cultural characterize of “Namdo” in Korea”
Yoon Sun LEE (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University)[ABSTRACT]
Namdo means Southwest region in Korean peninsula. The configuration system of thesouth east countries is called “Northeast Asia Mediterranean”. It explains the different styles
in the south seas of Korea which has more than 3,000 islands. The first point is about tidal
flats and many islands. There are a lot of salterns (salt field). The second point is food. The
famous salted sea foods can expand in the triangle area in south Asia, south China and Japanand Korea. Namdo people like Kimchi with hot peppers nowadays, but north region (North
Korea) people don’t like red peppers. So, it can be easily defined if the food is from thenorth or from the south. The third is ritual and dance of shaman. In Korea, there are twostyles of Shamans which is divided by the Han River, North and South. Northern Shaman’s
dancing style is jumping and skipping and uses about 20 colorful clothes in just one ritual.
16

Southern Shaman’s wears only one or two garbs and dominated by the color white. She only
sings songs, plays music and dances. The fourth is song and music. According to myobservation, Okinawa and Amami Oshima has some similarities on shaman practices. The
last is funeral and burial. There are two different styles of Burial in Namdo. The cultural
styles that we have learned today have currently been combined. I have much interesting
about cultural relevance of the southern Korea and southern Japan cultures. It is admittedly
sea and island culture from South Pacific.
No.140, 17 June 2013
“Reading F. Scott Fitzgerald from the Celtic perspective”
Natsuo CHIYODA (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University)[ABSTRACT]
Many studies on F. Scott Fitzgerald mention the writer’s Irish blood which comes fromhis mother, but we can hardly find what actually analyzes how it worked in Fitzgerald’s
works or his identity itself. Paying attention to that Celtic background, in this presentation,
I’d like to especially focus on the imagery of “island” in the works, which is the basic
element of Celt as well. As many “islands” in The Great Gatsby are symbolically andeffectively used, “island” can be the key to the broader theme “what is Fitzgerald’s own
romanticism?”
No.141, 30 September 2013
“On the site of the Festival of Pacific Arts”
Hikaru KOIDE (Libraly of Pacific Arts)[ABSTRACT]
It was in 1972 that the 1st Festival of South Pacific Arts was held in Fiji. 40 years havepassed since then, and the 11th Festival was held in Solomon Islands last year. Koide has
been in charge of filming of this festival since the 4th in 1985 when the festival changed it's
name to Festival of Pacific Arts.
How one is involved in this festival may depend on his or her position. Being anreporter, one will confront issues that would not be normally recorded officislly and will
have to deal with them beforehand , or on the spot.
This report surveys the past festivals and their organizational features while refferringto those off-the-record issues. For the purpose of time saving, the respective features will besummarized in the form of a resume. Instead, a video images will be prerared that will
convey the actual mood of the festivals more vividly.

17No.142, 21 October 2013
“The cultivated and domesticated plants in Prehistoric Japan and the origins seenfrom recent paleoethnobotanical studies”
Hiroki OBATA (Faculty of Letters, Kumamoto University)[ABSTRACT]As well-known Japan is one of “the secondary origins” of cereal cultivation,
represented by rice and millets, in Prehistoric East Asia. In general speaking agriculturalsociety in Japan was established with rice cultivation on paddy field introduced from the
Korean Peninsula in the earliest Yayoi Period. However some theories represented by“Shoyoujurin-bunka-ron” argued by a geographer, Takaaki Sasaki have been emphasizingthat some domesticated plants such as taro and millets were introduced from South Asian
continental zone or Southern China and cultivated on slash-and-burn fields before Yayoi
Period and the agricultural complex is a significant foundation for forming the modern
Japanese culture. Although some plants were cultivated in Jomon Period surely and then thetheory is not at all a fiction, some unreliable domesticated plants which have not been
demonstrated thorough the recent scientific inspections sufficiently are contained. Since
2000 the paleoethnobotanical studies especially on Jomon Period have been progressing
with new effective methods to seek and to determine the domesticated plants such as“impression method” and AMS 14C dating as well as the development of identification
methods for seeds and pollen. For example, using these analytical methods it isdemonstrated that some indigenous plants, such as barnyard millet, adzuki bean, andsoybean were domesticated by Jomon people. Before the discoveries of the bean impressions
in the Jomon pottery these beans had been recognized to be introduced from China in Yayoi
Period.
In the presentation the cultivated and domesticated plants in Jomon and the origins will
be shown mainly based on the results of studies using “impression method”.
No.143, 25 November 2013
“Mesozoic to Cenozoic Vertebrate fossils from Kyushu Island and Southwest Islands”
Hideo NAKAYA (Faculty of Science, Kagoshima University)[ABSTRACT]The oldest vertebrate fossil from Kyushu Island and Southwest Islands was carnivorous
dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (130 million years ago) of the Mesozoic.
Kyushu Island and Southwest Islands were a part of the Asian Continent since theMesozoic. Mesozoic dinosaurs and Early Cenozoic mammals were identified similartaxonomic group to continental vertebrates.

18

The Japanese Islands was separated from the Asian Continents after the Middle
Miocene (15 million years ago) of the Late Cenozoic. Since this age, vertebrates started
characteristic evolution in the Japanese Islands and immigrated from/to continent during low
sea level age, and then extant vertebrate fauna of Kyushu Island and Southwest Islands were
established.
No.144, 9 December 2013
“Communicating climate change, disaster and crisis in the Pacific”
Evangelia PAPOUTSAKI (Unitec Institute of Technology, New Zealand)[ABSTRACT]The Pacific Islands region has been on the focus of the climate change debate in the last
few years. Several islands are already experiencing the impact of climate change on theirsmall economies, cultures and fragile natural habitat. This has brought to attention the needto establish stronger communication mechanisms and install a range of media andcommunication platforms to provide access to early warning systems before a disaster andcommunication during disaster response. As the complexity of the media andcommunication environment of this region increases with the arrival of new technologies,
questions remain about the appropriateness of ICTs for use during emergencies and disasters.
There is also a greater need for understanding the possibilities of integrating ICTs likemobile phones into media and communication plans for disaster response technologies likeradio.
This research presentation is based on the PACMAS State of Media andCommunication Report 2013, undertaken across 14 Pacific Island nations and through apartnership between RMIT University (Australia), the University of Goroka (Papua New
Guinea) and UNITEC (New Zealand). The presentation focuses on aspects of climatechange and emergency and crisis communication systems through the research’s key
components (media policy, systems, capacity building and content). It gives some key
findings that highlight the urgency of developing and sustaining systems of communication
vital for these island nations.
The research was guided by the principles of Communicative Ecology andCommunication for Development (C4D) that deliberately encompass all forms and modes ofcommunication, including community radio, information and communication technology(ICT) initiatives, and processes such as community dialogue along with the more traditional
mass media.

19

Field ResearchInterdisciplinary research in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia in August, 2013.
Members & Themes
Shinichi NODA (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University): Survey ofMosquito Habitats on Piis Island
Shunsuke NAGASHIMA (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University):
Research on the Improvement Efforts by the Public Sector about Health Care, Public
Sanitation and Waste Management
Yoon Sun LEE (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University): Study on
Local Dances and Songs in Chuuk
Masashi YAMAMOTO (Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University): Investigation of
Native and Local Citrus Grown in Chuuk
Kei KAWAI (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University): Shell Colour
Polymorphism in Populations of the Intertidal Gastropod Nerita plicata
Motohiro KAWANISHI (Faculty of Education, Kagoshima University): Ecological Characterand Species Diversity of Vegetation in Chuuk State
Ryuko MORI (Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University): Health Condition of Local
People in Chuuk, FSM
Sota YAMAMOTO (Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University): Food
Survey on Piis Island

Citrus investigation

Lecture at College of Micronesia (Weno)
20

Local songs collection

Shell investigation

Mosquito investigation

Discussion with staffs of Public Health, Chuuk

Food survey

Vegetation survey

21

Recent Publications+++Journal+++South Pacific Studies

Vol.34, No1, 2013

Research Papers
KADER Md. A., BULBUL M., HOSSAIN Md. S., YOKOYAMA S., ISHIKAWA M. and KOSHIO S.:
Improved Utilization of Plant By-Products Mixture by Supplementing Dietary
Bamboo Charcoal for Juvenile Amberjack Seriola Dumerili
JOHNSON H. and KUWAHARA S.: Neo-Traditional Ensemble Drumming in the Amami
Islands: Mapping New Performance Traditions

Notes
INOUE-SMITH Y.: Aspirations for Career and Marriage among Young Japanese Women: The
Case of Okayama University

South Pacific Studies

Vol.34, No2, 2014

Research Papers
HIDAYAT H. and YAMAMOTO S.: Papua’s Threatened Forests: Conflict of Interest
Government versus Local Indigenous People
GIRSANG W.: Socio-Economic Factors That Have Influenced the Decline of Sago
Consumption in Small Islands: A Case in Rural Maluku, Indonesia

Review
NODA S.: Mosquito Fauna in the Federated States of Micronesia: A Discussion of the Vector
Species of the Dengue Virus

22

ISSN 1341−2418

OUTH PACIFIC NEWSLETTERSKAGOSHIMA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER
FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
1-21-24, Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-8580 JAPAN ●T E L: +81-99-285-7394
FAX: +81-99-285-6197

⿅児島⼤学国際島嶼教育研究センター
郵便番号 890-8580
⿅児島市郡元１丁⽬21番24号
電 話 099-285-7394
ファクシミリ 099-285-6197

E-mail: shimaken@cpi.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
WWW Homepage URL:http://cpi.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/index.html

March 2 0 1 4

No.25

KAGOSHIMA UNIVERSITYRESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS