Kanto-Koushinetsu Region

The area of Kanto-Koushinetsu occupies 16% (63,041 km2) of the land area of Japan. This region includes the Tokyo metropolis and the prefectures of Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Nagano, Niigata. Significant depletion in agricultural land has been progressed from 1972 to 2011 due to the population concentration in the urban area of Tokyo metropolis and the prefectures of Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa. The area around the population concentration zone plays an important role in supplying vegetables, and the national share of items is 33.8% for vegetables and 25.6% for a flowering plant, and these values are the top of the Japan. In the Kanto region, the plain area occupies a large area, and agricultural activities are being developed under good water use and the existence of a populated area. The characteristics of geology, topography, climatic conditions and soil characteristics and the effects of volcanic ash soil in this area are described. The relationship between the recent agricultural production of Kanto-Koshinetsu area and the soil characteristics of each area was clarified. On the other hand, anthropogenic soils are increasing in Tokyo metropolis and problems in current soil classification system emerged from these soils has been pointed out. As a topic, an action on restoration of habitat for the reintroduction of the crested ibis in Sado Island (Sado City, Niigata Prefecture) for selected as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) was introduced. Furthermore, examples of agricultural production and soil environment conservation were introduced.