A Regional History of Oceania Viewed through the Genealogy of Banana Cultivars of Japan and Palau
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- Shingo Odani
- Faculty of Letters, Chiba University
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- Keisuke Tanaka
- Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture
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- Christopher Kitalong
- Cooperative Research and Extension, Palau Community College, Republic of Palau
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- Yin Yin Nwe
- Cooperative Research and Extension, Palau Community College, Republic of Palau
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- Kaori Komatsu
- Faculty of Humanities, Hokkai-Gakuen University
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- Yasuaki Sato
- School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences, Nagasaki University
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- Koichi Kitanishi
- Faculty of Global and Science Studies, Yamaguchi University
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- Kagari Shikata-Yasuoka
- The Center for African Area Studies, Kyoto University
Abstract
This study revealed the historical interactions between various regions of Japan and Palau by comparing banana cultivars using DNA analysis. Since domesticated banana cultivars have vegetative reproduction characteristics, identifying these cultivars and constructing a phylogenetic tree would provide an understanding of human interactions. Consequently, morphological classification and interviews on local names, origins, and usage patterns were conducted by referring to historical documents to interpret the phylogenetic tree. From the 19th century onward, the results showed a close interaction among Ogasawara Islands, Hachijo, Ryukyu Islands, and Palau, which are historically included in/excluded from “Japan” and geographically considered as a part of Oceania. Therefore, the analysis of banana cultivars is an effective method for clarifying the regional history and exploring the origins of agriculture in Oceania and Asia.
Journal
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- People and Culture in Oceania
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People and Culture in Oceania 38 (0), 17-33, 2023
Japanese Society for Oceanic Studies
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Details 詳細情報について
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- CRID
- 1390016416950168192
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- ISSN
- 24332194
- 13495380
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- Text Lang
- en
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- Data Source
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- JaLC
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- Abstract License Flag
- Disallowed