Livelihood Support of the Elderly by Camellia Seed Harvesting in Toshima Village, Tokyo

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  • 東京都利島村におけるツバキ実生産による高齢者の生計維持
  • トウキョウト トシマムラ ニ オケル ツバキミ セイサン ニ ヨル コウレイシャ ノ セイケイ イジ

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Abstract

This paper discusses how the elderly support their livelihoods by camellia seed harvesting in Toshima village, a small, remote island that is part of Tokyo municipality. The harvesting of camellia seeds is a suitable form of farming for the elderly because it requires only light labor. In Toshima, where most residents are elderly, the harvesting of camellia seeds is an important means of livelihood.<br>A life-course analysis of the means of livelihood of camellia farmers based on information collected mainly from interviews with them revealed that farming type varies corresponding to the generation into which they were born, and differences in farming type affect the agricultural earnings of each generation. Farmers classified in cohort I, who were born from 1927 to 1936, expanded farmland inherited from those who had retired from camellia seed harvesting. Cohort I earns about one million yen per year from camellia seed sales after the expansion of farmland. Farmers in cohort II, born from 1937 to 1946, chose multicrop farming, for example, camellia and Parasenecio delphiniifolius, because of the shortage of farmland suitable for camellia seed harvesting. Therefore, most of cohort II earn less than a million yen per year. However, they may expand camellia seed harvesting after the retirement of cohort I in the future. Farmers in cohort III, born from 1947 to 1956, are engaged in nonagricultural jobs and harvest small amounts of camellia seeds on the side.<br>The livelihood of the elderly in Toshima is supported by income from two sources: camellia seed harvesting; and public pensions. Camellia farmers more than 70 years of age receive the greatest benefit from this dual-income structure. Although elderly farmers younger than 70 years receive less benefit from camellia seed harvesting, they may expand production after the retirement of older farmers. On the contrary, those who are not elderly and need larger incomes to support family expenditures must engage in nonagricultural jobs. They have few opportunities to support their livelihood by the harvesting of camellia seeds. The inheritance of farmland from elderly farmers by younger generations will be a pressing issue in sustaining Japan’s aging society in peripheral areas such as Toshima.

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