Facts Drawn from and a Critical Review of “The Illustrated Vegetation History of the Japanese Archipelago” (Yasuda, Y. & Miyoshi, N., eds. 1998. Asakura-Shoten Publishers)

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  • 図説日本列島植生史（安田喜憲・三好教夫編． 1998．朝倉書店）から引き出せる事実と吟味
  • ズセツ ニホン レットウ ショクセイシ ヤスダ ヨシノリ ミヨシ ノリオ ヘン.1998.アサクラ ショテン カラ ヒキダセル ジジツ ト ギンミ

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Abstract

This book presents the Late-Quaternary vegetation history of the Japanese Archipelago, mainly focusing on the last 150,000 years. During this period, several taxa became extinct in the Archipelago. For example, Lagerstroemia (probably L. indica now growing in southern China) was widespread south of the southern part of northeastern Honshu, but virtually disappeared at the end of the last interglacial period, that lasted from ca. 145,000 to 130,000 yr B.P. Larix dahurica, endemic to Siberia, began to appear in Hokkaido ca.120,000 yr B.P., reaching northeastern Honshu during the last maximum glaciation from ca. 25,000 to 15,000 yr B.P., but completely disappeared by ca. 8000 yr B.P. Six major vegetational changes occurred after the last interglacial period: (1) ca. 70,000 yr B.P. corresponding to the beginning of the Oxygen Isotope Stage 4, (2) 25,000 yr B.P. to the middle of the Oxygen Isotope Stage 2, (3) 15,000 yr B.P. to the beginning of Late-glacial time, (4) 12,500 yr B.P. to the Bølling oscillation, (5) 10,000 yr B.P. to the beginning of Postglacial time, and (6) 3000–150 yr B.P. to the beginning of intensified agricultural activities. Cryptomeria japonica was the dominant species throughout Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu during the Oxygen Isotope Stage 5, suggesting that a mild mid-temperate climate prevailed in these regions. During the maximum glacial period, pinaceous coniferous forests covered the entire Archipelago, i.e., subarctic species in northern and central Japan, and temperate species without Larix in southwestern Japan. Cool-temperate deciduous broadleaf forests developed during early Postglacial time, but warm-temperate lucidophyllous forests including Podocarpus expanded to southwestern and coastal areas of central Japan during mid-Postglacial time. It is highly probable that Lagerstroemia indica was locally distributed at this time. Rice agriculture began in Kyushu some 3000 years ago for the first time, and spread toward the north progressively, reaching northeastern Honshu ca. 1500 years ago, followed by rapid establishment of Pinus densiflora forests on hills and lower slopes of mountains. The chapter on the “Hokuriku Region” is poorly written, not covering the heart of the vegetation history in the region. The author’s writing, not only of this chapter but others, lacks clarity and logic, and is verbose with full of errors and plagiarisms. I would advise that this chapter be rewritten by a different author before the next edition is published

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