Agriheritage and Tourism EA 2020

GIAHS Poster Assignment: Minabe-Tanabe Ume system

LAM XUAN TRUC – ID Number: 11419132
Agriheritage and Tourism Fall 2020
Professor Vafadari Kazem
Contact information: la19x6fa@apu.ac.jp

Minabe-Tanabe Ume system - Wakayama GIAHS Tourism Product Possibilities

Kishu
binchotan
Charcoal

Introduction
Discussion 1: Tourism Possibilities
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems or GIAHS are living evolving systems of human communities in an intricate relationship
with their agricultural landscapes or environments. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) initiated the program
• Though Minabe-Tanabe has ume as the main product and branding, the potential of the site could be developed with a variety of
to protect and pass such systems on to future generations. As with the recent year of 2020, there are 62 designated sites in twenty two
tourism products and activities. The beautiful scenery of blooming ume could be utilized for photographing and camping sites along with
countries, and 11 of them are in Japan (FAO, n.d) . One contribution to Japan becoming one of the countries with the most GIAHS sites is
necessary regulations as a natural tourism attraction. Since Wakayama prefecture is famous for fruits and fishery, Minabe-Tanabe could
from the Minabe-Tanabe Ume system in Wakayama prefecture, which was designated in 2015. With characteristics completely fit the criteria
cooperate with other neighboring cities to bring more organic food dishes to the meal service of guests. The beauty of cultural practices
of GIAHS, the Minabe-Tanabe Ume system consists of outstanding agricultural landscapes that combine traditional knowledge, biodiversity,
such as ritual ceremony to worship ume significance and passing ume culinary recipes to young generations could become the foundation
resilient ecosystem, and valuable cultural heritage (FAO, n.d). Footages show that the main product -‘ume’, which is the name of the Japanese
for developing experienced-base tourism. For the international visitors who have an interest in Japanese culture and lifestyle, transportation
apricot or plum - has been cultivated in the area for centuries, and now Minabe-Tanabe is renowned as Japan’s leading ‘umeboshi’ producer.
to the site is also convenient thanks to the prefecture’s airport and nearby Tokyo international airports Following other tourist areas in Japan
However, the soil here is gravely lacking in nutrients and on steep slopes that crumble easily, and hence it was not good land for farming. In
that use mascot images to create a friendly welcoming atmosphere for visitors, Minabe-Tanabe could also develop its own mascot as
response to that situation, the ancestor grew ume orchards halfway up the slopes while coppice forests were planted near the tops of the
Mitabee and use it in the promotion and marketing plans. At the same time, due to the specific support and connection from Ume Section at
mountains. The coppice forests serve multifunction in the livings at Minabe-Tanabe, at first, they provide wood and charcoal for local
the local authority, the staff here could be in charge of developing an online platform for promotions as well as propose preferential policies
people’s consumption. More importantly, the forests prevent the soil from slipping and hold water and nutrients, which then flow down the
for tourists to the town head office.
slopes to the orchards and lower altitude planted diverse crops with a variety of living creatures. This naturally nourished mechanism without
•

human intervention is featured by one important element - the Japanese honeybees. As the ume orchards are not able to self-pollinate, and the
bees don’t have much food in the spring season besides the blooming ume hence, the bees live in the coppice forest and pollinate the ume Discussion 2: Development Possibilities through Tourism
orchards underneath, forming a unique farming system that coexists harmoniously with them. The charcoal production with the traditional
method of selective cutting which encourages the tree to regrow and maintain the mountain ecosystem also holds a special value in the • In order to improve the tourism capacity at the Minabe-Tanabe Ume system, the first key point is to keep up the meetings with the
example for human and nature prosper together (FAO, n.d). In these ways, the Ume system makes it possible to grow the fruit sustainably local community to collect, exchange ideas about the present state of the site and the ideas for development through the work of Ume
while coexisting with nature by its unique way of land use that has developed over hundreds of years. Section. Next, continue to develop the mascot of Mitabee, it is optimum if the task considers the help from volunteers, who already had the
•

experiences in visual presentation by creating a large picture book to tell a story to children about ume production. The mascot should
become the site representative and be attached to all the products on both online and offline platforms. After that, tourism packages for
each target group of visitors should be implemented with variable activities and products.

• Tourism plan targeted for group visitors: family, students & individuals (offline platforms): Homestay program in rural areas
where the cultural fabric is bound together by agriculture, community, and tradition are the necessary feature in tourism development.
Domestic visitors and international tourists who have interests in Japanese culture can experience a traditional Japanese lifestyle by staying
with a local host family and assisting with everyday tasks in and around the house together with enjoying local cuisine and customs
firsthand. In the blooming season of ume, a part of the ume oak forest could be utilized as a tourist spot for photographing and camping.

Objectives of Tourism Development for the Site The regulation to avoid damaging the ume tree ought to be conducted in a friendly manner as before entering the site, local students or
residents will provide short and funny guidance in sightseeing together with Mitabee mascot featured on site's rule cardboard standees in
•As the fundamental concept of GIAHS sites, the Minabe-Tanabe Ume system is the result of harmony between human and nature but
the tourist site to remind people about keeping regulations. Also, the time frame for activating the photographing/camping site is only in the
climatic, social and economic changes threaten their sustainability. There is a need to mitigate these threats and enhance the benefits of
short period of the spring season, and a specific location of ume forest is put under observation and management of the local community.
GIAHS with the essential complementary role from agricultural heritage tourism. As a powerful tool, tourism needs to contribute to the
This site targets family, youth or people who love taking natural photographs. Minabe-Tanabe should also continue to design education
landscapes and the community beyond the nature-based type and increase awareness about food culture, biodiversity and the close relationship
bus-tours for students, including activities such as sightseeing the forest and natural creatures, workshop in umeboshi preparation or ume
between human and nature. By providing experiences for quality food and natural resources, enhancement in quality of life would be fostered
picking, or drawing workshops in which students draw on paper about their impression/thoughts about the area. If the bus-tours and
by landscape management and planning, and successfully transfer traditional knowledge to young generations. Based on these requirements,
workshops receive high engagement, the program will be extended to regular visitors by cooperation with the homestay program.
the main objective is to design the tourist attractions and advertisements for the Minabe-Tanabe ume system and predict the influence of the
planning sustainable tourism. • Promotion plan for souvenirs & site recognition (online platform): Besides the traditional souvenir shops, there is a need to

• develop an online shopping site linked and promoted in the official website for online ordering and gifting of local products. The
Methodology of Tourism Planning recommendation for on-sale products are umeboshi gift sets, photogenic ume wine and ume syrup, charcoal packets of 200g in boxes with
styrofoam, and ice packs to ensure the good quality and condition of products, which is not only able to the domestic market but also
In order to utilize the strength and mitigate the threat facing Minabe-Tanabe site as aging population and depopulation, tourism is introduced
limited overseas delivery. To broaden the significance of GIAHS’s designation in Minabe-Tanabe and create positive impressions for
to the GIAHS site via accommodation program improvement, tourism package and specified activities for groups. The planning will be
tourists before and after visiting the site, online media platforms such as Website, Youtube channel, Facebook, and Instagram’s pages to
implemented in both online and offline platforms for promotion and education about the site, which requires substantial human resources from
promote images of Minabe-Tanabe under management of local authority- Ume section is essential. The website should include an open-
tourism professionals and the local community with extensive engagement.
forum for tourists where visitors write feedback on homestay accommodation, on-site activities, and by each engaging feedback, visitors

• would receive discount vouchers on online shopping websites or entrance fees of tourist activities. At the same time, volunteers from local
References citizens and children could help to create a short comic story about Minabe-Tanabe historical/cultural/environmental aspects and upload

• FAO (n.d). GIAHS around the world. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from GIAHS Globally Important Agricultural Heritage system: weekly chapters on official social media pages.

http://www.fao.org/giahs •
.
• FAO (n.d). Minabe-Tanabe Ume System, Japan. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from GIAHS Globally Important Agricultural Heritage
system: http://www.fao.org/giahs/giahsaroundtheworld/designated-sites/asia-and-the-pacific/minabe-tanabe-ume-system/en/
WELCOME TO MINABE-TANABE