The Negotiations between the US and Japan Concerning Surplus Disposal Program and Japan's Agricultural Development in Postwar Era

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K07924
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Agricultural science in rural society and development
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: ITO Atsushi 京都大学, 農学研究科, 准教授 (00402826)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 余剰農産物 / アメリカ小麦戦略 / 農業開発 / 農産物貿易促進援助法(PL480)

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The US Government concluded Public Law (PL) 480 Title I agreements with Japan in 1955 and 1956. The findings of our project are as follows: (1) Judging from Japanese and US government documents, Japan was regarded as a potential market for rice and USDA officials did not intend to replace Japanese rice with US wheat; (2) Market development plans for US rice had failed due to the contradiction with Japan's food policy; (3) In Japanese side, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) became an aggressive advocate for PL 480. The MAF expected to secure funding from a PL 480 Title I loan for agricultural development projects.
These findings refute the existing literature that claims that the US intended to develop Japanese market for US wheat through PL 480 agreements.

Free Research Field

農業史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

1950年代のアメリカ余剰農産物受け入れについて、日本のコメ消費をアメリカ小麦に置き換えようとする「アメリカ小麦戦略」だったとする言説が一般書のみならず研究書においても長らく普及してきた。これに対し本研究は、日米両政府の公文書という一次資料の分析によって「アメリカ小麦戦略」論が成り立たないことを実証した。さらに本研究では他の穀物輸出国との競合関係に着目することにより、日米二国間関係に関心が局限されてきた先行研究の問題点を指摘して新たな研究視角を提示した。