A Review of Island Studies within Japan’s Geographical Research

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the trends in Japan’s geographical studies on islands by tabulating all academic papers published from 1907 through 2012. The paper offers a bird’s-eye perspective on the overall research trends as well as identifying more specific trends based on the research results since the 1980s in each of the research fields. There were five waves when islands were actively studied. Of the two categories of geographical island studies, Group 2 rooted in systematic geography made great advances after the 1980s. In addition to the studies on agriculture, settlement and fishery which had always been popular, there was an increase in the number of studies concerning new human phenomena, such as tourism, transportation and population. In contrast, Group 1 studies on island theory and island policy have not progressed since the 1980s. Better organization of researchers involved in island studies and more active research exchanges can lead to the vitalization of island studies within Japan’s geographical studies. It is anticipated that this will also serve to revive and further develop studies on island theory and island policy. Hereafter, island studies must research practical achievements in response to the various problems faced by islands, including the issues of land use, ecology, and aging population combined with the diminishing number of children. Further, through collaborations with researchers abroad and empirical studies on the issues of the islands of the world in this global age, there is a possibility that theories applicable to Japanese islands may be reconstructed from a global point of view.