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The Mainichi
21-05-2025
- The Mainichi
Corn thefts during harvest season in Japan's Yamanashi Pref. prompt increased vigilance
KOFU -- Yamanashi Prefectural Police are ramping up their vigilance against corn thefts, a specialty product of this central Japan city, with its peak harvest season looming in June, as in recent years there have been a spate of incidents targeting the crop during this time of year. One such case occurred early one morning in June 2022 in the Nakamichi district of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture's capital city. Approximately 1,000 ears of corn, worth 200,000 yen (currently around $1,400), were stolen from a field. The theft was apparently orchestrated just before harvest. The prefectural police believe it was carried out by a group and have been investigating, but the case remains unsolved. A 78-year-old corn farmer near the scene commented, "It's enough to fill a small truck. It's truly sad and frustrating to have the corn we've carefully grown stolen." The Kofu basin's temperature fluctuations between day and night contribute to the area's thriving corn production. In particular, the Nakamichi district in southern Kofu is a major production area, with vast cornfields dominating the landscape. Varieties such as "Gold Rush," "Mille-Feuille" and "Kimihime" are known for their high sugar content and large size. These are primarily shipped to the Tokyo metropolitan area, fetching prices around 3,600 to 3,800 yen (about $25 to $26.50) per 5 kilograms. According to Minami-Kofu Police Station, there have been a number of corn thefts in recent years. In 2024, there were three incidents involving a total of 50 ears of corn stolen within its jurisdiction. Additionally, in June of the same year, eight ears of "Gold Rush" corn were stolen from a field in the neighboring city of Fuefuki, leading to the arrest of a man in his 70s from Kofu on suspicion of theft. A local farmer said that the theft of two to three ears is a common occurrence each year and they do not file a damage report with police over such small-scale thefts. To help prevent these incidents, the police station will conduct a large-scale patrol on May 23, deploying police dogs among other measures. It is also intensifying patrols with police cars throughout the harvest season. Yukihisa Hirayama, chief of the station's community safety division, emphasized, "We must not allow the theft of corn that farmers have painstakingly cultivated." (Japanese original by Shusaku Sugimoto, Kofu Bureau)
The Mainichi
13-05-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Majority approve Mt. Fuji climbing restrictions, hope tolls used for conservation
FUJIYOSHIDA, Yamanashi -- About 80% of respondents to a survey of Mount Fuji climbers approved of entry restrictions on the Yoshida Trail implemented last year, and many also expressed a desire for the tolls collected to be used for environmental conservation efforts on the mountain. The Yamanashi Prefectural Government began collecting a toll of 2,000 yen (around $14) from hikers at the fifth station of the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the mountain, and encouraged the voluntary payment of a 1,000-yen Mount Fuji conservation cooperation fee. It also closed the fifth station to hikers between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m., except for those staying at mountain lodges and those descending. The online survey was carried out by the Mount Fuji Yoshida Trail environmental conservation promotion council, a group comprising mountain lodge stakeholders among others, between August and October 2024. It targeted Japanese individuals aged 18 and over who stayed in mountain lodges, receiving 544 valid responses. Kiyotatsu Yamamoto, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo's graduate school and an adviser to the council, compiled and analyzed the data. According to the survey results, 38% of respondents rated the restrictions "highly," and another 44% "somewhat" positively. When asked how they would like the toll fees to be used, with multiple answers allowed, "environmental conservation of Mount Fuji" (477 respondents) and "waste and sewage management" (424 respondents) were the top choices. The least popular option was "staffing costs for collecting money" (60 respondents). Yamamoto noted, "Most climbers view the system positively and want the toll fees to be used for environmental conservation. The prefecture needs to collect the toll fees efficiently." The questionnaire also asked how much they would be willing to pay if the entry fee were increased, providing a series of randomized amounts. Statistical analysis indicated that raising the toll to 4,000 yen (some $27) would reduce the number of climbers by 23%, and a toll of 7,400 yen (around $50) would halve it. However, about 10% of respondents indicated they would pay even if the toll were raised to 18,000 yen (approx. $122). This season, the prefectural government will increase the toll on the Yoshida Trail to 4,000 yen. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact on the number of climbers. Regarding this, Yamamoto predicted, "Few travelers know the exact amount needed on-site, so the number of climbers is unlikely to decrease as much as theoretical figures suggest." (Japanese original by Tatsuki Noda, Kofu Bureau)
