Purposes of this study are to clarify 1)the determinant factors of residents' participation for collective management of rural common-pool resources considering the subjective evaluation by the residents and 2)the effect of residents' participation behavior on the accumulation of social capital. Analyzing the piece vote data of the questionnaire survey about the conservation policy of land, water and environment in Niigata prefecture, it is clarified that the determinant factors of residents' participation are the residents' evaluation on the multi-functionality of agriculture, intention for the type of social capital and personal attribute, and residents' evaluation on the effect of the conservation policy on social capital accumulation increases as the level of residents' participation increases.

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This paper explores the development process of social capital associated with changes in farmers' attitudes for rural cooperation over time, and suggests the direction of effective agricultural development planning in Nakatomi, where the rural road construction planning is under way, constrained by landscape conservation.

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In rural areas, there are emerging reformation processes in regional autonomous organizations. However, the question of facilitation and management of these processes remains unsettled. In this study we applied the model of “Ba” to analyze the processes in 10 elementary school divisions in Sasayama city. Results showed the gradations of achievements in different divisions, from successfully functioning cases which have generated “Ba”, to those with difficulties after the first support from the public administration. Two elaborated cases clarified the basic conditions and the elements in different stages of the model to facilitate and manage the reformation processes.

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This paper clarified the capabilities of large scale rice farms by community - based group farming in the mountainous area by normative analysis. Even in case of Yasaka-area in Shimane prefecture, which is one of the most mountainous areas in Japan, it is possible to cultivate all rice fields by increasing labor and capital without deficit under the direct payment. However, without direct payment, it is impossible to cultivate all rice fields. In this case, cultivating rice field with larger patches is prior to with smaller rate of rib or in the non distant area. Moreover, this analysis indicates the necessity of labor for grass cutting as seasonal farmers in addition to regular farmers.

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Food direct supply for school lunches by group of women in the hilly and mountainous area is new expansion of direct supply-system of food produced in the area. It is proved by the examination that the primary factors are (1) The group of women determined the standard of the cultivation method and the agricultural products for school lunches, (2) The group of women developed the organization, (3) The school dietitian devised the menu, (4) Administration cooperated.

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