September 9, 2025
Learning Opportunity: Rural Grocery Stores in Japan
Submitted by Rural Grocery Initiative
Please join us Monday, September 15, 2025, at 10:30 am for a unique opportunity to hear about rural grocery in Japan.
Join us virtually by Zoom or in person in the Wayne Franklin Conference Room in the Staley School of Leadership Studies building on campus. Email rgi@ksu.edu with questions.
Rural Grocery Stores in Japan: Cases from Hokkaido and Okinawa
In Japan, food deserts have gained attention, and various policies have been introduced. Yet, the sustainability of grocery stores and the roles they play in rural life remain less discussed. My research highlights these roles through the voices of local residents and store managers, aiming to foster deeper discussion on rural grocery stores. Fieldwork is being carried out in Hokkaido, where depopulation and decline are striking, and in Okinawa, where long-standing, resident-led stores still operate. This presentation will share the current situation in Japan, early findings from the research, and perspectives for the future.
LI Shu is a doctoral student in agricultural economics, studying rural development with a focus on rural community development. Her current research examines the challenges and roles of grocery stores in rural Japan, and she conducts fieldwork actively in various regions. She is visiting the U.S. to tour and meet with rural grocers across Kansas and the Midwest.