Overview of the Book

The main topic of this book is the evolution of animals and plants that are closely associated with human activities in East Asia, particularly focusing on the Japanese Archipelago (Yaponesia). During the Neolithic period, East Asians increasingly relied on plant-based diets, particularly millet and rice. This marked the beginning of agriculture, and East Asia became one of the world’s major agricultural hubs. Following the initial arrival of modern humans in the Japanese Archipelago around 40,000 years ago, inhabitants extensively used various animal and plant resources. Although some species were native, many others were introduced to the archipelago by humans. Notably, the migration of the Yayoi people was influenced by agricultural advancements on the continent, and they introduced the wet-field rice cultivation system, which profoundly altered the animal and plant landscape of the Japanese Archipelago. However, not all species were intentionally introduced; for example, rodents such as house mice and black rats, which live in close association with humans, quickly exploited new niches created by human activities and spread throughout the Japanese Archipelago. This influx of new species significantly transformed the interactions among humans, animals, and plants in the region.