Historical Analysis of Food-Related Activities in Extension Services for Home Living Improvement

This chapter examines food-related activities in extension services for home living improvement in Shimane Prefecture, focusing on how the local food culture was inherited. It also considers the importance of the local food culture inheritance, community vitalization, and rebuilding based on the local food culture activities. The results are as follows: First, eating habits in rural areas have been improved mainly through various efforts launched by home demonstration agents, as part of a project. Following the instructions provided by these agents, home living improvement groups, which conduct activities such as food preservation, were formed. Since the late 1950s, the rural life has gradually changed, driven by rapid economic growth. Accordingly, project representatives, such as home demonstration agents, have strived to maintain the local food culture. Second, home demonstration agents have collected and recorded information about the local food culture in detail, the reason being their wide-ranging information about rural areas. The results point toward using the local food culture in various local events to vitalize and rebuild the community. Importantly, the local food culture should be passed on to future generations, and people should be encouraged to embrace it.