The Role of Individuals' Ideas in Policy Changes: The Case of Japanese Agriculture

Despite a diminished economic role, advanced countries tend to maintain protectionist policies in agriculture. Relevant literature suggests that farmers demonstrate strength in collective action as producer groups; however, they do not consistently succeed in political contests. What factors account for the success of farmers’ resistance against failure? This paper examines the perspectives of agricultural ministers using Japan as a case study. I will first argue that there were two significant shifts in agricultural policy in postwar Japan: a transition from increasing rice production to a decline, and the dismantling of protections for small farmers. After establishing that those changes cannot be attributed to shifts in electoral systems or economic conditions, the paper will focus on the ideas of agricultural ministers, positing that their ideas explain the timing of changes in Japanese agricultural policies. In the two empirical sections, I will examine how the ministers’ ideas account for those policy shifts. This paper aims to contribute to a reevaluation of the relationship between politicians and bureaucrats in Japan, suggesting that the influence of ministers’ ideas may also be more pronounced in other countries. In addition, the findings will suggest that the impact of individuals’ ideas may differ from that of broader societal ideas. Ultimately, I argue that the ideas of various ministers shaped agricultural development by influencing the timing of agricultural reforms.