Foreword by Takashi Kosaki
Who knows soils were studied and classified into nine grades based on productivity or fertility
and those data were compiled in a series of books named “Fudoki” for all territories controlled
by the Emperor of Japan in the eighth century? The description of such soil evaluation in the
Far East dates back to the sixth century BC when “Yu Gong (Tribute of Yu the Great in Xia
Dynasty in ca. 2000 BC)” was written as a chapter of the Book of Xia section of the Book of
Documents, whose compilation was attributed to Confucius in China. The “Fudokis” were, of
course, complied with the ideas originally developed in such textbooks in ancient China and
used as a base for governing the ancient nation of Japan.
Who knows the first modern soil map, Agronomic Map of the Kai Province, was published
in 1885, only two years after V. V. Dokuchaev’s classic “Russian Chernozem” was published?
Who knows one Japanese soil scientist started serving for the International Society of Soil
Science (ISSS) as an executive officer when it took off in 1924 at Rome, Italy? Who knows the
Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition was born in 1927, only three years
younger than ISSS? In the modern soil science history as well, Japan has been running
together with and leading other members in the world.
It is, however, a thousand pities that not many people knows about natural as well as human
history of Japan for about twenty centuries. It is particularly true about the soils thereof. One
of the reasons must be that Japan has been located very remotely from the major political,
economic or cultural centers of the world. The other should be the uniqueness in soil forming
processes and agricultural production systems attributed to its humid climate and young and
changing topography with steep mountains and valleys, i.e., strong acidification, preference
for practicing rice-based production system under submerged condition and wide coverage of
volcanic materials. The combination of the above is not common in the areas where the
doctrine of modern soil science was originally developed and widely tested in the world.
I do not blame any soil scientist for being unfamiliar with soils of Japan. Because Japan is
not only a mysterious country with unreadable smile but also there have been not many good
books telling about the soils of Japan published in English before. They, however, made it
today. This book “Soils of Japan” is now available to you all. It is the very products of
research, experience, technology and even philosophy about soil and soil sciences that the
Japanese has fostered for the last twenty centuries in their history. It is the Bible which
provides you with all necessary and reliable information on soils and their management which
has been and will be a clue for the Japanese to be the steward of soil and natural resources and
may also be the one for the readers to be so. From this day forth, you never excuse for being
unfamiliar with soils of Japan due to the lack of information.
Nagoya, Japan
Takashi Kosaki
January 2019
President, International Union of Soil Sciences
v
Who knows soils were studied and classified into nine grades based on productivity or fertility
and those data were compiled in a series of books named “Fudoki” for all territories controlled
by the Emperor of Japan in the eighth century? The description of such soil evaluation in the
Far East dates back to the sixth century BC when “Yu Gong (Tribute of Yu the Great in Xia
Dynasty in ca. 2000 BC)” was written as a chapter of the Book of Xia section of the Book of
Documents, whose compilation was attributed to Confucius in China. The “Fudokis” were, of
course, complied with the ideas originally developed in such textbooks in ancient China and
used as a base for governing the ancient nation of Japan.
Who knows the first modern soil map, Agronomic Map of the Kai Province, was published
in 1885, only two years after V. V. Dokuchaev’s classic “Russian Chernozem” was published?
Who knows one Japanese soil scientist started serving for the International Society of Soil
Science (ISSS) as an executive officer when it took off in 1924 at Rome, Italy? Who knows the
Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition was born in 1927, only three years
younger than ISSS? In the modern soil science history as well, Japan has been running
together with and leading other members in the world.
It is, however, a thousand pities that not many people knows about natural as well as human
history of Japan for about twenty centuries. It is particularly true about the soils thereof. One
of the reasons must be that Japan has been located very remotely from the major political,
economic or cultural centers of the world. The other should be the uniqueness in soil forming
processes and agricultural production systems attributed to its humid climate and young and
changing topography with steep mountains and valleys, i.e., strong acidification, preference
for practicing rice-based production system under submerged condition and wide coverage of
volcanic materials. The combination of the above is not common in the areas where the
doctrine of modern soil science was originally developed and widely tested in the world.
I do not blame any soil scientist for being unfamiliar with soils of Japan. Because Japan is
not only a mysterious country with unreadable smile but also there have been not many good
books telling about the soils of Japan published in English before. They, however, made it
today. This book “Soils of Japan” is now available to you all. It is the very products of
research, experience, technology and even philosophy about soil and soil sciences that the
Japanese has fostered for the last twenty centuries in their history. It is the Bible which
provides you with all necessary and reliable information on soils and their management which
has been and will be a clue for the Japanese to be the steward of soil and natural resources and
may also be the one for the readers to be so. From this day forth, you never excuse for being
unfamiliar with soils of Japan due to the lack of information.
Nagoya, Japan
Takashi Kosaki
January 2019
President, International Union of Soil Sciences
v