TOKYO -- I once aspired to understand agricultural regulation in Japan. I read some books, even subscribed to Japan Agricultural News, but was only ever able to discern the vague outlines of a system of wealth redistribution based on forcing everyone to overpay for carbohydrates.
Hanno Jentzsch's new book "Harvesting State Support: Institutional Change and Local Agency in Japanese Agriculture," was thus a welcome arrival, as I hoped it would bring more enlightenment than my own efforts.
