Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2015

Presentation information

International Session (Poster)

Symbol H (Human Geosciences) » H-GG Geography

[H-GG01] International comparison of landscape appreciation

Wed. May 27, 2015 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Convention Hall (2F)

Convener:*Christoph Rupprecht(Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University), Yui Takase(Graduate school of Horticulture, Chiba University), Katsunori Furuya(Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University)

6:15 PM - 7:30 PM

[HGG01-P04] Comparison of Scenery Images of Japanese And Those of Indian Habitants in Fiji Through Image Sketches

*Takashi KOSUGE1, Katsunori FURUYA1 (1.Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University)

Keywords:Scenery Images, Japanese, Indian, Comparison

In this study, the objective was set to clarify the difference in images of forests between Japanese and Indian habitants in Fiji.

The gender composition of respondents was the same for both Japanese and Indian habitants in Fiji: 19 males and 31 females. The age distribution of respondents was also the same for both subjects: 21 respondents in the 20's, 6 in 30's, and 23 in 40's and above. With habitants in Fiji, a sketching survey was conducted in the Republic of Fiji between August and December in 2013. The same type of survey was administered with Japanese respondents between May and December in 2014.

In the respondents' sketches of FORESTS, many nature elements were drawn, such as mountains, trees, and the sun. In particular, the sketches by Indian habitants in Fiji typically included palm trees, which are common in tropical areas, together with mountains as a main feature. In addition, houses and villages were also included in the nature scenery. This result possibly implies that nature is closely connected with their everyday life. As a result of responses by each ethnic group, a statistically significant difference (p<.05) was detected between the Japanese and the Indians with the drawing of NATURE: 94% of Japanese and 54% of Indians. Another statistically significant difference (p<.05) was detected with the drawing of FARMING VILLAGE: 6% of Japanese and 46% of Indians. It is possible to generalize that Japanese people capture FOREST in the nature, while Indians consider FOREST not only as nature but also as part of a farming village. The definition of NATURE is where scenery is constructed with mountains, rivers, and forest trees; and that of FARMING VILLAGE is where manmade objects such as houses and farms are drawn as a main feature. Through the analysis of sketch details, it was observed that Japanese would draw details of natural items, while Indians do so with plants and vegetation items.

Next, spatial structures were examined per each ethnic group. A statistically significant difference was detected both in the close range view, 46% of Japanese and 2% of Indians, and in the distant view, 4% of Japanese and 68% of Indians. Regarding the spatial structures, majority of Japanese described forest scenery as a close range view, whereas Indians drew this as a distant view. A close range view by Japanese would include forests in the nearer site. A distant view sketch by Indians typically situates a range of mountains in a distance, from which waterfalls and rivers flow out and eventually connect to the ocean. In addition, other things were drawn surrounding these elements: palm trees, which are typical in tropical areas, other trees, and manmade objects such as houses and villages.

Lastly, forms of trees drawn were studied per each ethnic group. A statistically significant difference (p<.05) was detected with a cone shape, a random shape, a round shape, and a palm tree shape: With the cone shape, 43% of Japanese and 6% of Indian; the random shape, 28% of Japanese and 4% of Indian; the round shape, 39% of Japanese and 62% of Indian; and the palm tree shape, 0% of Japanese and 86% of Indian. Japanese drew coniferous trees such as cedar in a cone shape, while Indians who inhabit Fiji drew palm trees that are typical to tropical areas and known for their unique shape. The shapes of trees in the forest scenery sketches were the ones that were originated from the area of certain geographic location, geology, and weather.