Yamaguchi Prefectural Police

Reconstruction of damaged houses plays a critical role in revitalisation of a region after natural disasters. In this study, households' choices on reconstruction of damaged houses were surveyed. Surveyed areas were the damaged areas of Tottori-Seibu Earthquake (2000) and Miyagi-Hokubu Earthquake (2003) in Japan. Using survey data, discrete choice models on households' actual and hypothetical choices were constructed. Parameter estimation results showed that lifetime of a house, damage level and characteristics of a household (existence of children, elderly people's household etc.) affect households' choices on rebuilding. Similarity between choices in both regions was also found.

Ando soils (Kurobokudo), which are characterized by the accumulation of large amounts of black humus, are widely distributed in Japan, and the black color is due to the presence of A type humic acids with a high degree of humification (Kumada 1987).

The brown colored lotus rhizomes are usually produced by common cultural practices. When the brown substances were formed high concentration on the rhizomes, their marketabilities were reduced extremely because of undesirable color.The browning substances were determined and their seasonal changes were also determined in this study.1. The amount of brown substances increased continuously until late-Sept., then decreased steadily. Such seasonal change suggests that the brown formation and dissolving is caused by oxidation and reduction which is closely associated with the lotus growth and the soil conditions.2. The smaller quantities of brown substances were situated in the first node of rhizome, but were larger in the later nodes, while the brown formation in each node itself was observed largely in the portion of growth direction of that node.3. The analytical results of brown substances by fluorescent X-ray showed that Fe is a dominant and was followed by the small Mn. Other metalic elements such as Zn, Ni and Cu, though detected in a slight amount, were not at all clear why existed in this substances. It was supposed by some quantitative analysis that the brown substances exist principally in oxidized or similar formulas.4. Since there is a strong relationship between Fe contents and L-values (color) in rhizome, the approximate contents of Fe or Mn could be obtained only by measurement of L-value with relation of equality linear function.5. The amount of brown substances between experimental plot A and B differed considerably. The compost application (plot-B) reduced the accumulation of brown substances. Therefore, it was supposed that the compost plays as important role in diminishing functions of brown phenomenon.