Runan YangAssistant Professor

■Researcher basic information

Organization

  • Graduate School of Agriculture( Master's Program) Major in Agricultural Science Course in Regional Collaboration
  • College of Agriculture Department of Regional and Comprehensive Agriculture
  • Faculty of Applied Biological Science Domain of Regional and Comprehensive Agriculture

Research Areas

  • Humanities & social sciences, Agricultural and food economics

Research Keyword

  • コンジョイント分析
  • ブランド化
  • 都市農業

Degree

  • 2025年3月 博士(農学)(東京大学)
  • 2022年3月 修士(農学)(東北大学)

Educational Background

  • Apr. 2022 - Mar. 2025, The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, 農業経営学
  • Apr. 2020 - Mar. 2022, Tohoku University, 農学研究科, 国際開発学

Career

  • Apr. 2025 - Present, Ibaraki University, Department of Regional and Comprehensive Agricultural Sciences Faculty of Agriculture, Assistant Professor

■Research activity information

Award

  • Mar. 2025, The Dean Award, An Empirical Study on Branding and Occupational Values in Urban Farming Businesses: Focusing on Environmentally Friendly Agriculture in Japan, 東京大学農学部・農学生命科学研究科

Paper

  • How Does Information Influence Consumers’ Purchase Decisions for Environmentally Friendly Farming Produce? Evidence from China and Japan Based on Choice Experiment
    Runan Yang; Katsuhito Fuyuki; Keeni Minakshi, Lead, In this research, 600 Chinese and Japanese consumers were divided into four groups to analyze consumers’ marginal willingness to pay for environmentally friendly farming (EFF) produce. We found that Chinese consumers had high awareness of green foods, while Japanese consumers were more familiar with organic produce than specially cultivated produce, perhaps because the latter has not yet received uniform national certification in Japan. Choice experiments show that EFF produce prices and consumers’ income critically affect consumers’ decision to pay, especially in China. After each group read different formal definitions of EFF produce, Chinese consumers still preferred green food certification, whereas Japanese consumers chose specially cultivated carrots. Both displayed different ideological purchasing behaviors through added interaction terms with an increase in education. When no information was given, Japanese consumers’ purchasing decisions became more positive as their education levels rose. Possibly, highly educated Chinese consumers emphasize pragmatism, whereas Japanese consumers emphasize the connection between environmental protection and agriculture. Therefore, EFF messaging should be differentiated by region. For distributors committed to international trade in EFF products between developing and developed markets, we suggest lower costs, differentiated product messaging, and community initiatives events to enhance trade and marketing in both China and Japan., MDPI AG
    Sustainability, 02 Aug. 2022, [Reviewed]
  • Japanese Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Environmentally Friendly Farming Produce Based on Consumer Trustfulness
    Runan Yang; Nina Takashino; Katsuhito Fuyuki, Lead, Abstract

    In the past decade, the market share of environmentally friendly farming (EFF) produce in Japan has witnessed relatively rapid growth. However, consumer awareness and purchasing experience of this agricultural produce are still lagging. To study how awareness of EFF produce influences consumer psychology and purchase decisions, we use ordered logistic regression and choice experiments to analyze 600 survey responses collected through online questionnaires. The results show that information from friends and family can have a positive influence on Japanese consumers’ trust in EFF produce. Consumers also show a significant preference for EFF produce in the short term after receiving information about it. By setting up a control group for comparison, we find that, in addition to information, consumer education and income also positively and significantly affect the decision to purchase EFF produce. This study presents a unique perspective between information and consumer decision-making and provides targeted solutions for the promotional and marketing strategy problems faced by EFF produce sellers in Japan. We argue that strengthening regional publicity methods such as community events can enhance EFF producers’ marketing strategies., Walter de Gruyter GmbH
    Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, 28 Apr. 2021, [Reviewed]

Lectures, oral presentations, etc.

  • Measuring Psychological Capital and Its Impact on Performance in Urban Agriculture: Focus on Environmentally Friendly Farming               
    YANG Runan, YAGI Hironori
    The Association for Regional Agricultural and Forestry Economics, The 9th International Workshop, 28 Jun. 2025
    20250628
  • 都市農業経営におけるブランド化志向による効果の発見プロセス
    楊汝楠; 八木洋憲
    令和7年日本農業経済学会大会, 30 Mar. 2025
    20250329, 20250330
  • Sustainability and Branding of Urban Agriculture in Tokyo Area (in Chinese)               
    Yang Runan
    The 4th International Conference on Agricultural and Rural Economic Development in Northeast Asia, Harbin, China, 24 Aug. 2024, [Invited]
  • Evaluating Occupational Values in Urban Farming: Application of Best-Worst Scaling               
    Yang Runan; Yagi Hironori
    令和6年日本農業経済学会宮城大会, 31 Mar. 2024
  • Japanese Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Environmentally Friendly Farming Produce Based on Consumer Trustfulness               
    Yang Runan; Fuyuki Katsuhito; Takashino Nina
    令和2年東北農業経済学会福島大会, Nov. 2020

Courses

  • Apr. 2025 - Present

Affiliated academic society

  • Apr. 2025 - Present, The Association of Rural Planning
  • Apr. 2023 - Present, 日本農業経済学会
  • Mar. 2023 - Present, 日本農業経営学会