What's up with iNat in Japan?

I recently listened to a fascinating podcast about the naturalist community in Japan, specifically about their interest in entomology. However, when I look at iNaturalist statistics for Japan, there appear to be very few observations/observers/identifiers given the population and level of development. 

This figure shows the number of Observations, Observers, and Identifiers versus per capita GDP for select countries that have similar populations. Japan (red X) is way below the trend lines for all 3 metrics.  Mexico (green asterisk) is way above trend.

Interestingly, South Korea (blue triangle) clusters with Japan, although South Korea has a population that is less than 1/2 that of Japan.

Japan clusters with the Philippines and Egypt based on population.  Interestingly, the trend lines for iNat statistics and total population are not as consistent as per capita GDP.  (China is excluded from the chart above and the one below because its population is an outlier compared to the other countries.)

This chart shows total GDP versus Observations, Observers, and Identifiers.  Japan is a clear outlier in the bottom right corner with a high GDP but low iNat statistics.

Conclusions

In this dataset, the strongest r value was Observers versus per capita GDP.  The second highest was Identifiers versus Total GDP.  The lowest was Observers versus Total Population.  This is consistent with the hypothesis that level of development (as measured by GDP) is the strongest predictor of iNat usage. 

For an interactive version of these charts on Tableau Public, use this link: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/alexandra.permar/viz/iNatCountryComparison/

Tama Hills and Environmental Consciousness in Japanese Anime Films

In 1994 Studio Ghibli produced Pom Poko, (directed by Isao Takahata) a trippy animated film about a community of magical shape shifting raccoons desperately struggling to prevent their forest home from being destroyed by urban development.  The movie draws heavily on traditional Japanese folklore (especially the reputed power of the raccoon's testicles), but the setting is the 1960's rapid conversion of the Tama hills rural farmland into planned suburbs of Tokyo (called Tama New Town).

In 1995, Studio Ghibli came out with a very different film.  Whisper of the Heart is a realistically-animated love story about a teenage girl who loves reading books, and the boy who had previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.  It was set in a peaceful suburb in the hills of West Tokyo.  Specifically, the Tama hills.

Development of Tama Hills, as depicted in Pom Poko.

Scenes from Whisper of the Heart:

Walking along Tama Hills, above Tama River.

Walking along Tama River, toward Tama Hills.

It is difficult to describe the cognitive dissonance these two films create.  The first, a story of animals defending nature against human development, and the second, a human-centered love story set in that very development.

Tama Hills (Tama New Town), Tokyo.  Yes, those are golf courses on the hills.  There is an amusement park, too.

Map.

The main character, Shizuku, in Whisper of the Heart even composes a song, set to the tune of "Country Road".  She and her friend Yuuoko sing it together.

"Konkuriito roodo, doko made mo
Mori wo kiri, tani wo ume
Uesto Toukyou, Maunto Tama
Furusato ha, konkuriito roodo

Concrete Roads, to everywhere
Cutting forests, burying valleys
West Tokyo, Mount Tama
My home town is a concrete road...

(both laugh)"

(transcribed by Nausica.net)

Teenage lovers from Whisper of the Heart, overlooking Tokyo from Tama Hills.

It is possible to visit many of the locations that were used in Whisper of the Heart.

Young raccoon lovers from Pom Poko, overlooking Tokyo from Tama Hills.

More information about locations that inspired Japanese animated films.