Dear Dr. Funakawa,

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Yasuko Kawahata

Academic Editor

PLOS One

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->?>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: N/A

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available??>

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.-->

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: This manuscript reports interesting and important results visually. I have no major concerns, but the following should be properly amended

Line 57: Why 2005 and 2020 are selected should be described.

Line 108: Need to define ‘hotspot’.

Lines 221-222: Explain how these topographical categories were determined.

Lines 222-223: Explain how these land-use types were determined. “as defined by the MAFF” is not enough.

Line 232: Explain landtype1 and landtype 2.

Line 260: ‘workforce size’ is not clear.

Lines 312-316: These are not result and should be transferred to Discussion.

Line 351: What is ×?

Line 395: “broadly across Tohoku” is confusable, because you mention that the northernmost and southeastern parts of Tohoku are hotspots.

Reviewer #2: Comments to the Author

1. I have really enjoyed reviewing this manuscript, especially the methodology section. The methodology has a very solid foundation. The detailed explanation of stages taken to arrive at sub-municipalities makes it easy for other researchers to replacate the study in both Japan and beyond.

2. The problem statement is well grounded and persuasively and convincingly shows clear research gap that was being addressed by the study.

3. Even though I have not had access to some of the figures, it is clear from the presentation of the statistics that the statistical analysis was both rigorous and robust.

4. The results are easy to follow even to non-scientists which is good for wider readership.

5. The discussion of the results should be improved in terms of relating the results to previous studies but also linking them to relevant theories. In fact, to me this is the minor but important issue that the authors should consider addressing. In other words, while the study is making very important methodological contributions, it has remained silent on its theoretical underpppings and theoretical contributions.

6. Both conclusions and policy implications are speaking and well connected to results of the study. This is commendable given that it is not uncommon to see research conclusions and policy recommendations that are completely disconnected from research findings. However, it will do the paper more justice if a discussion is made on implications of the results on as far as food security in Japan in concerned.

7. I have attached the manuscript with my comments in track changes.

8. Once again, thank you for a well written paper with excellent use of the standard English language.

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what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy..-->

Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes:Masautso Joseph ChimomboMasautso Joseph ChimomboMasautso Joseph ChimomboMasautso Joseph Chimombo

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: PONE-D-25-52270 Manuscript Review by MJC.pdf

Identifying where Japanese agriculture is most at risk: a longitudinal analytical framework based on municipal boundaries as of 1950 for workforce decline and aging (2005-2020)

PONE-D-25-52270R1

Dear Dr. Kazuho Funakawa,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Yasuko Kawahata

Academic Editor

PLOS One

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

Reviewer #1: All comments have been addressed

Reviewer #2: All comments have been addressed

**********

2. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

3. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->?>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

4. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available??>

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.-->

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

Reviewer #1: The revised manuscript is judged to be properly amended to the previous comments. Thus, I have no more additional comments.

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

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what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy..-->

Reviewer #1: Yes:Koki ToyotaKoki ToyotaKoki ToyotaKoki Toyota

Reviewer #2: Yes:Masautso Joseph ChiomboMasautso Joseph ChiomboMasautso Joseph ChiomboMasautso Joseph Chiombo

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