Alongside the modern mainstream practice focused on the Western honeybee, Japan’s beekeeping industry also includes hobbyist and non-industrial beekeeping using the native Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana japonica) that has been practiced since ancient times. This practice has been conducted using methods adapted to the local natural and social environments, and techniques and indigenous knowledge have been collected from across various regions of Japan.
　However, the environment surrounding Japanese honeybee beekeeping has undergone significant changes in recent years. Diverse factors, including global warming, the decline in satoyama landscape utilization, and population decline have contributed to these changes. These changes have shaken the very foundation supporting traditional beekeeping.
　The aforementioned changes have also influenced the traditional knowledge of Japanese honeybee beekeeping. These changes are thought to have prompted an update to traditional knowledge, thereby enabling Japanese honeybees to adapt to environmental transformations.
　Using Japanese honeybee beekeeping on Tsushima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture as a case study, this research examines the renewal of indigenous knowledge in response to changes in natural and social environments to clarify the factors driving this renewal. Semi-structured interviews and mental mapping were employed as research methods.
　The survey revealed that the traditional knowledge of Japanese honeybee beekeeping on Tsushima Island has been updated in response to global warming, introduction of infectious diseases, and decline of nectar-producing plants. Furthermore, “Japanese Honeybee Subcommittee,” which is organized by beekeepers on Tsushima, has played a role in restructuring beekeepers’ social relationships and promoting changes in traditional knowledge. Changes in the natural environment have led to adjustments in hive placement, establishment of disease control measures, and planting activities for nectar-producing plants. Meanwhile, the establishment of the Japanese Honeybee Committee has facilitated the diversification of learning pathways through the import of external knowledge and organization of training sessions.