William The vast grasslands coating Mt. Aso grabbed my attention when I first moved here as they resemble so the grasslands of my native California after the spring rains. Unlike California, where grasslands exist due to sparse rainfall, they do so in Aso due to yearly brush burning, which both clears withered grass stalks (perennial roots survive to thrive in the ash-fertilized aftermath) and destroy saplings; the grassland also supports many rare animals. Without the burning, Aso slopes would quickly be forested, and grazing land for cow ranchers would vanish.
Kumanichi notes that aging is taking its toll on the annual grass burning (のやき、野焼), labor- and physically-intensive work to ensure the fires stay under control and do not spread to farmland (note the stand of private trees on the right of the photo below). Cases in which compensation has had to be paid to farmers have numbered 13 in 21 years. Minamiaso Village has taken out non-life insurance that can cover up to 200 million yen should the fires spread, but in other areas, 野焼 has been neglected. However, the article notes that young volunteers from the city and donations may allow other Aso villages to resume this practice, said to have continued for 1,000 years. (Photos nabbed from Web.) https://kumanichi.com/articles/676696