This thesis explores the development, characteristics, and challenges of beekeeping in Japan. It presents the ecological, cultural, and economic differences between traditional beekeeping with the native Japanese bee (Apis cerana japonica) and modern beekeeping with the western honeybee (Apis mellifera), which was introduced during the modernization period. Through a review of historical context and a comparison of bee species, beekeeping practices, statistical data, and bee diseases, the coexistence of traditional and modern apiculture is examined. The thesis also addresses the impact of social factors such as population aging and intensive agriculture, and includes a comparison with the situation in Slovenia. Japanese beekeeping is portrayed as a sector balancing the preservation of cultural heritage with adaptation to contemporary economic and environmental challenges.
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