TOKYO, Nov. 28 ― Japan has reached a deal that will open the door for its exports of shell eggs to South Korea, as the neighboring country is fighting its worst outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu that has devastated the poultry industry, Japanese government and industry official said. “I hope it will boost egg exports to Korea,” said Japanese Agriculture Minister Takamori Yoshikawa at a Nov. 27 press conference. The Japanese agriculture ministry has been negotiating with South Korea’s government since September 2016 to enable shipments of Japanese-grown shell eggs for traditional Korean dishes, such as bibimbap and yukke, which normally accompany with a raw egg on top. The … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Dec. 9 ― Japan’s upper house of parliament has approved an immigration bill, which accepts more foreign blue-collar workers from April next year, a controversial move for the country that is known for highly restrictive immigration policies. Under the new bill, two new categories of visas for foreign workers will be created. One category allows blue-collar workers to stay up to five years in Japan but cannot bring family. The other is for more skilled workers who can bring family and could be eligible for residency. The new bill is designed to tackle labor shortages in 14 sectors, including agriculture, aged-care nursing, and construction, in the face of the … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Nov. 30 ― China has lifted its seven-year import ban on rice from Niigata prefecture, which was imposed in the wake of the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima. On Nov. 28, the Chinese government announced its decision to approve rice imports from Niigata, one of Japan’s most renowned rice producers, following scientific assessment on food safety. The move came after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his groundbreaking visit Beijing in October. Relations between Asia’s two biggest economies have rapidly warmed up, as tensions between China and the United States have spilled over from the trade war into a number of other strategic areas. … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Nov. 25 ― The number of farm households that signed family farming management agreement in Japan rose 0.8% to 57,605 in March from a year ago, data from the government has showed. The family farming management agreement is a written form of agreement that establishes payment, days-off and responsibilities of farming operations among the family members. The Shinzo Abe’s administration introduced the new scheme to improve the working conditions and gender problems in the family farm businesses. The government has encouraged them to take up the new scheme with the aid of special grants. The number of farm households that signed the agreement totaled 28,000 in 2004, and surpassed … Continue reading →