China is ready to expand farm imports from Japan: Premier Li

SAPPORO, May 12 —China is ready to expand agricultural imports from Japan, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said, when he made a 3-day visit to Japan that ended May 11. “China would like to import more safe and high-quality agricultural products from Japan,” Li said. The Chinese premier attended the Japan-China Governors’ Forum with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on May 11 in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. Li cited Hokkaido’s modern agricultural technology and said: “China also want to boost cooperation with Hokkaido in the agriculture sector.” The forum was organized by Japan’s National Governors Association. Japanese governors from 6 prefectures including Hokkaido and Yamagata, and 12 Chinese provincial governors … Continue reading

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Giant gingerbread home is back during Golden Week holidays

TOKYO, May 4 — A giant gingerbread house emerged in the busy shopping district of Jiyugaoka Station during the Golden Week holidays. The three-meter gingerbread house used some 2,000 pieces of candies and other sweets, according to the event organizer. When started building a gingerbread house in time for the Golden Week holidays 10 years ago, the house was as high as two meters, the organizer said.

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Awaji onions debut at Japan’s premier online Niconico party

CHIBA, April 29 — Awaji onions debuted at Japan’s premier online event outside of Tokyo. A three-meter hut with hanging Awaji onions emerged at the annual Niconico Chokaigi at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, held on April 29 and 30. “Awaji Island is well known for its onions and you can see them hanging up to dry almost anywhere you go on the island,” explained an official from Sumoto city in Awaji, Hyogo prefecture, western Japan. “We hope visitors feel the atmosphere of Awaji Island,” he added. The two-day gathering, organized by the video service Niconico, attracted 161, 300 visitors and recorded 6.12 million stream viewers. At the event hall, activities … Continue reading

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Kyushu firm develops banana plants which can be grown in temperate regions

TOKYO, April 19 – Tomoiki BIO, a firm in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture which develops seeds and plants, announced on April 18 that it has created banana plants which can be cultivated outdoors even in temperate regions, paving the way for production of bananas throughout Japan. The cultivation of the new seedlings, said to be resistant to cold weather and pests, has already started in Kagoshima Prefecture. The firm plans to conduct limited sales of Tomoiki Banana, the pesticide-free bananas with high sugar levels, under the slogan “bananas with edible skin.” Cultivation of bananas in Japan had been restricted to warm climate regions such as Okinawa Prefecture. Meanwhile, the seedlings, developed … Continue reading

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Foreigners buy 148 hectares of forestry across Japan in 2017

TOKYO, May 5 — With growing concerns over real intention for purchase of forest land in Japan, data from the forestry agency has showed that foreign ownership of forestry remains high. There were 44 cases of foreign funds acquiring a total of 148 hectares of forestry across Japan in 2017. That was lower than a year earlier by 54 hectares, but relatively high since the government’s survey started in 2010. The accumulated acquisition of forestry by foreigners totaled 1,589 hectares in 2017. The biggest buyer was a U.S. corporation, which acquired 66 hectares of forestry in Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture, to built solar power plants. That accounts for some 60 … Continue reading

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