Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

【Editorial】 TPP faces crucial stage in November; concern rising over U.S. (Oct. 28, 2014)

  Bilateral talks between Japan and the United States held in line with the ministerial meeting of the members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks failed to reach agreement. It was an expected result, considering that the U.S. has no way to compromise before the midterm Congressional elections scheduled on Nov. 4. However, the TPP member nations are planning to hold another ministerial meeting this month with the aim of accelerating negotiations to strike a broad deal. The U.S., which would be over with the elections by that time, might try to reach agreement on controversial issues. Japan should remain alert not to make a compromise tempted by possible concession … Continue reading

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【News】 TPP ministers eyeing meeting in Beijing next month (Oct. 28, 2014)

  Satomi Tamai – Sydney Ministers from the 12 member countries engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks said Monday, Oct. 27, that they achieved major progress in the areas of market access and trade and investment rules in a three-day session that ended the same day. Chief negotiators of the member nations are expected to continue the talks, with a view of holding the next ministerial meeting in Beijing in November. Depending on the outcome of the talks, they might also hold a summit meeting, although it is yet undecided. At the same time, however, Akira Amari, minister in charge of the TPP talks, indicated at the press conference … Continue reading

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【News】 Finance Ministry proposed to close 5,000 elementary and junior high schools to reduce budget (Oct. 28, 2014)

  The Ministry of Finance held a meeting of the Finance System Council on Monday, Oct. 27, and proposed to reduce about 5,000 elementary and junior high schools in reference to the budget compilation of compulsory education. Based on the basic guideline (12 to 18 classes a school) of The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Finance Ministry will advance the integration and abolition of small schools. They intend to reduce the budget of compulsory education by decreasing the fixed number of teachers. In the current situation, however, as schools are regarded to play a pivotal role in rural areas, some people are likely to oppose … Continue reading

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【News】 Nice! Nippon Farmers! (Oct. 19, 2014)

  Tetsuya Onda – Farm stay programs for international students                                      (Semboku-shi, Akita Prefecture) – Semboku-shi in Akita Prefecture is actively accepting international students mainly from Asia to offer them a chance to experience farming in Japan. On October 10, 2014, the city accepted approximately 100 Indonesian students for a farm stay program of three days and two nights, during which the students enjoyed Japanese food and life in the village and built close relationship with local Japanese farmers. The farm stay program for foreign students was part of International Youth Exchange programs led by the Japanese government. The students were introduced to 20 different host families, either farmers or … Continue reading

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【News】 Take fresh colors with you to enjoy anytime, anywhere and forever (Oct. 12, 2014)

  Kotaro Yamada – Dyeing clothes using gentians (Niimi-shi, Okayama Prefecture) – Farmers in Niimi-shi, Okayama Prefecture, are trying to convey the charm of their local specialty, gentians, by making gentian-dyed clothes their new local attraction. They color clothes using unmarketable gentians so that people can enjoy their colors anytime, anywhere and forever. The initiative was launched in 2012 by the Division of Flowers and Ornamental Plants of JA Ashin, an agricultural co-operative of Okayama Prefecture as a project to make use of unmarketable gentians, due to badly-shaped stems for example, particularly in pale purple and pink. The method they introduced is not something special. You put handpicked gentian petals into … Continue reading

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