Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

【News】 Japan to boost exports of Japanese sake (Dec. 8, 2015)

  The Japanese government will boost exports of Japanese sake, as some member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks agreed to remove tariffs on sake, while the United States, the largest importer of sake, plans to allow the use of the name “Japanese sake” only to those brewed in Japan. Although sake exports are increasing every year, its share in the global market remains small. The government hopes to expand sales of sake through conducting promotional campaigns at home and abroad, as well as utilizing the geographical indication system to protect domestic brands. In the TPP negotiations, the U.S., Canada and Vietnam agreed to eliminate tariffs on sake. In … Continue reading

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【News】 Farms with family management agreement post record high of 55,435 (Dec. 7, 2015)

The number of farms which have signed the so-called family management agreement marked a record high of 55,435 in 2015, up 2.3 percent from a year before, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The increase is attributable to the fact that farmers have become more aware of the merits of creating such agreements. The ministry this month began showing on its website a list of successful cases of utilizing the agreement in an effort to further encourage signing of such agreements. In terms of prefectures, Tochigi and Kumamoto showed the largest year-on-year increase with 103 and 101 farms respectively, followed by 90 for Aichi and 79 for … Continue reading

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【News】 Soup kitchens for children spreading in Japan as safe comfortable place for children in need (Dec. 6, 2015)

Kazuhiro Eguchi As a drive to support children with challenging family or economic backgrounds, an increasing number of soup kitchens for children have been set up in Japan. They offer the children in need, along with nutritious meals, place where they can come and relax. A vegetable shop in Ota-ku, Tokyo, called Kimagure Yaoya Dandan (Whimsy vegetable shop Dandan), opened the first restaurant for needy children in Japan in 2012. Located in the same building with the vegetable shop, the restaurant opens every Thursday. One day, the owner of the vegetable shop and the restaurant, Hiroko Kondo, 56, heard from one school teacher that some children he knew live on … Continue reading

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【News】 Japanese wagyu beef calf price soars, topping JPY700,000 in average for the first time (Dec. 3, 2015)

  The average price of Japanese wagyu beef calves topped JPY700,000 for the first time in November, according to the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations’ (JA Zen-Noh) data on calf trading at major livestock markets nationwide. The price rose by as much as 50 percent in the last two years. Market participants attribute the price rise to increased purchase of calves by cattle fattening farms which shipped cattle ahead of the period of highest demand, while the supply continued to be sluggish due to a decline in the number of cattle breeding farms. “Prices of dressed carcasses could drop below costs for cattle fattening farms, as the prices (of … Continue reading

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【News】 Processed food makers looking to boost exports (Dec. 2, 2015)

Tomoya Kawaguchi Some agricultural production corporations are working to expand exports of processed foods, amid increasing awareness toward safe, healthy foods in Western countries. They plan to sell their products by attracting attention to their long shelf life even without preservatives. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries hopes such moves will encourage farmers’ expansion of business to food processing and marketing, as well as boosting agricultural exports. “Domestically-produced items will appeal to consumers abroad if we can effectively publicize their high quality,” said a ministry official. Kashiwazaki Fruit and Vegetables Corp., an agricultural production corporation in Oirase, Aomori Prefecture, exports black aged garlic to more than 10 countries in … Continue reading

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