Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

【News】 Happy Edible Wedding! (July 20, 2014)

Kotaro Yamada O-Mo-Te-Na-Shi : Gorgeous Veggieful Wedding An increasing number of couples are having unique “agricultural” or “pastoral” weddings at vegetables or fruits farms. Michiyo Koyama, 44, in Inzai-shi, Chiba Prefecture, helps them make their dreams come true by producing “veggie weddings” using  vegetables and flowers grown at her family’s farm. On July 12, Hiromi and Ryoji Tokumoto, 33 and 35, had their wedding reception at one of the vinyl greenhouses of Koyama and her family’s farm, Ito Naegi. “Give it up for the newly weds, Mr. & Mrs. Tokumoto,” the usher introduced them as they entered the vinyl house, cheered on by their guests. The house was available after … Continue reading

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【News】 Fukushima farmers condemn TEPCO and government for not disclosing cesium fallout during debris removal (July 19, 2014)

  Tomokatsu Sowa Farmers of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, criticized the Tokyo Electric Power Co. and the agriculture ministry on Friday, July 18, for failing to make public for nearly a year that radioactive cesium has been dispersed during work last summer to remove debris at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. The fallout may have caused radioactive contamination of rice grown in Minamisoma, as cesium exceeding the government limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram was detected in rice harvested last fall in the city, including areas located more than 20 km from the crippled nuclear plant. In a meeting between farmers, local governments, TEPCO and the ministry held in … Continue reading

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【News】 New health food labels to be introduced next year (July 19, 2014)

  The Consumer Affairs Agency has decided to allow all food products to be labeled as having health benefits to certain parts of the body starting next fiscal year, provided that producers offer scientific evidences, it was learned Friday, July 18. Under the new system, food manufacturers will be able to specifically label their products as being effective in helping maintain the health of eyes or bones for example. As for agricultural products, items with well-grounded health benefits are currently limited to such products as tangerines and green tea. In order to utilize the system to boost sales, it will be necessary to clarify functions of more food items. The … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan-U.S. TPP talks nearing goal, negotiator says (July 17, 2014)

  Takanori Okabe – Washington Japan and the United States ended a two-day meeting under the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks in Washington on Tuesday, July 15 (July 16 Japan time), agreeing to meet again early next month, Japanese officials said. Hiroshi Oe, deputy chief TPP negotiator, said although differences remain between the two sides, he hopes the two governments will strike a deal “within several months.” “The fog has lifted,” Oe told reporters, using a mountain-climbing analogy. “Now I can see the summit, which I once could not see.” Meanwhile in Tokyo, TPP minister Akira Amari Tuesday expressed strong determination to settle the TPP talks within this year. In a symposium … Continue reading

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【News】 Nishikawa, the head of LDP’s TPP panel, had talks with the U.S. agribusiness companies (July 16, 2014)

  Takanori Okabe  – Washington Koya Nishikawa, chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s committee on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, who is in America to negotiate TPP, had talks on July 14 with executives of agribusiness and food-related firms like the world’s largest grain company Cargill. Nishikawa urged the United States to concede as well as asked for their understanding of Japanese claims to protect the sensitive agricultural products. Nishikawa had talks successively with Cargill vice president Devry Boughner, Tyson Foods vice president Charles Penry, and Tami Overby, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  Each of them has great influence on U.S. Government and Congress.  Hiroshi Moriyama, vice … Continue reading

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