Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

【News】 Rice farming – the pulse of art and culture (May 11, 2014)

  Hiroki Arai A group of designers, food directors and photographers is showing works depicting rice in “KOME: The Art of Rice” exhibition being held in Akasaka, Tokyo. The aim, in the organizers’ words, is “to take a new look and rethink rice as an important subject of Japanese society as a whole.” On display are 36 design pieces depicting rice and rice farming, created by a number of Japanese artists from various backgrounds trying to express the staple grain from different viewpoints.   The works include humorous objects modeling the shape of rice grains and unique exhibition of tools and materials related to rice harvesting. Visitors can also see … Continue reading

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【News】 Ehime Prefecture tackles kiwifruit bacterial canker by cutting down trees (May 10, 2014)

  The first case of kiwifruit bacterial canker disease Psa3 in Japan has been confirmed in Ehime Prefecture, the nation’s largest kiwifruit production area, and the prefectural government announced on Friday, May 9, that it will cut all the trees in the orchards where the outbreak occurred. Ehime Gov. Tokihiro Nakamura said the prefectural government was expected to finish cutting down all the trees in the infected orchards totaling 2.2-hectares by Saturday, May 10, adding that it will offer emergency financial assistance to kiwifruit growers’ disease prevention measures to reduce their burden. “The impact of the disease is extremely large, although the outbreak was limited to a small area compared … Continue reading

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【News】 Foreign firms’ entry into Japan’s solar power business prompts local residents’ concerns over development (April 29, 2014)

  Hiroko Obara Enterprises based in foreign countries such as China are recently expanding purchases of land and forests in Japan to start solar power generation projects. Since there are no obligations for them to consult local governments in advance to set up solar panels, some projects have led to disputes with nearby residents because they have been implemented without local approval. Some worry that the panels could turn into industrial wastes after the feed-in tariff scheme for renewable energy ends, while others are concerned over their possible adverse impact on the ecosystems. In the northern part of Nishigo village in Fukushima Prefecture lies a 130-hectare land which has been … Continue reading

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【News】 Japanese beef to be exported to Europe in May (April 29, 2014)

  Senior Staff Writer,  Masaru Yamada Japanese beef is set to be exported to European Union nations for the first time as early as in May. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has informed the EU that it approved two meat processing facilities in the nation which meet hygiene standards for exporting, and requested the EU to allow beef imports from Japan. To prepare for the shipment of Japanese beef to the European market, the Japan External Trade Organization plans to hold a business meeting for buyers in Paris and London in June. Although Wagyu beef produced outside of Japan is already marketed in European countries, people “have strong … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan-Australia EPA can be revised if Japan agrees on lower tariffs for U.S. farm products (April 25, 2014)

  Masaru Yamada The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, which was concluded in principle on Monday, April 7, includes clauses which allow the two nations to revise the agreement if Japan decides to offer lower tariffs on agricultural products from other countries such as the United States, it was learned Thursday, April 24. The existence of such clauses indicates the possibility that if Japan makes big compromises in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations with the U.S., Australia will urge Japan to revise the EPA to further lower tariffs. According to government officials of the two countries, the EPA “does not include specific most-favored-nation provisions on goods.” However, the agreement say there “are … Continue reading

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