Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

Mt. Fuji in Kagawa Prefecture friendly to casual climbers

In a private park in Higashi-Kagawa City, Kagawa Prefecture, shibazakura (pink moss or moss phlox in English) flowers are in full bloom on a mound resembling Mt. Fuji. This park, home to approximately 130,000 shibazakura, is the creation of Yoshiaki Morimoto, 71, and his son Kensuke, 40. Yoshiaki, a former chestnut grower, cut the old chestnut trees and planted 14 varieties of shibazakura in pink, white, purple, and more. His son Kensuke, on the other hand, cultivates young moss phlox in his paddy fields. The father and son created a mound and planted white flowers on top to make it look like Mt. Fuji with snow on top. Along the … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Mt. Fuji in Kagawa Prefecture friendly to casual climbers

Premium wine developed by Japanese agricultural cooperative put on sale at Haneda Airport

TOKYO, April 21 — JA ZEN-NOH, the marketing arm of the JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) group, has developed a domestically-produced premium wine, the first wine to be marketed under its Nippon Yell brand featuring Japan-made farm produce. The wine was produced in cooperation with JA Fuefuki, a farm coop in Yamanashi Prefecture. It is priced at 20,000 yen a bottle, the highest price among Nippon Yell brand products, and is sold at a duty-free shop in Haneda Airport in Tokyo. JA ZEN-NOH, or the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, is aiming to expand sales channels for domestically-produced items by marketing the product at the duty-free shop filled with inbound … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Premium wine developed by Japanese agricultural cooperative put on sale at Haneda Airport

Nokyo-Kaju-brand fruit juice made of Japan-made fruits returns to market after 14 years

TOKYO, Apr. 11 – In April this year, a subsidiary of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH), Rakuo Kyodo Nyugyo Co., Ltd., started to sell two “Nokyo-Kaju-brand fruit juice products, “Wakayama-ken-san Mikan” and “Kudamono Mix” to help boost fruit production in Japan. The Nokyo-Kaju-brand juice was first released in 1973 by Zenkoku Nokyo Chokuhan Co., Ltd., a predecessor of Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd., and sold until March 2010. “Wakayama-ken-san Mikan,” which means mandarin oranges from Wakayama Prefecture, is made 100% of Wakayama-grown mandarin oranges. The producer removes peels and skins and squeezes only pulp to ensure a smooth and clean taste with no bitterness. “Kudamono Mix,” meaning … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Nokyo-Kaju-brand fruit juice made of Japan-made fruits returns to market after 14 years

Cherry blossoms in full bloom along an irrigation channel

IBARAKI, April 12 — A row of cherry trees along an irrigation channel in Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki Prefecture, are now in full bloom. The row of cherry trees, made up mainly of some 450 Somei-yoshino variety trees, extends roughly 1.8 kilometers on the embankments of the irrigation canal managed by the Fukuoka Dam Land Improvement District, a local irrigation association. Local residents cherish the blossoms, calling them the Fukuoka Dam cherry blossoms. The Fukuoka Dam takes water from the Kokai River that runs along the border of the cities of Tsukubamirai and Joso in Ibaraki Prefecture. It supplies water to approximately 30 square kilometers of rice fields in the two cities … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Cherry blossoms in full bloom along an irrigation channel

Fairyland covered by hanamomo blossoms started with one tree planted by local farmer (Niyodogawa Town, Kochi Prefecture)

KOCHI, Apr. 8 – Spring has come, and the Kuki Region in Niyodogawa Town, Kochi Prefecture, is exploding with white, pink, and red colors of hanamomo peach flowers in full bloom. This fairyland scenery was created from one tree planted by one local farmer. “It’s the best time, and I’m glad you are here at the right time,” said Yuichi Hiura, a 92-year-old farmer who grows Japanese tea leaves locally, while chatting with other visitors. About 50 years ago, Hiura planted the very first Genpei hanamomo peach tree on his tea plantation. After that, he began planting more trees on nearby plantations so that these fields would not be abandoned … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy | Comments Off on Fairyland covered by hanamomo blossoms started with one tree planted by local farmer (Niyodogawa Town, Kochi Prefecture)