Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

Strong high-quality “shamisen” strings developed: NARO and Japanese silken threads maker

SHIGA, Aug. 6 – Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) and Marusan Hashimoto Co. (Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture), a Japanese silken thread manufacturer, announced on August 5 a successful joint development of new highly-durable strings for shamisen, a traditional Japanese instrument similar to a banjo. The newly-developed strings feature silken threads from cocoons of a new silkworm strain “Kyomei,” a strain known for producing high-strength silken threads. Instrument strings made from silk produce beautiful sounds and resonate well. However, they are weaker and easier to break than resin strings, which are more commonly used. NARO and the thread maker plan to expand the use of silk strings to … Continue reading

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ZEN-NOH starts selling new protein powder products featuring high-quality domestic ingredients

TOKYO, Jul. 30 – The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH) announced on July 29 that it developed a new line of protein powder featuring domestic ingredients. The products made with domestic milk whey, azuki red beans, and hojicha roasted tea powder as protein sources and flavorings are the first protein powder products sold under ZEN-NOH’s Nippon-Yell brand. The association thinks they will help expand the use of domestic ingredients in the growing protein market. The new Nippon-Yell protein items were developed with Takeuchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo) and as collaboration products with the company’s popular protein brand, “THE PROTEIN. Of the protein ingredients, 7% is whey … Continue reading

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A document listing rice prices since 1781 presented to agricultural coop in Ibaraki

IBARAKI, Aug. 5 — A document showing how much a 60-kilogram sack of rice cost every year between 1781 — the start of the Tenmei era in the Edo period — and 1979 was presented to a training center in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, operated by JA group Ibaraki, a group of agricultural cooperatives in the prefecture. The Ibaraki prefectural federation of cooks in Mito donated the rice price list, which will be displayed at the training facility to be used in food and agriculture education. The document is a piece of paper roughly 83 centimeter wide and 45 cm high, with rice prices written in chronological order in brush letters … Continue reading

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JA Ashikita, Kumamoto: Minamata Tea collaborates with local cartoon series to draw various generations

KUMAMOTO, Jul. 23 – A local agricultural cooperative in Ashikita Town in Kumamoto Prefecture (JA Ashikita) started to sell green tea leaves in special packages featuring characters of a manga series called Houkago Teibo Nisshi (Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater). Minamata Tea is grown taking advantage of the climate and natural environment of the Ashikita Town, Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, at altitudes of 100 to 600 meters, and has excellent aroma and flavor. Houkago Teibo Nisshi is a cartoon series about high school students enjoying fishing in the town of Ashikita, Kumamoto Prefecture, an area with a strong fishing industry within the jurisdiction of the JA Ashikita. The JA … Continue reading

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Items related to France being promoted in Japan inspired by the Paris Olympics

TOKYO, July 29 — Many companies in Japan are eagerly promoting food items and agricultural produce associated with France, inspired by the ongoing Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. They hope to capitalize on the event to boost sales through such products as rice balls with French taste fillings and bouquets depicting the French national flag. The Mitsuhashi Inc., a rice wholesaler in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, started selling “Parisian Onigiri” rice balls at supermarkets in the Kanto eastern Japan region on July 26. The rice balls, which are meant to be eaten with a knife and fork, come in two types — truffle-flavored beef with ginger butter and basil-flavored salmon and … Continue reading

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