Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

Lights from Wajima Shiroyone Senmaida shining in Niigata this year

Oct. 27, Niigata – An annual winter event of the quake-hit city of Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture-Shiroyone Senmaida Rice Terraces Illumination-is here in Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture this year. It is a part of the program called Ojiya Hotaru (meaning “Ojiya fireflies” in Japanese) held at an observatory on Mt. Yamamoto in Ojiya, one of the cities that also experienced a large-scale earthquake in 2004. One section of the venue was covered by approximately 15,000 light-emitting diode (LED) lights called Pet Botaru, which were brought from Wajima, recreating the scene of the original rice terrace event in Wajima. The lights change colors every 15 minutes and allure the visitors. An … Continue reading

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Farmer in Nagano Prefecture completes 5.4-meter Medicine Master Buddha

NAGANO, Oct. 17 – Haruo Nishizawa, a 75-year-old farmer in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, has built a big Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha) sculpture measuring 5.4 meters in height and 4 meters in width at home.  He recently held an eye-opening ceremony for the statue to which he dedicated more than four years of work. Yakushi Nyorai is said to cure illnesses and save people from suffering and disasters, and Nishizawa, amidst his farm work, carved it with his prayers. His farm is in the Koedo area of Shinshu-Shinmachi Town in Nagano Prefecture. As you turn off the National Route 19 and head towards Ogawa Village, you can see the impressive … Continue reading

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It’s Sho-time with 30,000 flowers

HIROSHIMA, Oct. 19 — A giant field with 30,000 flowers arranged to depict Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is attracting visitors to Hana no Eki Sera, a tourism farm in Sera, Hiroshima Prefecture. The flower art, created with 30,000 plants of red, blue and white cultivars of scarlet sage and orange and yellow zinnias on a 55-meter-long, 45-meter-wide field, shows Ohtani walking slowly toward first base, apparently convinced he hit a home run. It is expected to be available for viewing until Nov. 4. The art, featuring Ohtani who became the first Major League Baseball player ever with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season, … Continue reading

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New food trend in Japan: Nouvelle sukiyaki is the hot pot dish of the year 2024

TOKYO, Oct. 11 – On October 10, 2024, Gurunavi Inc. chose “Nouvelle Sukiyaki” as this year’s trend-setting nabe hot pot dish. Nouvelle sukiyaki is still traditional but has unique ingredients and sauces that meet the needs of diversified consumers and may boost Wagyu consumption. It is the 16th time for the giant restaurant search engine site operator to name the nabe of the year based on the data on trends in the restaurant industry over the recent year. Sukiyaki will become a popular choice while imported ingredients are becoming more expensive, and the yen’s depreciation is boosting the demand for costly ingredients made in Japan. There is an expected demand from inbound … Continue reading

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JAL and agricultural cooperative start wagyu sales and quarantine support for passengers traveling abroad

TOKYO, Oct. 8 — JA ZEN-NOH Meat Foods Co., a meat seller of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives group, and Japan Airlines (JAL) began on Oct. 7 selling wagyu beef and taking care of quarantine procedures for people flying abroad. The service will allow people traveling to the United States and Singapore using JAL flights departing Haneda and Narita airports to purchase wagyu beef products sold by JA ZEN-NOH Meat Foods and have them clear quarantine procedures for export by JAL. By making it easier and more convenient for travelers to buy wagyu beef to take out of Japan, the companies hope to boost overseas wagyu consumption and increase awareness of … Continue reading

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