Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

Number of wagyu beef export bases in Japan doubles in nine years; export to Islamic countries in mind

TOKYO, May 23 – The construction of beef processing facilities for export is accelerating in Japan to expand already-strong Japanese wagyu beef export. These facilities meet stringent requirements of European countries, the U.S., and new high-potential markets in Islamic countries. While the recovering demand in the restaurant industry elevates wagyu export volume significantly to hit a new record, the increase in certified beef production facilities will likely accelerate the move. The beef exporters must process meat at facilities meeting standards provided by each importing country or region. According to the farm ministry of Japan, the number of certifications given to Japanese wagyu beef exporters by their primary markets, such as … Continue reading

Posted in Trade Talks | Comments Off on Number of wagyu beef export bases in Japan doubles in nine years; export to Islamic countries in mind

Retired table tennis star Kasumi Ishikawa thanks growers for providing delicious farm produce

TOKYO, May 19 — Kasumi Ishikawa, who represented Japan in women’s table tennis, expressed gratitude for farmers nationwide who supported her with delicious food. Addressing her retirement during a news conference in Tokyo on May 18, Ishikawa stressed that eating has been the most important and fundamental part of building up her body. “I could hold on as I was able to eat a lot of Japan’s delicious farm and livestock products,” Ishikawa said. Ishikawa began playing table tennis at the age of 7 and won an Olympic women’s team medal three times in a row, starting with the 2012 London Olympic Games. As an athlete belonging to the National … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives | Comments Off on Retired table tennis star Kasumi Ishikawa thanks growers for providing delicious farm produce

Cows’ moorning routine in Hinokage Town, Miyazaki Prefecture

MIYAZAKI, May. 10 – In Iwaigawa Nakao Village in Hinokage Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, you can see a rare sight of cows marching along the village road every morning. A 72-year-old breeding cow grower, Atsunori Iwata, opens his barn door at 9 a.m. every morning, and 20 breeding cows start walking to a pasture about 100 meters away from the barn. The cows arrive at the range in about 15 minutes, spend the day on the 10-hectare grassland, and return to the barn by themselves in the evening. Iwata took over the family business of livestock farming after being involved in the livestock farming management guidance at a local agricultural cooperative … Continue reading

Posted in Photos | Comments Off on Cows’ moorning routine in Hinokage Town, Miyazaki Prefecture

Japan’s prime minister vows to work on boosting domestic agricultural production

TOKYO, May 12 — Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed the fiscal 2023 national conference of The Japan Agricultural News held in Tokyo on May 11 and said the establishment of food supply bases aimed at increasing domestic production will be the pillar of the government’s agricultural policy.   Kishida also stressed the need for structural shift to break away from excessive dependence on imports of food and production materials. The direction of the policies in each field, which will be compiled as early as June for the review of the Basic Law on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas, will be included in the government’s annual basic policies for economic and … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy | Comments Off on Japan’s prime minister vows to work on boosting domestic agricultural production

Shizuoka’s Chagusaba Farming Method: farmers’ wisdom inherited to make top quality tea

Agriculture journalist Ayumi Kotani visits sites in Japan designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). One region in Shizuoka Prefecture maintaining its GIAHS-recognized Chagusaba Farming Method is now busy plucking the first flush tea leaves. It’s also one of the most active seasons for the fresh green tea gardens to welcome many tourists. ■ ■ Kawanehon Town is located in a mountainous area near the upper Oi River. Tetsuro Tsuchiya (83) and his eldest daughter Yuko (59) were busy covering their Yabukita tea trees at the Tsuchiya Tea Farm, which is known as the “tea garden in the sky.” They plan to enter the carefully-grown tea leaves in this … Continue reading

Posted in Photos | Comments Off on Shizuoka’s Chagusaba Farming Method: farmers’ wisdom inherited to make top quality tea