Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

【News】 Japan Food Safety Management Association celebrates inauguration (Jan. 29, 2016)

“Japan Food Safety Management Association” was newly organized on Jan. 28, in a legal form of a general incorporated foundation, by 18 major companies of food processing and retail businesses. By the end of this March, the Association hopes to create their own food safety standards which will effectively work in international business transactions. It also expects that these standards will not only be appreciated by overseas trading partners, but also be helpful for Japanese companies to boost their exports of food products and expand their businesses overseas. The Association plays a key role in operating an entire system of food safety certification schemes under these standards. Certification and labelling … Continue reading

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【News】 TPP chief negotiator Amari resigns over money scandal (Jan. 29, 2016)

Economic revitalization minister Akira Amari stepped down from the Cabinet post on Jan. 28, after acknowledging his receipt of 1 million yen in cash from a construction company. The scandal was reported by one of the weekly magazines published in Japan last week. Amari had also been a minister in charge of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks since 2013 when Japan joined the TPP. He led a negotiation team of Japan at a ministerial meeting held in Atlanta last October to reach a broad agreement on the TPP. The TPP chief negotiator’s departure from the Cabinet will inevitably make an adverse impact on deliberations at the Diet which is … Continue reading

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【News】 At Diet session Abe denies possibility of TPP renegotiation (Jan. 28, 2016)

“Even if a renegotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement is demanded in a near future, we will never take a seat at the table,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged on Jan. 27 at a plenary session of the Diet. Abe made this reply to a question raised by a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who was concerned that a TPP member country would urge Japan to make further concession possibly at a TPP renegotiation table so as to facilitate approvals for TPP bills from her congress. Abe had delivered his key policy speech for 2016 on Jan. 22, and he was asked various questions including … Continue reading

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【News】 Increased use of high quality rice for cooking specific cuisines (Jan. 26, 2016)

Many restaurants now increasingly select the best rice respectively for dishes such as curry rice and risotto, as Sushi bars use special types of rice suitable for Sushi. “Production of rice with characteristic features has enabled us to increase our sales,” said a representative of a risotto rice supplier, an agricultural corporation called Farming Staff in Kashiwazaki-shi, Niigata Prefecture. The corporation is making an ambitious plan to expand the rice cultivation. “Hiroo no Curry,” a popular curry food restaurant in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, serves their guests with a primary ingredient of “Karei-mai” rice produced in Myoko-shi and its neighboring towns, Niigata Prefecture. “Karei-mai” means “elegant dancing,” while its pronunciation inclines consumers … Continue reading

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【Opinion】 Let us protect the community of all sentient beings (Jan. 18, 2016)

Yutaka Une, farmer and philosopher Before we knew it, we have begun to think that it is always better to manufacture something with lower costs and shorter working hours if quality is not affected. But I believe such way of thinking is abnormal when it comes to agriculture. If farmers become obsessed with such an idea, it would become a norm for them to try to remain competitive at home and abroad only in terms of economic value. However, it is not only farmers that are engaged in farming. For example, rice is created by the coordination among the sun, the rain, water, soil, other creatures, wind (atmosphere), waterways, ridges … Continue reading

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