Author Archives: The Japan Agricultural News

Will new year bring jump in demand for jumbo rabbits?

AKITA, Jan. 9 – The year 2023 is the year of the rabbit in Japan. Speaking of rabbits, the Semboku region in the Southern part of Akita Prefecture traditionally grows jumbo rabbits for meat. In 2022, the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs certified its deeply rooted food culture of eating jumbo rabbit meat as a “100-year food” of Japan. Since then, there has been a jump in the popularity of rabbit meat as a healthier option. The region grows Akita-improved Japanese White, a breed with thick white fur. Some of them weigh over 10 kilograms. Growing rabbits for food started in the Meiji Era to improve diet in rural parts … Continue reading

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Wide-area chemical-spraying drones top the list of in-demand smart farming technologies

TOKYO, Dec. 19 – The most demanded smart agricultural technology by farmers is a drone that can spray agrichemicals over a wide area, according to a survey recently conducted by the agriculture ministry to grasp technological needs. Other technologies high on the list include labor-saving machinery such as weeding robots and automatic mowers, as well as fruit and vegetable harvesting robots. The ministry plans to prioritize research and development of high-demand technologies in the future. The survey was conducted between Nov. 22 and Dec. 5 on the ministry’s website and garnered responses from 1,095 people including farmers, local government officials and researchers. Each respondent was asked to choose up to … Continue reading

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Busy preparing for New Year’s arrival

NIIGATA, Dec. 19 -In Agano City, Niigata Prefecture, makers of Shimekazari, a traditional Japanese New Year’s decoration, have entered the busiest time of the year. The members of the shimekazari producers’ group of a local agricultural cooperative in Niigata (JA Niigata Kagayaki, Sasakami Branch) are now busy applying the final touches on the small round ropes made from rice straws by adding rice stalks and red-and-white strings called mizuhiki in Japanese. The group began producing shimekazari about 40 years ago. This year, its 32 members make 35,000 shimekazari in four different types for sale inside and outside the prefecture. JA asked local farmers to grow Yamahikari rice for an early … Continue reading

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“Just like jewel!” Fukuoka-based wholesaler showing how to pretty up fruits in season

FUKUOKA, Dec. 13 – Fukuoka Daido Seika, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler at the Fukuoka City Central Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, demonstrated how to make a “Jewel Cut Fruit Plate,” in which fruits are beautifully cut and arranged like jewels. Japan’s agricultural cooperatives group (JA Group) prepared fruits in season from all over Japan for the event that took place at the market on December 13. The company gave the fruit arrangements to children in the hospital and their families. It also hopes the event will help increase consumers’ spending on domestically-grown fruits. The company used fruits sent from several prefectures, such as apples from Aomori and Nagano, persimmons … Continue reading

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University in northeastern Japan aims to cultivate original apple variety in Japan and South Africa for year-round exports

AOMORI, Dec. 13 – Hirosaki University in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, has launched an initiative with a trading company in Tokyo to cultivate Kimito, an apple variety developed by the university, in Japan and South Africa to be shipped to the Asian region. By realizing a year-round supply of apples of an original variety across national borders, they hope to expand sales channels for apples including domestically-produced ones. They have obtained intellectual property rights for the variety overseas and plan to return the profits to the university. Withmettac Foods, Inc., a fruits trading company with a strong overseas network, gained a breeder’s right and a trademark right for Kimito in South … Continue reading

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