TOKYO, April 10 — Taishu Soba of Tsushima, off Nagasaki prefecture in southern Japan is among the latest three products that have been granted the nation’s geographical indications (GIs). Japan has its own GI system to guarantee the protected status of food products. It aims to help farmers to differentiate their products from competing products and build a reputation of quality that is linked to the geographical origin. Besides Taishu Soba, Matsudate Shibori Daikon in Akita prefecture and Yamagata Celery got GI registration, the agriculture ministry said on April 9. The Japanese GI system now protects 62 products from 35 regions, according to the ministry. The infringement of GI products … Continue reading →

TOKYO, April 17 – Increasing efforts are recently seen in regional areas to promote local farm produce to tourists from abroad, such as taking over the troublesome quarantine procedure for fruits or setting up a store which sells inspected farm produce at airports. Because quarantine requirements vary by country, providers of such services are seeking ways to promote local produce that respond to different needs. Starfood Japan Co., a branding agency in the city of Wakayama which offer support to market local produce, began in 2017 the service of taking over the quarantine procedure for foreign travelers at Kansai International Airport so that they can take back home fruits grown … Continue reading →

TOKYO, April 15 – The transport ministry has been working on spreading services to allow foreign tourists travel without having to carry their luggage. By setting up counters at roadside rest areas and farmers’ markets to offer temporary storage and delivery services for luggage, the government hopes tourists will be encouraged to purchase more farm produce and local specialties, thus expanding business opportunities for farm coops and agricultural corporations which operate markets and tourism farms. The ministry began designating operators of “hands-free travel” services in 2015 and the number of such operators reached 222 as of the end of March. Counters are being set up not only in major airports … Continue reading →

TOKYO, April 11 — Japan’s agricultural exports dropped 4% year-on-year in February, a fall in eight months, hit by fewer working days due to a long Chinese new year holiday in exporting markets. The exports of products such as agri-food, meat and seafood totaled 66.6 billion yen in February, data from the agriculture ministry showed. The 4% decline in February exports was a disappointing performance, compared with a 35% jump in January. Still, combining January and February, the nation’s agricultural exports rose 12% to 129 billion yen from the same period a year earlier. Japan has set a target of 1 trillion yen in agricultural exports by 2020, and it … Continue reading →