Japan farmers’ group aims at Hong Kong as Asian export hub

TOKYO, Jan. 30 — Japan’s largest farmers’ group is to set up a subsidiary in Hong Kong in March, aiming to make it an Asian hub for Japanese farm and food exports. The National Federation of Agriculture Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH), the marketing arm of JA group, said on Jan. 29 that the Hong Kong unit will be under its subsidiary ZEN-NOH International that deals with exports. Hong Kong is the top destination for Japanese food. In 2016, Japan exported food produce worth 185.3 billion yen to Hong Kong, accounting for a quarter of the nation’s total food exports. Meanwhile, JA group has projected 3.5 billion yen of its food exports … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Japan farmers’ group aims at Hong Kong as Asian export hub

Japan to invest to prolong expiration date of prepackaged rice

TOKYO, Jan. 19 — Japan’s agriculture ministry will provide financial support to innovative projects that will double an expiration date of prepackaged rice to more than one year. The announcement for funding the sector’s research and development was made as part of the government’s pledge to boost Japanese food exports. It aims to solve problems as increasing use of sanitary, phytosanitary and technical procedures at borders takes several months and shortens overseas sales period, representing barriers for exports of Japanese-grown rice. Food makers in Nigata prefecture and other major rice producing areas in Japan have developed prepackaged rice, but they found it difficult to develop new technologies which can help … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Japan to invest to prolong expiration date of prepackaged rice

Japan doubles non-fat dried milk import quota for fiscal 2018

TOKYO, Jan. 27 — Japan will double non-fat dried milk import quota for the year 2018 starting April 1, as consumers are increasingly looking to enjoy healthier products, such as yogurt, which use the dairy ingredient. Japan imports designated dairy products through a state-trading system operated by the agriculture ministry. Every year, the ministry sets quotas based on monitoring the supply and demand situation in the dairy sector. The ministry announced on Jan. 26 that it will increase its non-fat dried milk quota by 14,000 metric tons this year from a year earlier to 27,000 metric tons. “Dairy-makers will likely top up stocks for non-fat dried milk as they target … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Japan doubles non-fat dried milk import quota for fiscal 2018

【Series】 Our Noh no Ikebana : “Spring is just around the corner and trees are preparing themselves for it,” says Teruko Omura, 64, from Fukuyama city, Hiroshima(Feb. 2)

“I began Noh no Ikebana six year ago after reading articles in Japan Agricultural News. I live close to a lot of mountains and fields which are the source of an unlimited number of materials, and I found it very interesting that I can make arrangements using natural materials in natural ways. I do traditional ikebana since I was a junior high school student, but I think Noh no Ikebana is very special in how we can use the materials in any forms ranging from buds to dry pieces to create brisk displays. For containers, I often chose tools that my family used a long time ago. Creating arrangements with … Continue reading

Posted in Noh no Ikebana, Photos | Comments Off on 【Series】 Our Noh no Ikebana : “Spring is just around the corner and trees are preparing themselves for it,” says Teruko Omura, 64, from Fukuyama city, Hiroshima(Feb. 2)

Shizuoka invites Thai actress with 700,000 followers; Bow Maylada finds Shizuoka attractive place to eat and travel

SHIZUOKA, Jan. 31 — A popular Thai actress, Bow Maylada, made her fourth visit in Shizuoka city, Shizuoka Prefecture. The city of Shizuoka invited her for four consecutive years as part of its promotional activities to have potential travelers from Thailand and other countries know about the attractive destinations they’ll find in Shizuoka, while Japan is becoming more and more popular among inbound tourists. Bow also visited a pilot shop run by an agricultural cooperative in Shizuoka city, JA Shimizu, and posted some pictures of what she found in the city, both local attractions and foods, on her social networking service (SNS) accounts. Bow has nearly 700,000 followers on Instagram, the … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Shizuoka invites Thai actress with 700,000 followers; Bow Maylada finds Shizuoka attractive place to eat and travel