Category Archives: Others

More than 150 hectares of Japan’s forestlands acquired by foreign firms in 2019: forestry agency

TOKYO, Jun. 30 – Forestlands in Japan acquired by foreign firms totaled 163 hectares in 2019, the total area topping 150 hectares for seven years in a row since 2013, according to the Forestry Agency. Eighty percent of foreign companies which obtained forestlands said they made the purchase to hold the forests as assets. In order to mitigate concern among local residents, the agency is asking buyers to present the purpose of purchasing forests. The agency has established a forestland clearing approval system which requires companies to obtain approval from prefectural governors to clear forestlands of a hectare or more. The governors give approval to projects that involve forest clearing … Continue reading

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Japanese Tatami yoga mat building buzz overseas

FUKUOKA, May 24 -Colorful tatami-like yoga mats made of Japanese igusa soft rush grass are becoming popular worldwide. They have high moisture absorbency properties and odor eliminating effect. “Their good aroma makes it easier to do nasal breathing, which is an essential part of yoga,” and “their surface never gets sticky even when you are sweaty,” some said. The product is called “Tatami Yoga.” It’s designed and commercialized by Ikehiko Corporation, an igusa product planner and producer based in Oki Town, Fukuoka Prefecture. The mats are made of igusa grown in Kumamoto and Fukuoka Prefectures. Igusa, dyed in red, blue, and all other beautiful colors, is woven in a traditional … Continue reading

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Kanagawa-based botanical garden creating a buzz with “one banana leaf” social distancing proposal

KANAGAWA, Jun. 23 – “Keep one-banana-leaf social distancing with others”. A botanical garden in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, says so in its poster it recently created. It was posted on the walls and the Internet for encouraging visitors to maintain social distancing as a preventative measure against the novel coronavirus, catching the attention of many, especially among social networking service (SNS) users. Ofuna Botanical Garden in Kanagawa Prefecture had been closed since April 10 after the state of emergency declaration, but it reopened on June 9. On the same day, the botanical garden posted a picture of two staff members standing apart from each other with a long big banana … Continue reading

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Farm Ministry: more food education for younger generations is needed as more people skipping breakfast in 2019

TOKYO, Apr. 25 – The Farm Ministry of Japan has released a report on the progress made toward the country’s goals for the fiscal year 2019 in the third national basic plan for shokuiku (food and nutrition education) promotion, on a provisional basis. Regarding the shokuiku for the younger generation, Japan has achieved its numeral goal for inheriting traditional food and dishes. On the other hand, the ratio of young people skipping breakfast was up compared to the rate in 2015. The promotion of dietary education for the younger generation is considered to be very important in the country, but the report unveiled the fact that its effort still fell … Continue reading

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Number of community organizations supporting residents in rural areas top 5,000 in Japan

TOKYO, April 29 – The number of “regional management organizations” which organize projects aimed at solving issues regarding rural communities totaled 5,236 in 742 municipalities nationwide in fiscal 2019, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced on April 28. Such organizations, which conduct activities to support local residents’ lives including encouraging interactions among elderly people, increased 449 from the previous year, topping 5,000 for the first time since the ministry started collecting data in fiscal 2015. The organizations are mainly created in each of the elementary school districts in agricultural and mountain villages and are operated autonomously by local residents to complement public services, organizing community networking events, community … Continue reading

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