Category Archives: Others

Bonsai Art Museum in Saitama gives first workshop for non-Japanese bonsai fans

SAITAMA, Aug. 31 – The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama, in Saitama Prefecture gave a workshop for inbound visitors to Japan for the first time on August 30, 2019. The workshop “Saitama International Bonsai Academy” was participated by three non-Japanese bonsai lovers from Singapore and the U.K. They enjoyed a guided tour of the museum and learned the tips for appreciating the art and its history. Then, they had the first-hand experience of trimming and replanting young Japanese black pines. The instructor of the class was a 36-year-old bonsai professional from the U.S., Adam Jones, an owner of a bonsai export company “Tree House Bonsai” in Ami Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. … Continue reading

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Online purchases undelivered due to lack of export inspection, more attention needed to have proper export certificates

TOKYO, Jul. 29 – Many Internet shoppers are suffering the problems of not being able to receive their purchases due to a failure in import procedures of plants and seeds. The fact was revealed in an interview with a plant protection station in Japan. Imported plant with no inspection certificate issued by the plant protection agency of the exporting country can only be discarded or returned, if it doesn’t pass the inspection in Japan. Many of the online purchasers don’t even know that they are importing the products. “To avoid such problems, make sure to check the location of the shop you are looking at even if it’s on a … Continue reading

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Takii develops world’s first prototype pumpkin resistant to powdery mildew

SHIGA, Jul. 18 – The world’s first pumpkin breed that is resistant to powdery mildew was unveiled yesterday to vegetable producers and agricultural management instructors from an agricultural cooperative (JA) in Shiga Prefecture. The new robust variety is expected to give increased yield and ensure a lower burden for controlling the disease. The new variety is named TNK-157 and developed by a Japanese seed maker of vegetables and flowers, Takii Co. The company has already acquired the license and began trial production at limited locations. Powdery mildew is a disease that causes white powdery spots on the leaves. Severely affected plants can die. With pumpkins, it may affect the leaves … Continue reading

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Fall armyworms found in five more prefectures in southern Japan, spreading from Kagoshima Prefecture

TOKYO,July 13 – Governments of Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki and Okinawa prefectures announced on July 12 that crop-damaging fall armyworms were discovered in field corn crops in the prefectures for the first time. The announcement follows a similar report by the Kagoshima Prefectural Government on July 3. The discovery of the insect, which eats away such crops as rice and corn, has been reported in 30 municipalities in six prefectures as of July 12. The prefectural governments are calling on farmers to prevent further spread of the pest by spraying agricultural chemicals.

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Fall armyworms, damaging crops worldwide, discovered in Japan for first time

KAGOSHIMA, July 4 – Fall armyworm larvae have been found in a field corn crop in Minamikyushu, Kagoshima Prefecture, the first discovery of the exotic invasive pest in the country, the Kagoshima Prefectural Government announced on July 3. The prefectural government is working together with the agricultural ministry to prevent the spread of the insect, a type of moth that have been causing great damage to crops worldwide in recent years. The ministry, which has been preparing for possible invasion of the pest, believes the insect flew into the prefecture. Fall armyworm larvae eat away gramineous crops such as rice and corn, as well as turnips, cucumbers, tomatoes, egg plants, … Continue reading

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