Category Archives: Others

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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Domestic soybeans in natto production reach 22 percent in 2018, increasing 2.5 times in five years

TOKYO, June 24 – Domestically-grown soybeans occupied 22 percent of soybeans used to produce natto in 2018, marking the highest proportion since statistics were first compiled in 2003, according to Japan Natto Cooperative Society Federation. Makers of the fermented soybeans are increasing the use of domestic soybeans in response to growing tendency among consumers to opt for food items produced in Japan, and also because such soybeans are more suited to processing compared to imported ones. However, since imported soybeans still occupy nearly 80 percent of soybeans used in natto production, efforts by producing regions to respond to growing demands will become the key to raising the nation’s self-sufficiency of … Continue reading

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Kokeshium: traditional craft and domestic flowers combined to make brilliant debut

TOKYO, Jun. 24 – A kokeshi-shaped herbarium bottle from You Kaen, a flower distributer and seller based in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, has been a big hit. The name of the product is Kokeshium. It’s a kokeshi doll with a glass body that contains dried flowers of domestically-grown globe amaranth, sophila and such, and specially designed herbarium oil. On top of the bottle is the face of a traditional wooden doll called Naruko Kokeshi made by artisans in Osaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The florist proposed it to raise attention to traditional arts using flowers and unique design. As soon as the product was released in May in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, it … Continue reading

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JA Fukushima to build future with SDGs to dispel nuke anxiety

FUKUSHIMA, March 14 ― A farmers’ group in Fukushima prefecture has emphasized the need for implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its relevance in the context of Fukushima, which has been hit hard by the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster. JA Fukushima Mirai (future) has included the need for the successful implementation of SDGs in its three-year action plan that starts from 2019. It aims to dispel rumors about its safety in the wake of the meltdown at the Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s No.1 power station in the prefecture in 2011. Fukushima has set a target of more than 51 percent of local produce to be certified … Continue reading

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