Category Archives: Others

HIROSHIMA, August 26 -When the downpours that started on August 11 hit the greenhouses of a 51-year-old farmer in Akitakata City, Hiroshima Prefecture, he had a bunch of social media connected friends, 15 of them mainly from Hiroshima, to come and help his restoration work. The farmer, Koji Okada, is a YouTuber, or NohTuber (“Noh” means agriculture in Japanese), who usually talks about all the good things about being a farmer on the online video-sharing site. This time, however, he posted a report on the severe water damage. Then, his friend NohTuber saw the video and called on his friends on social networking services (SNS) to support Okada’s restoration works. … Continue reading →

SAGA, Aug.19 – The heavy rain on Japan’s third-largest island started on August 11 and continued for a week by August 18. The deluge of an unprecedented level for this time of the year is causing devastating damage to the tea and other agricultural production in Kyushu. The rainfall continues on and off, making it hard to grasp the whole picture of the damage. In Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture, the total rainfall for the week (from August 11 to August 18, 9 p.m.) reached 1,171 millimeters. As of August 18, the city confirmed damages at 58 local tea gardens, including landslides and collapsed anti-frost wind machines. At two tea gardens … Continue reading →

YAMANASHI, Jul. 30 – A local agricultural cooperative in Yamanashi Prefecture sold a limited number of peaches with an image of a popular Sanrio character, “Hello Kitty.” One of the world’s most popular cat and the JA Fruits Yamanashi collaborated to promote the consumption of the local summer fruits. The JA used Yamanashi’s patented technology to “print” the image on locally-grown “Natsukko” white peaches, which are currently in high season. Approximately two weeks before harvesting, peach growers wrapped each one of the fruits on the trees with a stocking with a light-blocking sticker to make the cute character appear clearly on the skin of the fruit. Last year, they printed … Continue reading →

KAGAWA, Jun. 3 – “Bonsai is not just a grandpa’s hobby but something good for the entire family to enjoy.” To deliver such a message, Hanazawa Myoshun En, a bonsai and wild grass and tree grower based in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, created an animation film named “Family Bonsai” and posted it on YouTube. To make it free from fixed ideas, the characters in the story are a family of unidentified nationality. To make it open to non-Japanese visitors, all the conversations are written in English and have Japanese subtitles. It’s a story of a little girl naming and taking care of her own bonsai with her family. The simple … Continue reading →

SAITAMA, May 30 -　A mask sold by a Japanese tea grower and retailer in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, is drawing attention. It has an inner pocket to hold a teabag so that its wearer can enjoy a bit of incense of Japanese tea. The Saitama-based tea shop, Miyanoen, sells the product called “Ocha-Kaoru-Machi Sayama no Mask with Tea.” In English, it means “Mask with Tea from leading green tea producer Sayama City.” The product was developed by Miyanoen and a local clothing manufacturer, MM1. The city of Sayama has a plan to offer them to approximately 400 Olympic volunteers to promote the city. The polyester mask has an inner pocket … Continue reading →