Category Archives: Others

Japanese seed maker develops sunflower that blooms upright

TOKYO, June. 29 — Takii Co., Japan’s seed maker of vegetables and flowers, has developed a sunflower that blooms upright facing on strong stems. Takii names the new series “F1 Sunrich Upright.” The Kyoto-based seed maker says the new sunflower is ideal for flower arrangement and bouquets as it is long lasting and upright facing on strong stems.

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Japan lobby group aims to boost home-grown wheat products

TOKYO, June 28 — Japan is seeking to boost the country’s production of wheat and barley by encouraging more wheat and barley farmers to be involved in sales of new products at a new outlet in Tokyo. The National Rice Wheat and Barley Improvement Association has opened a shop for testing sales of new products that use Japanese-grown wheat and barley. The association names the Tokyo shop “Mugi kurabe”. It has a fully-equipped kitchen, a place to display locally-produced new products and seating areas to eat them. The association will offer serving staff and transport costs for small businesses or growers to present their products in the Tokyo outlet. Japanese … Continue reading

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Japan-made bananas attracting attention with development of nontropical plants

TOKYO, June 23 – Along with the development of nontropical banana plants that can survive cold weather, banana production is increasing in various parts of Japan, the nation which imports 99 percent of bananas it consumes. The bananas are cultivated using plants developed by Tomoiki BIO, a seeds and plants manufacturer in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. The new technology involves freezing banana plants’ growing point by decreasing the temperature of a freezer to minus 60 degrees Celsius, then defrosting and cultivating them. The plants that went through this freezing procedure are found to be resistant to cold weather and pests. Kagoshima Prefecture – traceability appealing to food safety conscious consumers Kami … Continue reading

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Heavy floods and landslides leave more than 200 dead in Japan

SOJA, July 10 ― The Japanese government has issued new alerts over record rains that have killed more than 200 people and left dozens missing in central and western Japan. The torrential rains caused heavy floods and landslides across central and western parts of the country, prompting evacuation orders for nearly four million people. In Soja city, Okayama prefecture, the swirling Takahashi river water burst its 5-meter banks and swept away all the efforts of fruit trees and greenhouses that the Kariya family had made. “There was a greenhouse here. Where has it gone?” said 69-year-old Yuriko Kariya, with a big sigh. Her husband, Mamoru Kariya, 71, said he has … Continue reading

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Osaka earthquake shakes farm businesses in western Japan

IBARAKI, June 20 — One day after a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Osaka, Japan’s second largest metropolitan area, the vulnerability of many elements of urban infrastructure has been exposed. Four people died and more than 400 others were injured after the earthquake. The Osaka earthquake hit during the morning rush hour and affected many businesses, including farming operations. The agriculture ministry and the farmers’ co-operative JA group rushed to assist and assess quake damages. The meteorological agency warned additional earthquakes in the form of aftershocks of the magnitude 6.1 earthquake.

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