Category Archives: Others

Gold medalist Hanyu receives 4-year supply of rice in Sendai

SENDAI, April 23 — Cheers went up once again at the sight of Japanese figure-skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu in his hometown parade. Prior to the parade, Hanyu received a 4-year supply of locally-grown rice, or about 240 kg of rice, from Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai on April 22. So, what does the four years of rice mean? It means rice from Miyagi, the region of his country, will keep him going to prepare for the 2022 Beijing Games. Hanyu, 23, successfully defended his gold medal at the PyeongChang Games in February, after injuring ligaments in his ankle during a practice in November. The organizer said the April 22 event … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture, Others | Comments Off on Gold medalist Hanyu receives 4-year supply of rice in Sendai

Kyushu firm develops banana plants which can be grown in temperate regions

TOKYO, April 19 – Tomoiki BIO, a firm in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture which develops seeds and plants, announced on April 18 that it has created banana plants which can be cultivated outdoors even in temperate regions, paving the way for production of bananas throughout Japan. The cultivation of the new seedlings, said to be resistant to cold weather and pests, has already started in Kagoshima Prefecture. The firm plans to conduct limited sales of Tomoiki Banana, the pesticide-free bananas with high sugar levels, under the slogan “bananas with edible skin.” Cultivation of bananas in Japan had been restricted to warm climate regions such as Okinawa Prefecture. Meanwhile, the seedlings, developed … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture, Others | Comments Off on Kyushu firm develops banana plants which can be grown in temperate regions

Foreigners buy 148 hectares of forestry across Japan in 2017

TOKYO, May 5 — With growing concerns over real intention for purchase of forest land in Japan, data from the forestry agency has showed that foreign ownership of forestry remains high. There were 44 cases of foreign funds acquiring a total of 148 hectares of forestry across Japan in 2017. That was lower than a year earlier by 54 hectares, but relatively high since the government’s survey started in 2010. The accumulated acquisition of forestry by foreigners totaled 1,589 hectares in 2017. The biggest buyer was a U.S. corporation, which acquired 66 hectares of forestry in Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture, to built solar power plants. That accounts for some 60 … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Others | Comments Off on Foreigners buy 148 hectares of forestry across Japan in 2017

Japanese tea maker creates new logo for overseas promotion

TOKYO, April 3 — The Japan Tea Export Council has unveiled a new trademark to promote Japanese tea products overseas. The council, comprised of Japanese tea makers, has witnessed the growth in counterfeiting of Japanese tea products in overseas markets. The move aims to give credibility and assurance to consumers in the global market, it said. The brand logo illustrates a bird with two green leaves crossing the ocean. The English letters say “Japan Tea” and “Japan Quality”. “We hope that this new logo will be strongly associated with the high-quality of Japanese tea in the global market,” a council official said.

Posted in Others | Comments Off on Japanese tea maker creates new logo for overseas promotion

Japanese researchers develop new variety of red beans

TOKYO, April 7 — Japanese agricultural researchers for the first time have developed a new variety of red beans, an ingredient extremely common in Japanese cuisine. Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, a southern unit of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), named the new variety as “Kyushu No. 171”. There had only been native varieties of red beans in Japan, and crops had never been developed breeding. The new variety allows making soya processed foods, such as tofu, with pink-color like sakura flowers. The researchers expect to plant the crops in Kumamoto prefecture this year.

Posted in Food & Agriculture, Others | Comments Off on Japanese researchers develop new variety of red beans