Category Archives: Others

[By Masaru Kaneko, Professor of Keio University] Japan and the European Union recently reached a basic accord regarding the Economic Partnership Agreement. However, although the deal includes decisions that could hit much harder on domestic farmers than the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, the negotiations were all held behind closed doors with barely any debate conducted on the issue. The government appears to believe that no further debate on the TPP agreement is necessary since it is already approved by the Diet, but it is a great mistake to think so. Impact of EPA greater than TPP Concerning dairy products, the Japanese government made concessions in the EPA which are even greater … Continue reading →

Fukuoka and Oita, July 7 ― Torrential rain destroyed the northern part of Kyushu on July 5 and 6, 2017, causing flood and mudslides. Some people were confirmed dead and many others missing. In Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, and Hita, Oita Prefecture, people saw record-high precipitation, and farmers suffered very severe damage on their fields and greenhouses in the floods and the mudslides. Local agricultural cooperatives and other entities are urging to obtain concrete information, but it’s been still difficult to have the full picture of the damage.  Damage of unprecedented level (in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture)  “The landscape is totally different, and we are left with no recovery in sight.” It … Continue reading →

[By Meiji University Vice President Toshikatsu Yanagisawa] On Nov. 30, 2016, UNESCO added cooperatives to the list of intangible cultural assets. The list describes cooperatives as entities that “allow for community building through shared interests and values creating innovative solutions to societal problems, from generating employment and assisting seniors to urban revitalization and renewable energy projects.” The cooperatives were listed because they were recognized as communities that helps “to enrich cultural diversity and human creativity,” as stated in the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Cooperatives has built trust in the global society in the current century, as can be seen in the 2001 U.N. Guidelines … Continue reading →

On June 15, 2017, an Akihabara-based NPO group Licolita planted pakchi (coriander) seeds as well as young basil and mint on a rooftop garden at The Japan Agricultural News building in Akihabara, Tokyo. The event is part of Akihabara Vegetable Garden Project, which is now in the ninth year. For the first seven years, the environmental NPO grew rice in buckets. However, starting from last year, it’s growing herbs that can be eaten soon after harvesting. Five “Akiba maids”, who are waitresses working at costume play restaurants and cafes in Akihabara, also took part in the event. Last year, all their pakchi was lost because of the typhoons and dry … Continue reading →