Category Archives: Others

Tokyo, Nov. 9 – Farmers from all over Japan held an online music fest on Twitter, and gathered more than 80,000 views in the first nine days. The farmers posted 29 videos of band performances simultaneously at 10:00 a.m. on October 31, 2021, on the social networking service (SNS). All these movies were filmed in rice paddy fields, farms, and workshops and posted with a hashtag (＃農家バンドフェス) for easier searches. Two young farmers from Mie and Fukuoka Prefectures organized the fest to make the country brighter and more colorful, as many events are being canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. Initially, 15 bands raised their hands to participate, but … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Oct. 13 – Japan’s largest fruits and vegetables wholesale company has recently adopted all-new designs for export cardboard boxes. They are created to give a very distinctive image of Japan and differentiate genuine Japanese products from others. Also, they are designed to fit perfectly on pallets for improved loading efficiency. Tokyo Seika Corporation collaborates with Wismettac Foods, Inc., an exporter of “SUGOI” series products, and the boxes are made by Rengo Co., Ltd., a paper box manufacturer. The wholesaler started using the boxes this year, initially for satsumaimo (sweet potatoes) and mikan (tangerine oranges). “We want to differentiate our products (from fake made-in-Japan products in the markets) using these … Continue reading →

CHIBA, Jul. 27 – Chiba Prefecture is strengthening efforts to eradicate wild snapping turtles by catching many in a short period. The foreign amphibians become active from May to September. So, the prefecture is setting approximately 800 turtle traps in rivers and agricultural canals in the Inba-numa area, in which the turtles’ population density is high. An estimated 6,500 turtles were roaming Chiba Prefecture at the end of FY2019. This year, the prefecture plans to catch 1,197 to reduce the population steadily. “What a haul! That’s beyond expectation!” In mid-July, three prefecture officials gathered at an agricultural canal in Yotsukaido City and screamed. The snapping turtle population density in the … Continue reading →

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 →