Category Archives: Farm Policy

Spa resort offering aroma-rich bath experience using locally-grown yuzu citrus fruits

SAITAMA, Dec. 22 – On December 21, in Ogose Town, Saitama Prefecture, visitors at a local spa resort, O Park Ogose, enjoyed a yuzu bath, a bathing tradition celebrated on the winter solstice in Japan. The spa put yuzu citrus fruits grown in Saitama in a tub so that visitors could release the weariness of the past year while enjoying the rich aroma of yuzu. The spa had a campaign to offer a free entry ticket in exchange for 2 kilograms of yuzu fruits and gathered 13 kilograms of yuzu from its neighbors by December 21. It puts them in its open-air spas. The spa will continue offering a yuzu … Continue reading

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It’s a helmet and udon bowl made of biomass plastic!

KAGAWA, Dec. 15 – A manufacturer and seller of plastic products in Kanonji City, Kagawa Prefecture, Kawasaki Kako Co., Ltd., has developed a very innovative product, a helmet that can also be used as a bowl to serve udon noodles. The product is called Udon Helmet and is made of biomass plastic derived from domestically grown rice. It measures 10 centimeters in height, 18 centimeters in width, and 26 centimeters in length, including a brim – big enough for an adult to wear. It’s designed to sit stable on a table when used as a large bowl for three portions of udon wheat noodles. The brim can efficiently hold condiments, … Continue reading

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Japanese fruit and vegetables promoted in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Dec. 8 — ZEN-NOH International Hong Kong Ltd., a subsidiary of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (JA ZEN-NOH) group, will fully open a permanent sales counter on Dec. 9 inside a shop in Hong Kong to sell Japan-made fruit and vegetables as part of efforts to boost Japan’s exports of fresh produce. The permanent sales counter, the first of its kind to open at overseas stores, will be installed inside the Fusion Tai Wo store of PARKnSHOP, Hong Kong’s leading supermarket chain. A sales associate trained for two weeks about the quality, safety and taste of Japanese fruit and vegetables will be regularly stationed at the … Continue reading

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Leaders of cooperatives vow to strengthen global cooperative movement at the launch of the 2025 United Nations International Year of Cooperatives

NEW DELHI, Nov. 27 — The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) held a kickoff event in New Delhi, India, on Nov. 25 to officially launch the 2025 United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). Some 3,000 representatives from cooperatives in around 100 countries gathered at the event and agreed to strive to increase the visibility of cooperatives and expand their activities under the IYC’s theme: “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” “We live in a complex time as humanity,” ICA president Ariel Guarco said. “Let us continue to demonstrate that this (organized cooperation) is the best way for all of us to have a dignified life, leaving no one out and leaving … Continue reading

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Tatami Japanese mattress artisan makes 120 instruments and band with 350 musicians

KYOTO, Nov. 24 – Kazuhiro Nishiwaki, a 57-year-old tatami mattress artisan based in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, makes tatami-based instruments to introduce the charm of the traditional Japanese isuga rush mattresses to the world. So far, he has made more than 120 tatami-based musical instruments, such as guitars and drums. Also, he plays the tatami guitar and sings in a band with peer musicians all over Japan. The instruments are made from recycled materials such as isuga mat pieces left from the tatami mat making. He also formed a tatami promotional band named Nihon Tatami Gakki Seizo, which means “Japan tatami instruments manufacturer” in Japanese. The band has been around … Continue reading

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