Category Archives: Research

June 1st, 2019 Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd. AKEDA Tsukuru, Visiting Researcher ■Abstract In June 2018, with regard to the classification of financial instruments under IAS 32, IASB has made a new proposal and invited the public to give comments on the classification of liability and equity based on the two new criteria, “timing feature” and “amount feature” of the delivery of the entity’s economic resources. This newly proposed criteria offer nothing but a working explanation on the controversial fixed-for-fixed condition for derivative financial instruments that are to be settled with their own shares, and on an equity instrument that is not classified as equity. Cooperatives and other similar entities … Continue reading →

December 1st, 2017 Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd. AKEDA Tsukuru, Visiting Fellow ■Abstract From a viewpoint of the legal system, we have already brought about an end to arguments over a question of whether an agricultural cooperative is an organization of farmers for cooperation or not, since the system has provided the regular members of farmers with a right of control over management of their cooperative. Although an increase in the number of associate members may make contribution to profits of regular members who are farmers, there are not such actual conditions as the increase brings about disadvantages to them. Even supposing that the regular members suffer disadvantages from the … Continue reading →

                                                                                                                                      August 1st, 2018 Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd. YUKITOMO Wataru, Senior Fellow ■Abstract “Self-reform” of agricultural cooperatives or JAs has three goals aiming at “increase in farmer’s income”, “expansion of agricultural production”, and “revitalization of regional societies”. Out of these goals, the revitalization … Continue reading →

June 22nd, 2018 Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd. ICHINOSE Yuichiro, Senior Economist ■Abstract Wholesale markets in Japan have a history of nearly 100 years since the Central Wholesale Market Act was enacted in 1923. During this period, amendments of the Act were made several times, including a change to the Wholesale Market Act in 1971, to make the Act adjust to the existing state of the wholesale markets. These are considered as amendments of the existing state-ratification type, aiming at introducing flexibility into regulations on transaction methods and others. Contents of the latest amendment of the Wholesale Market Act, which was made in 2018, are mostly based on the “Recommendations … Continue reading →

January 1st, 2018 Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd. KOBARI Miwa, Chief Researcher ■Abstract In November 2017, the Panel of Experts on Staple Food set up in the Council of Food, Agriculture and Rural Area Policies, an advisory body for the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, approved the “Basic Guidelines to Ensure the Stabilization of Supply-Demand and Price of Rice”, stating that allocation of target production volumes by the administration shall be ceased in the rice production adjustment program from the 2018 crop onward, as well as that rice producers, commercial shippers like agricultural cooperatives and related organizations shall be instead required to play a central role in promoting the … Continue reading →