Category Archives: Research

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 →

  February 1st, 2018 Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd. SAITO Yuriko, Managing Director ■Abstract The self-reform that agricultural cooperatives or so-called JAs (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) in Japan are urged by the government to take necessary measures to carry out are composed of (i) marketing members’ farm products under the most advantageous conditions for members, (ii) supplying members with production inputs on the most favorable terms for them, and (iii) shifting some of JA’s human resources from financial businesses to agriculture related businesses. On the other hand, the self-reform which has been put into practice by the JAs at the grass-root level, naturally aiming at achieving these targets, has a common … Continue reading →

September 1st, 2017 Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd. Basic Research Division SHIMIZU Tetsuro, Director-General Manager ■Abstract Agricultural structure policies of Japan have been implemented until today on the basis of a fundamental policy for developing “efficient and stable agriculture management”, which was announced in a long-term vision of agricultural policy for the 21st century, named the “New Direction of Food, Agricultural and Rural Policy” of 1992 as well as in the “Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas Basic Act” enacted in 1999. The purpose of this paper is not only to reveal real conditions of Japan’s agriculture primarily by referring to results of the 2015 Census of Agriculture and Forestry, but … Continue reading →

                                                                                                                                   August 1st, 2017 Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd. HIRASAWA Akihiko, Senior Chief Economist ■Abstract Japanese people have been able to reach the current level of food consumption by increasing imports of agricultural products due to its limited farmland resources. As a result, however, Japan is … Continue reading →