Category Archives: Farm Policy

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 →

TOTTORI, Nov. 10 — Reddish purple rakkyo Japanese scallion flowers are in full bloom in the city of Tottori, blooming around two weeks later than usual due to scorching summer heat and little rain. Tottori Prefecture is Japan’s No. 1 rakkyo producing region and the Fukube district in the city of Tottori near the famous Tottori Sand Dunes is the leading producing area. Tottori Sakyu Rakkyo and Fukube Sakyu Rakkyo, Japanese scallions grown near the sand dunes, are registered under the Geographical Indication (GI) protection system. In areas covered by the Fukube branch of JA Tottori Inaba, a local agricultural cooperative, 54 farms grow rakkyo on fields totaling 102 hectares. … Continue reading →

AOMORI, Oct. 30 – The “Aomorik Cube” puzzle featuring six different Aomori-made apple skins on all sides is causing a buzz for being too difficult to solve. Each side of the six-sided 3D puzzle has a picture of skins of different but all red apples, making it extremely difficult. It is a challenge from Aomori Prefecture, which required two days to solve even for the official of Aomori’s Tourist Attraction and Exchanges Section, who planned the item to promote apples produced in the northernmost prefecture on Japan’s main island. The Aomorik Cube uses pictures of skins of Fuji, Jonagold, Sekai-Ichi, Kogyoku, Chiyuki, and Mutsu apples. It was released on October 17 … Continue reading →

Oct. 27, Niigata – An annual winter event of the quake-hit city of Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture-Shiroyone Senmaida Rice Terraces Illumination-is here in Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture this year. It is a part of the program called Ojiya Hotaru (meaning “Ojiya fireflies” in Japanese) held at an observatory on Mt. Yamamoto in Ojiya, one of the cities that also experienced a large-scale earthquake in 2004. One section of the venue was covered by approximately 15,000 light-emitting diode (LED) lights called Pet Botaru, which were brought from Wajima, recreating the scene of the original rice terrace event in Wajima. The lights change colors every 15 minutes and allure the visitors. An … Continue reading →

NAGANO, Oct. 17 – Haruo Nishizawa, a 75-year-old farmer in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, has built a big Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha) sculpture measuring 5.4 meters in height and 4 meters in width at home.  He recently held an eye-opening ceremony for the statue to which he dedicated more than four years of work. Yakushi Nyorai is said to cure illnesses and save people from suffering and disasters, and Nishizawa, amidst his farm work, carved it with his prayers. His farm is in the Koedo area of Shinshu-Shinmachi Town in Nagano Prefecture. As you turn off the National Route 19 and head towards Ogawa Village, you can see the impressive … Continue reading →