Category Archives: Cooperatives

Abe meets new head of JA ZENCHU

TOKYO, Sep. 6 ─ Leaders of Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-ZENCHU) including new president, Toru Nakaya, met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 6, 2017, at the Prime Minister’s Office. According to Nakaya, who is the first JA-ZENCHU chief elected from the Wakayama union, he explained Abe that the country’s most influential farm group is now making efforts to reform itself, and Abe responded: “Let’s work together.” The meeting was attended by Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who represents a district in Wakayama Prefecture. It was the first meeting for Nakaya and Abe after Nakaya assumed the top post of JA-ZENCHU in August, and … Continue reading

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ZEN-NOH to sell more agricultural and livestock products overseas via newly online shop in largest internet shopping mall in Hong Kong

TOKYO, August 29―National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH) began selling Japanese agricultural and livestock products online in Hong Kong, Japan’s largest export market of agricultural, forest and fishery products and food. According to an announcement on August 28, 2017, the federation of agricultural cooperatives in Japan has opened an online store for Japanese agricultural and livestock products in HKTVmall, the biggest online shopping mall in Hong Kong. ZEN-NOH wants to explore new markets and boost exports of Japanese agricultural and livestock products overseas. In April this year, ZEN-NOH placed a new division dedicated to the promotion of the export of Japanese agricultural products and decided to have ZEN-NOH International … Continue reading

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New chief of Japan’s agricultural cooperatives group determined to carry out reform for the sake of farmers

TOKYO, Aug. 12 – Toru Nakaya, who became chairman of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives in August, expressed determination to accomplish self-reform of the farm coops group. In an interview with The Japan Agricultural News, Nakaya said his organization, known as JA-ZENCHU, will have active discussion with the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to carry out reform in a free and unbiased way, putting farmers first. Q. How do you feel about becoming chairman of JA-ZENCHU when it is facing an extremely difficult situation? A. I have been involved in agricultural cooperative movements for a long time, but there has never been a more challenging time than … Continue reading

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Gulf Japan Food Fund invests in new bakery chain in Dubai to expand food and agricultural exports from Japan

TOKYO, Aug. 2 – On August 1, 2017, the Gulf Japan Food Fund (GJFF), a private equity fund established by the Central Cooperative Bank for Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (the Norinchukin Bank), Mizuho Bank, and other investors, said that it invested in Yamanote Atelier Restaurant, a firm developing a new bakery business in Dubai, the U.A.E, in July this year. Yamanote Atelier Restaurant is a new bakery chain created around the concept of “Japanese bakery.” It emphasizes high quality and food safety and imports ingredients such as wheat and beverage from Japan. This was the first investment made through the fund. The investors including the Norinchukin Bank anticipate that the … Continue reading

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Chairman of Japan’s Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives says safeguard on frozen beef imports is necessary to protect livestock industry

TOKYO, Aug. 3 – Chairman of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, known as JA-ZENCHU, Choe Okuno, commented on Japan’s latest safeguard on frozen beef imports from the U.S. and other countries. “The safeguard was imposed automatically by the laws. It’s necessary in order to protect domestic farmers and promote the livestock industry in Japan,” he said. The emergency tariffs on beef imports are triggered when quarterly beef import volume exceeds 117% of that of the previous year. It’s the first time for the safeguard to be imposed on imported beef in 14 years. The Japanese government will raise its tariff on frozen beef from the U.S., Canada, and New … Continue reading

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