Category Archives: Cooperatives

Farmers’ attempt to solve the problem faced by fishermen is now being made to achieve a successful result at Tsubetsu-cho located in the north-eastern part of Hokkaido. The keyword of their joint project is a “starfish.” The farmer’s organization is taking an initiative to produce the compost for local farmers with the starfish which are natural enemies of the scallops. The scallop is one of the major specialties of the Tsubetsu town, but the scallop culture in the sea has been damaged by the starfish. This joint project has been carried out by three partners of Tsubetsu Agricultural Cooperative (JA), Abashiri Fisheries Cooperative and Nishi-Abashiri Fisheries Cooperative since 2013. The … Continue reading →

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) will carry out a special campaign to promote publicity activities for Japanese cuisines centering on “wagyu” (Japanese beef) in Italy from June 16 in cooperation with JA-ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives), an apex body of agricultural cooperative (JA) organizations in Japan, and ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations), JA’s business organization at national level. This campaign is to be implemented in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy. The Japanese cuisine PR program will start at the official residence of the Japanese ambassador in Rome on June 16, inviting ambassadors of many countries and other guests … Continue reading →

Washoku Works Inc., established jointly by ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations) headquartered at Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and a comprehensive food corporation, mainly exporting frozen foods produced in Japan, plans to expand the overseas operations of Sushi restaurants in collaboration with Uoriki Co., Ltd., operating wholesale and retail shops of seafood, based at Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo. Washoku Works (literally, Japanese cuisine works) will open an experimental restaurant of Sushi and Japanese cuisines in Singapore by the end of the fiscal 2016. They also aim to take a step to increase sales of Japanese rice and other farm products in overseas markets, with the advantage that the company can supply the high … Continue reading →

A meeting to aim at hastening restoration and recovery from the earthquakes was held at Kumamoto city in Kumamoto prefecture on June 4. More than two thousand people, including farmers, fishers, forest owners, and representatives of agricultural cooperatives (JAs) and other related organizations, participated in the meeting. The participants adopted a resolution to pledge themselves to concentrate their efforts particularly on rehabilitation of their living and business activities so as to achieve early restoration and recovery from the disaster. In the resolution, they also called the Government for its financial support as well as policy implementation for establishing sustainable industries of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Kumamoto prefecture. A number … Continue reading →