Category Archives: Cooperatives

【Opinion】 Mounting pressure on mutual aid societies (Feb. 24, 2016)

Yoichi Tashiro, professor of agricultural economics at Otsuma Women’s University The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan has released this year’s report on mutual aid societies, or kyosai. The ACCJ has long been attacking kyosai, but in 2014, the chamber focused on the Japan agricultural co-operatives (JA) group’s credit business, proposing that it be put under the supervision of the Financial Services Agency. The chamber said it will work with the Japanese government and the Regulatory Reform Council to support such “reform.” The chamber’s proposal of achieving a level playing field between farm co-ops and financial institutions regulated by the Financial Services Agency has been realized through the revised law … Continue reading

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【News】 JA Youth Association to strengthen farm policy representation activities (Feb. 18, 2016)

National Council of Agricultural Co-operative Youth Associations (JA-zenseikyo) held its 62th convention in Tokyo on Feb. 16-17. More than 1,500 young farmers, representing youth associations of agricultural co-operatives (JA) throughout the country, took part in the meeting. At the final session of the two-day meeting, those young farmers adopted a declaration of the convention, “Bring together wisdom and action of young farmers!,” emphasizing their renewed determination not only to make efforts to stabilize their farm managements, but also to enhance their agricultural industry so that the following generation can take it over as an attractive industry. A “young farmers’ views contest” was organized at the convention, in which participants shared … Continue reading

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【Editorial】 What challenges are Prime Minister Shinzo Abe really facing? (Jan. 23, 2016)

  “We will resolutely take on challenges, no matter how difficult the issue might be,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during his key policy speech delivered before the Diet, expressing his determination to tackle issues faced by the nation and come up with answers. Giving special focus on the farm sector, Abe stressed the positive economic impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement and pledged to boost new agricultural policies. However, we cannot deny that a large gap exists between Abe’s stance and that of the farming industry. Rather than listening to hopes and dreams without real solutions, farmers are waiting eagerly for a specific roadmap based on hard realities. … Continue reading

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【News】 “We care, and cook for all” French restaurant in Shizuoka Prefecture making all people’s dream come true (Jan. 21, 2015)

  Shokuraku Kobo in Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a French restaurant which cares very much about older and disabled people. Using local vegetables bought at the farmers’ market of Japan Agricultural Co-operative (JA) Topia-Hamamatsu, it cooks beautiful French “care foods” or dishes prepared specifically for the customers who need special care for eating. It opened in 2009 as an authentic French restaurant where care givers and receivers can enjoy dining out together. Since then, it’s always crowded with people from not only from Shizuoka Prefecture but also from other prefectures. The restaurant is run by a 64-year-old owner chef, Yoshinori Furuhashi, who used to be a master chef at one … Continue reading

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【News】 Agricultural organizations launch council to promote use of home-made farm products in 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Jan. 20, 2016)

  Agricultural organizations were expected to launch a council on Thursday, Jan. 21, to discuss the issue of procurement standards for food products to be used in facilities for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics such as athletes’ quarters. The organizations, including the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), Japan Livestock Industry Association and Japan Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Association, plan to submit a proposal to the farm ministry and the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as they start discussing the standards later this year. The Council for the Promotion of Sustainable Japanese Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Products to promote the use of sustainably-grown local agricultural … Continue reading

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