Category Archives: Cooperatives

【News】 Prices for Japanese Wagyu calves remain high, hitting hard on cattle fattening farms (Sept. 3, 2014)

  Yuji Hosoda Average price of Japanese Wagyu calves marked JPY553,984 per head in August, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, topping the 500,000 yen mark for 12 consecutive months, according to the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Zen-Noh). The prices are maintained at a level 10 percent higher than a year before. The prices have been posting a year-on-year drop for three consecutive months until July, but increased again in August as the number of marketed cattle marked the year’s lowest of 20,949. Market dealers worry that the recent trend of high sustained prices would be a disaster for the whole beef production industry, as higher … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan agricultural co-operative chief determined to conduct self-reform (Aug. 28, 2014)

  Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), said Wednesday, Aug. 27 that the JA group’s self-reform will become the focus of his second term as the group’s head. “We will soon compile our policies based on the JA group’s own will, taking into account its members’ perspective,” Banzai said during a press conference at Japan National Press Club. In considering measures to reform the group, including revising the system of central and prefectural unions of agricultural co-operatives supervising primary co-ops, he said top priority will be put on increasing agricultural production and income. He stressed that reform measures will be decided in the discussions to … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan agricultural co-operative group firm to open second Japanese BBQ restaurant in Hong Kong (Aug. 22, 2014)

  JA Zen-Noh Meat Foods Ltd., a subsidiary of the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Zen-Noh) which specializes in beef and pork sales, will start a soft opening of the second branch of its Japanese-style barbecue shop in Hong Kong on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui, a major tourist hub on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula with a number of luxury hotels, Japanese Wagyu Yakiniku Pure will offer premium beef dishes targeted at local people and tourists. The restaurant’s grand opening is scheduled on Oct. 1. The first Pure restaurant opened in February last year at Causeway Bay, a fashionable shopping district in Hong … Continue reading

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【Editorial】 JA group’s self-reform should focus on unity and participation of farmers (Aug. 13, 2014)

  The Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu) has set on discussing its own reform plan following the government’s decision to overhaul the JA group. The group is now facing an unprecedented challenge. We believe the keywords for reviewing the JA system is “participation” and “cohesive power.” By actively debating among the group how to transform itself, it should show a constructive path to make itself an organization indispensable for local communities. The JA group must proceed toward maintaining its cohesive power by making this time of crisis an opportunity to work together more closely. It should stick to its basic principles of autonomy, independence and mutual aid as a … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan agricultural co-operative head tells panel to compile farmer-friendly self-reform plan (Aug. 9, 2014)

  Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), asked an advisory council on Friday, Aug. 8, to discuss self-reform of the JA group in response to the government’s plan to restructure the group, taking farmers’ standpoint into consideration. The council should “listen to the voices of co-operative members who engage in farming and (present measures to) cope with future changes as a JA group so that the group can play a significant role (in increasing farmers’ income),” Banzai told council members, according to JA-Zenchu officials. The council, chaired by Kazuo Kimura who heads JAs in Akita Prefecture, is expected to compile an interim report before mid-November, … Continue reading

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