Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

Japan’s health ministry gives green light to sale of unrefrigerated tofu in aseptic packaging

TOKYO, July 14 – The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (MHLW) announced the official removal of the ban on the sale of tofu at room temperature in Japan on July 13, 2018. So far, the domestic tofu producers were required to sell only refrigerated products to prevent food poisoning, but now, they can sell unrefrigerated ones if they are “bacteria-free filled tofu” packed in an aseptic container. For some domestic “filled tofu” producers who already sell unrefrigerated products in the export market, the change in the law is expected to provide a boost to expand the market both at home and abroad. On July 13, MHLW revised … Continue reading

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Japan Co-op Alliance to study cooperation effort among co-ops

TOKYO, July 1 — The Japan Co-operative Alliance (JCA) has launched a study group to enhance cooperation among co-operatives, aiming to help the public better understand what a co-operative is. The JCA, which was set up in April, will release its first report on the issue on the day that coincides with the International Day of Cooperatives in July next year. The day, celebrated annually to raise awareness of cooperatives, is held on the first Saturday of July. This year it falls on July 7. In the report, the JCA is expected to put together examples of how to practice cooperation among co-operatives and the power of the co-operative movement. … Continue reading

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Japan lobby group aims to boost home-grown wheat products

TOKYO, June 28 — Japan is seeking to boost the country’s production of wheat and barley by encouraging more wheat and barley farmers to be involved in sales of new products at a new outlet in Tokyo. The National Rice Wheat and Barley Improvement Association has opened a shop for testing sales of new products that use Japanese-grown wheat and barley. The association names the Tokyo shop “Mugi kurabe”. It has a fully-equipped kitchen, a place to display locally-produced new products and seating areas to eat them. The association will offer serving staff and transport costs for small businesses or growers to present their products in the Tokyo outlet. Japanese … Continue reading

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Japanese local farmers go online to sell direct overseas buyers

TOKYO, June 23 — Japan’s agriculture ministry has launched an online shopping site that connects local growers and food makers with overseas buyers directly. In January, the ministry set up the site “Washoku Treasure,” named after the traditional Japanese cuisine, a site that specializes in Japanese-grown foods. It will soon update the site, including simplifying the payment. The site gives overseas restaurant chefs and buyers a way to search for food produced in Japan and buy it directly from Japanese farmers and food makers. In essence, it’s a virtual market with Japanese local foods for sale, from produce to meat to seafood. Japanese growers create lists describing what they’re selling; … Continue reading

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The nightmare remains – July 2018 torrential rain and floods in western Japan

EHIME, OKAYAMA, HIROSHIMA, July 14 – Several consecutive days of torrential rain that hit large parts of western Japan in July caused floods and landslides in a number of areas, with the death toll topping 200 in 14 prefectures. Farmlands and agricultural facilities were severely damaged, with floods killing crops and slopes with fruit trees collapsing. The extent of damage to agriculture is yet to be fully grasped.

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