Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

Japanese minister urges transformed farming in NY message

TOKYO, Jan. 6 — Japan’s Agriculture Minister Ken Saito has pledged to implement policies that will bring on-the-ground delivery of an agricultural transformation as his country faces a declining population. During the ministry’s New Year gathering on Jan. 5, Saito cited government’s estimates that the overall population decline in 2017 exceeded more than 400,000 for the first time since records began. “The pace of decline will accelerate and that means domestic food demand will shrink further,” Saito said. “The farming sector is at a crossroads: develop policies to bring transformation or be at the mercy of forces beyond our control.” Saito also noted that the government officials are lacking a … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Japanese minister urges transformed farming in NY message

Miso exports reach record high as Japanese food outlets rise

TOKYO, Jan. 8 — Miso exports increased last year to a new record level, as Japanese restaurants have continued to gain traction across the globe, data from the finance ministry in Tokyo has shown. Miso is a paste made from a mixture of soybeans, rice, barley or other grains fermented with salt and a fungus. It’s typically served as Japanese miso soup, but can be used in marinades and glazes. Japanese miso exports jumped 7.9% to 14,298 metric tons in January-November 2017, compared to the previous year’s record in the same period. It is now expected to reach an annual record of 15,000 tons in 2017 for the first time. … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Miso exports reach record high as Japanese food outlets rise

【Editorial】The United Nations’ Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 offers chance to rethink the future of agriculture (Dec. 27, 2017)

The United Nations has adopted the period between 2019 and 2028 as the Decade of Family Farming. Japan, which is accelerating structural reform including expanding the size of farms, should recognize this global trend and put priority of agricultural policies on family farming. We should make this an opportunity to think about the future directions of agriculture. In 2015, the U.N. member states adopted a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty and hunger as well as protecting the global environment, with specific targets to be achieved by 2030. In achieving the SDGs, this time the members acknowledged the importance of the role of family farms, which produce … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on 【Editorial】The United Nations’ Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 offers chance to rethink the future of agriculture (Dec. 27, 2017)

Shinmei ties up with BreadTalk to export Japan-grown wheat

TOKYO, Dec. 31 — Shinmei Co., Japan’s largest rice wholesaler and owner of  Genki Sushi, has tied up with Singapore’s food and beverage company BreadTalk Group to export wheat grown in Japan to the global market. Kobe-based Shinmei and BreadTalk have set up a joint venture, BTG-Shinmei Venture, with a capital of 3 million Singapore dollars, according to a Dec. 22 press release. BTG holds a 66 percent stake, while Shinmei owns the remaining 34 percent, it said. Shinmei officials said that BreadTalk Group had already started selling some bread that use Japan-grown wheat at its outlets and wants to introduce more items that use high-quality Japanese wheat. BreadTalk Group, … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Shinmei ties up with BreadTalk to export Japan-grown wheat

Agriculture comics making hits in slow-selling manga market, “Wana Girl” by farmer’s son gains followers by describing reality of hunting

TOKYO, Dec. 27 — A farm-grown high school girl’s battle against birds and animals – it’s the theme of a recent hit comic that runs in a Japanese manga magazine called “Dengeki Maoh” since May last year. The comic, “Wana Girl (School girl/animal trapper),” succeeded to get a following and came in a comic book on December 27, 2017. Young people today buy fewer comics and manga magazines, and comic book circulation is falling dramatically. But this is not the case with the comics about farmers and the farm industry and some comics are making hits by focusing on rural farm life which used to be unpopular among young generations … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Agriculture comics making hits in slow-selling manga market, “Wana Girl” by farmer’s son gains followers by describing reality of hunting