Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

Japanese traders not troubled by frozen beef import safeguard

TOKYO, July 28 — Japanese trading companies have said the impact of the frozen beef import safeguard would be limited, partly because they built up U.S. frozen beef inventories. They had anticipated the triggering of the safeguard due to strong beef imports in recent months. The data by the finance ministry shows that Japan’s frozen beef imports rose 15% in January-May this year from the same period a year ago, with an 18 % surge in U.S. imports, while Australian imports showed a 9 percent increase. From Aug. 01, Japan was to raise the tariff to 50 percent from its bound tariff of 38.5 percent, which Tokyo is tied to … Continue reading

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‘Nishio Matcha’ granted first trademark in overseas tea market

NISHIO, July 30 — Nishio Matcha, finely ground Japanese green tea, has been granted a trademark for the brand name by Taiwan, its first overseas registration at a time when fake matcha has been on the rise in markets across Asia and in the United States. The trademark registration aims to help the traditional product from central Japan attract new markets seeking high-quality and healthy foods. With its health benefits, matcha has been popular and used in everything including lattes, cupcakes and ice cream. The brand logo illustrates a green deep tea bowl and a bamboo tea whisk, with English letters saying “Nishio Matcha.” The Nishio Tea Cooperative, a group … Continue reading

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Japan’s farm industry suffering severe workforce shortage

TOKYO, July 30 – With Japan’s jobs-to-applicants ratio hitting higher levels than during the bubble economy years, farms are facing a serious labor shortage. The ratio in the agriculture industry has continuously been increasing, marking higher levels than other industrial sectors. While the industry is in need of workers as many younger farmers are expanding their business and more agricultural corporations are being set up, the tight job market spreading throughout industrial sectors is making it difficult for farms to hire workers even for short-term part-time works. The situation is so severe that it could have a grave impact on farmers trying to maintain or expand their businesses. The active … Continue reading

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Sushi Big Ferris Wheel and Noodle Slider giving new twists to summer dining at home

Tokyo, July 27 ― Toys can spice up your eating with kids and relatives during long summer holidays. So, Takara Tomy A.R.T.S in Katsushika, Tokyo, a division of a Japanese famous toy manufacturer, Takara Tomy, is now showing a keen interest in developing toys for dining tables, with amazing outcomes like a big wheel for sushi and a water slide for somen noodles, both looking and entertaining people like attractions of fun parks. Sky Party Sushi Big Ferris Wheel is a toy released on July 20, 2017. At the cost of merely 10,778 yen, you’ll get your own Ferris wheel for your sushi to go round and round. What’s more, … Continue reading

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Natto sales hit record, once again powering as healthy food

TOKYO, July 16 — Growth in sales of fermented soybeans, or naotto, has rocketed over the past few years, as Japanese consumers are getting more conscious of healthy eating, transforming once the soul food into the country’s healthy food. Typically, natto is served as part of a Japanese breakfast style, which includes rice, miso soup and grilled fish. Notoriously, natto stinks — like cheese or old socks — with its web of sticky strings when you mix it. The sales of natto in 2016 rose 16% from a year ago to a record 214 billion yen, on the back of a higher price range of Japanese-made soybeans. Natto that used … Continue reading

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