Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

【News】 Green tea consumption soars after reports on its effects to reduce mortality risk (May 14, 2015)

More people are buying green tea leaves after an announcement by a team of researchers from the National Cancer Center and other institutions that those who drink green tea daily have less risk of dying from cerebral vascular and respiratory diseases compared with those who barely drink the beverage. The number of health-conscious customers increased sharply at stores in Tokyo, and dealers and promoters of green tea hope to make use of the chance to revive the popularity of green tea. Cha no Kiminoen, an established tea store in Ameya Yokocho market street in Tokyo’s Taito Ward, is receiving new customers after the release of the research results. Many young … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture | Tagged | Comments Off on 【News】 Green tea consumption soars after reports on its effects to reduce mortality risk (May 14, 2015)

【Opinion】 Lobbyists hold key to passage of trade bill in U.S. Congress (May 9, 2015)

  Toshiki Kayama The United States Congress is divided over the so-called trade promotion authority (TPA) bill, which is at the center of attention among people in the trade field as whether it is passed or not largely affects the fate of upcoming negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. At the same time, the ongoing confusion in the Congress over the bill gave us the opportunity to get a glimpse of what has attracted little attention until now – the decision making process in the U.S., which involves President Barack Obama, Congress, special interest groups and, last but not least, lobbyists who try to influence legislation on behalf of … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture, Trade Talks | Tagged | Comments Off on 【Opinion】 Lobbyists hold key to passage of trade bill in U.S. Congress (May 9, 2015)

【News】 Gachapon by farmers’ association has pickled plum in capsule! (May 9, 2015)

Insert two 100 yen coins into the machine and turn the handle to get the product. But please note it’s not a toy but a real umeboshi, a Japanese pickled plum, in a capsule. This amazing experience is brought by Gachapon coin-operated capsule umeboshi (not toy) vending machines, which are introduced by Kishu Minabe Umeboshi (Pickled Plum) Producers Association based in Minabe-cho, Wakayama Prefecture. The association introduced them in order to encourage children to eat more umeboshi, and accordingly to recover its consumption. It seems that they are doing a good job. The first capsule umeboshi vending machine was introduced in late January quite successfully. So now, you can find … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives, Food & Agriculture, Photos | Tagged | Comments Off on 【News】 Gachapon by farmers’ association has pickled plum in capsule! (May 9, 2015)

【Opinion】 Fragile”alliance of hope”could be a pie in the sky (May 5, 2015)

Senior special writer, Masaru Yamada Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to Japan on Sunday, May 3, after a visit to the United States which included a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama and a speech at the U.S. Congress. Abe seems satisfied with the fact that he and Obama could reaffirm the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance. However, Abe’s remarks made in Washington indicate nothing but Japan’s intention to follow the U.S. global strategy like a shadow in every aspect from foreign and military policies to economics. For two months in the end of last year, the writer interviewed people from farm lobbying groups in Washington concerning the Trans-Pacific Partnership … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives, Food & Agriculture, Trade Talks | Tagged | Comments Off on 【Opinion】 Fragile”alliance of hope”could be a pie in the sky (May 5, 2015)

【News】 Carp-shaped streamers fly over rice paddies in cool breeze (May 3, 2015)

Kotaro Yamada – Iki-iki Yamada Koinobori Festival (Katori-shi, Chiba Prefecture) – In late April every year, the village in Katori-shi, Chiba Prefecture, turns colorful with rows of 200 carp-shaped streamers flying over rice paddies and local farmers doing their usual jobs, puddling soil and planting rice. The scene is already one of the early-summer features of the village. “I feel so good when planting rice sometimes looking up at Koinobori,” said Toshihiro Sugaya, 62, as he stopped his hands and smiled. He is a local farmer whose paddies are right under the great Koinobori display. The villagers of Katori-shi or the village previously called Yamada-cho decorate the area with Koinobori streamers … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives, Food & Agriculture, Photos | Tagged | Comments Off on 【News】 Carp-shaped streamers fly over rice paddies in cool breeze (May 3, 2015)