Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

HYOGO, Jun.9 – A lady in traditional long-sleeve kimono had a beef sword in hand and swiftly cut a block of Wagyu beef like an artist. Marika Watanabe, 28, is a Japanese master butcher who travels worldwide to present her wagyu cutting demonstrations as a “wagyu kimono butcher.” She often talks with Wagyu beef producers in Japan as well. “I know the farmers raise cows with great care. I respect their efforts, so I must derive full value from their wagyu meat,” she said. There was a big block of Kobe beef sitting in front of her. She quickly tucked up her sleeves with a sash and cut the meat … Continue reading →

TOKYO, June 6 — The Livestock Improvement Association of Japan announced on June 5 that Fukunohime, a Japanese black breeding bull kept by the association, died of acute heart failure on June 2 at the age of 10 years and 10 months. Fukunohime has been known as a “super breeding bull” for its ability to produce calves with high growth performance and carcass yield. His progenies have been the price setter at calf trading markets nationwide and achieved good results at national carcass contests. The association says there are not enough semen stocks left to meet the current demand. Fukunohime was born in Otawara, Tochigi Prefecture. His father is Yoshinokuni … Continue reading →

TOKYO, May 8 — Japan is seeing a pickup in demand for brand wagyu beef along with a sharp increase in foreign tourists, brought about by eased border controls. Some yakiniku grilled beef restaurants say 80 percent of their customers are travelers from foreign countries. The high demand for wagyu beef is having a positive impact also on markets for beef carcasses and calves nationwide which have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, leading to growing expectations in breeding regions for a further boost. 80 percent of customers In the Hida-Takayama district in Gifu Prefecture, a popular tourist destination for travelers at home and abroad, restaurants and meat … Continue reading →

HIROSHIMA, Apr. 8 – “Citrus Supporter” program led by the Onomichi Tourist Association in Hiroshima Prefecture has become a successfully model to help citrus farm operators on the islands of Setouchi Inland Sea. The citrus section of a local agricultural cooperative association in Hiroshima Prefecture, JA Hiroshima, also supports the program by gathering Cito-supo (a shorter name for Citrus Supporters) for farmers facing workforce shortages. The program has approximately 130 registered members, many from Hiroshima and some from other prefectures. The association intends to make it a new tourist attraction, bring more people, and revitalize the regional economy. The scheme was launched in January 2022. Many citrus farmers on Setouchi … Continue reading →

CHIBA, April 3 — JAS, an agricultural production corporation in Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture, began growing strawberries in New Zealand where seasons are opposite. The corporation aims to realize year-round supply of strawberries by producing them abroad during summer when domestic yield is low. It manages the crops remotely from Japan using its own environmental control system. JAS grows strawberries including the Benihoppe and Oi C Berry varieties on its 1.4-hectare farm with the annual yield of around 70 tons. It ties up with farms in four locations nationwide to engage in other businesses such as sales of seedlings and agritourism. At all of the farms, including the one in New … Continue reading →