Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

DNA testing introduced to protect Kobe beef brands

Hyogo, Sep. 26 – In October this year, beef producers and sellers in Hyogo Prefecture introduced DNA testing as part of efforts to make the control over Kobe and Tajima brand high-reputation beef more stringent. Six certified Kobe beef slaughterhouses now collect meat samples when a Kobe cow is slaughtered and send the samples to a newly-established meat center in Himeji City. The center will mark the samples with unique identification numbers and store them, so that people can check meat in the market against the DNA of the stored samples. The identification numbers will be printed on the meat certificates. Butcher’s shops or restaurants can check if the labels … Continue reading

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Abe’s fourth Cabinet picks Taku Eto as new MAFF minister to lead steady development of agricultural policy reform

TOKYO, Sep. 12 – The fourth Abe Cabinet was formed on November 11. It appointed Taku Eto as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Eto, a first-time minister, used to be an assistant to the prime minister Shinzo Abe. He is an expert of an agriculture and forestry policy in LDP. Abe intends to strengthen efforts to address Japan-US trade agreement, swine fever and all other urgent agricultural issues and drive the reform of agricultural policy with the appointment of his close aide. Eto indicated that he would consider reviewing the outline of the policy regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), taking into account the Japan-US trade agreement. At … Continue reading

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Japan’s farm minister to allow swine fever vaccination

TOKYO, Sep. 21 – In the battle against swine fever, Taku Eto, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, has decided to start preparing for the change the country’s epidemic prevention policy. After the policy change, the country is going to introduce a new vaccination program for pigs grown at pig farms, he said. The revision will make it possible to vaccinate pigs based on the permission by a governor of each prefecture. However, there will be several issues to be clarified, such as target areas, and the ministry intends to discuss with experts and representatives of prefectures to establish a concrete plan. The revision is expected to take … Continue reading

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Typhoon Faxai’s record-strong wind hits farmers in Kanto region

CHIBA, Sep. 10 – A strong typhoon Faxai landed Chiba, near Tokyo, before 5 a.m. It was the largest typhoon landed in the Kanto region and registered a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 57.5 meters per second in Chuo Ward, Chiba City, 49 meters in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, and 43.2 meters in Ota Ward, Tokyo. The powerful storm slammed pears, kiwis and many other ripe fruits and knocked down greenhouses, causing devastating damage on farmers. Local agricultural cooperatives (JAs) were swamped by the work to confirm the loss. From September 8 to 9, the massive typhoon Faxai traveled over the Izu Island chain and the Kanto region before it … Continue reading

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Japan’s hen egg exports up in 1st half of 2019, demand for hot-spring eggs growing

TOKYO, Aug. 20 – Japan’s export of hen eggs is now strong. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan’s export of shell chicken eggs in the first six months of 2019 amounted approximately 1 billion yen. It’s 60% higher than the same period last year, which was the highest in the past 30 years. In Hong Kong, the primary market for eggs from Japan, both the sales of raw eggs for supermarkets and the demand for onsen tamago (hot-spring eggs) are growing. Onsen tamago is a half-boiled egg with soft and creamy yoke and half-done white. It’s become popular among consumers outside Japan as it is … Continue reading

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