Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

TOKYO, Dec. 11 — The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (JA ZEN-NOH) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Dec. 10 held a dinner in Tokyo showcasing washoku Japanese cuisine, aimed at boosting exports of farm produce. Some 100 guests, mainly foreign ambassadors to Japan and their spouses, were invited to the dinner at the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace in Tokyo’s Minato Ward and were served with a full-course dinner of Kyo Kaiseki — Kyoto’s traditional local cuisine — using Japan-made agricultural products including Kyoto’s heirloom vegetables. The dinner was organized to promote washoku and locally sourced ingredients. The government has set a goal of increasing … Continue reading →

KYOTO, Dec. 5 – In the Shino district of Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, a traditional Japanese vegetable, Shogoin turnip, is now at its peak shipping season. It is the largest turnip in Japan that can weigh up to 5 kilograms. At this time of year, the Kameoka Basin, a producer of this sweet, crispy turnip, is covered with a thick fog and frost in the early morning. It is said that the significant variance in temperature between day and night is key to the sweetness of this turnip. Yoshinori Kimura, a 55-year-old turnip grower, was busy washing, sorting, and packing freshly harvested turnips in the workspace of his 2-hectare farm. … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Nov. 21 — Japan-made cheeses are gaining increasing global attention, with the number of medals won by such cheeses at the annual World Cheese Awards, the largest international cheese competition, increasing by 50 percent compared with five years ago. They are highly evaluated for their good appearance and rich milk flavor. A total of 4,786 cheeses from 47 countries entered this year’s contest, and they were assessed on factors such as the appearance, mouthfeel and flavor. Fifty-four cheeses were entered from Japan and a cheese made using Hokkaido milk was chosen among the 100 Super Gold award-winning cheeses. Aside from the Super Gold, 20 other Japanese cheeses won a … Continue reading →

SAITAMA, Nov. 17 – Producers of potted Princettia in Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture, are in the busiest season of the year to cater to the needs of people looking for gifts for Japan’s “Good  Day” or a must-have Christmas decoration. A greenhouse at a flower farm in Honjo, Shiobara Kaen, is filled with the colorful Princettia flowers. The flower farm owner, Shigeo Shiobara, grows five varieties, including the most popular Princettia Pure White and Princettia Hot Pink of eye-catching bright colors. Princettia is a new breed of Poinsettia, is heat tolerant, and has a gorgeous appearance. Its floral symbolism is “compassion,” and that makes it a perfect gift item. Shiobara’s … Continue reading →

AOMORI, No. 15 — JA Tsugaru Hirosaki, an agricultural cooperative in Aomori Prefecture, will sell apples in a gift box with globally popular virtual singer Hatsune Miku printed on it. It is the first time for a farm coop in Japan to collaborate with Hatsune Miku, and JA Tsugaru Hirosaki hopes the move will help boost consumption of apples among younger generations. The gift box comes with a photograph-like illustration of Hatsune Miku holding an apple and smiling against a backdrop of an apple orchard and Mount Iwaki, a mountain located in Aomori Prefecture. The farm coop’s online shopping website started accepting pre-orders on Nov. 15 for the gift box … Continue reading →