Monthly Archives: January 2016

【News】 Increased use of high quality rice for cooking specific cuisines (Jan. 26, 2016)

Posted on 2016-01-26 by The Japan Agricultural News

Many restaurants now increasingly select the best rice respectively for dishes such as curry rice and risotto, as Sushi bars use special types of rice suitable for Sushi. “Production of rice with characteristic features has enabled us to increase our sales,” said a representative of a risotto rice supplier, an agricultural corporation called Farming Staff in Kashiwazaki-shi, Niigata Prefecture. The corporation is making an ambitious plan to expand the rice cultivation. “Hiroo no Curry,” a popular curry food restaurant in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, serves their guests with a primary ingredient of “Karei-mai” rice produced in Myoko-shi and its neighboring towns, Niigata Prefecture. “Karei-mai” means “elegant dancing,” while its pronunciation inclines consumers … Continue reading →

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【Editorial】 What challenges are Prime Minister Shinzo Abe really facing? (Jan. 23, 2016)

Posted on 2016-01-23 by The Japan Agricultural News

  “We will resolutely take on challenges, no matter how difficult the issue might be,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during his key policy speech delivered before the Diet, expressing his determination to tackle issues faced by the nation and come up with answers. Giving special focus on the farm sector, Abe stressed the positive economic impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement and pledged to boost new agricultural policies. However, we cannot deny that a large gap exists between Abe’s stance and that of the farming industry. Rather than listening to hopes and dreams without real solutions, farmers are waiting eagerly for a specific roadmap based on hard realities. … Continue reading →

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【News】 “We care, and cook for all”　French restaurant in Shizuoka Prefecture making all people’s dream come true (Jan. 21, 2015)

Posted on 2016-01-21 by The Japan Agricultural News

  Shokuraku Kobo in Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a French restaurant which cares very much about older and disabled people. Using local vegetables bought at the farmers’ market of Japan Agricultural Co-operative (JA) Topia-Hamamatsu, it cooks beautiful French “care foods” or dishes prepared specifically for the customers who need special care for eating. It opened in 2009 as an authentic French restaurant where care givers and receivers can enjoy dining out together. Since then, it’s always crowded with people from not only from Shizuoka Prefecture but also from other prefectures. The restaurant is run by a 64-year-old owner chef, Yoshinori Furuhashi, who used to be a master chef at one … Continue reading →

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【News】 Tottori firm sells pink-colored curry sauce, soy sauce, ketchup and mayonnaise to promote the region (Jan. 21, 2016)

Posted on 2016-01-21 by The Japan Agricultural News

  Pink-colored foods, sold by Brilliant Associates, a food processing firm based in the city of Tottori in Tottori Prefecture, are attracting customers at home and abroad. Pink curry sauce, soy sauce, ketchup and mayonnaise colored by locally-grown red beetroots are gaining popularity as gifts because of their bright color. As Tottori is known as one of the largest curry sauce consuming prefecture in the nation, the firm developed the curry sauce Pink Karei to attract more visitors to the area. It started serving the curry at Café Oenokian, its restaurant in Tottori. Packaged ready-made curry sauce is also sold at 980 yen. Brilliant Associates entrusts production of red beetroots, … Continue reading →

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【News】 Agricultural organizations launch council to promote use of home-made farm products in 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Jan. 20, 2016)

Posted on 2016-01-20 by The Japan Agricultural News

  Agricultural organizations were expected to launch a council on Thursday, Jan. 21, to discuss the issue of procurement standards for food products to be used in facilities for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics such as athletes’ quarters. The organizations, including the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), Japan Livestock Industry Association and Japan Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Association, plan to submit a proposal to the farm ministry and the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as they start discussing the standards later this year. The Council for the Promotion of Sustainable Japanese Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Products to promote the use of sustainably-grown local agricultural … Continue reading →

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