Eyeing new markets, Japan’s researchers develop fragrant rice

TOKYO, Feb. 18 — A group of researchers has launched a new Japanese rice, called “Princess of Fragrance” that should appeal to people at home as well as abroad. The Tottori Prefecture Agricultural Research Center offered rice tasting, along with some new recipes that highlights culinary opportunities, at Mistukoshi department store in Tokyo’s upmarket Ginza shopping district on Feb. 17. The researchers spent around 10 years developing the fragrant rice and started a sales trial of the 2017 produce. “The rice has a nutty and rich flavor and it boasts a chewy texture,” said Hiroki Nakamura, who developed Princess of Fragrance with his team at the research center. “This rice … Continue reading

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【Series】 Our Noh no Ikebana : “Combine new and old agricultural styles,” says Shizuyo Yagasaki, 68, from Nishi-Tokyo, Tokyo (March 2)

One of the members of the Tokyo group of Noh no Ikebana invited me to join the activity. I’m thoroughly moved by the way they appreciate the uniqueness of each piece of vegetables, even those in irregular sizes and shapes, and use all of them effectively as part of their arrangements. So I launched the club in Tanashi city to let more people know about Noh no Ikebana. The club in Tanashi started holding exhibitions in 2011 at an open space at the entrance of Nishi-Tokyo City Hall. From those who saw the displays, we have feedbacks like “It’s nice to see those classic farm tools,” and “I haven’t seen … Continue reading

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Japan wins in Fukushima-related seafood dispute with S. Korea

TOKYO, Feb. 23 — Japan has won a victory against the South Korea in a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that found fault with Seoul’s import bans on Japanese seafood and additional testing requirements imposed on Japanese agricultural foods, following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. South Korea’s import bans were justified right after the nuclear meltdown, a WTO dispute panel said on Feb. 22. But continuing them violated the WTO’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, the panel ruled. If Seoul appeals the WTO’s decision, it can keep the restriction measures in place until the world body makes a final ruling, which may come in the second half of the year … Continue reading

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ZEN-NOH to launch US beef processing plant, propose new ways of cooking wagyu beef to boost beef export from Japan

TOKYO, Feb. 23 – National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH) announced on February 22, 2018, a plan to run its meat processing plant in the suburb of Los Angels to bolster beef export from Japan. It will allow the country, which used to export beef in large blocks only to local wholesalers, to locally cut meat for steaks and other purposes and sell to local supermarkets, restaurants and even directly to consumers on the Internet shopping site. ZEN-NOH also plans to introduce new recipes with sliced meat or portions unfamiliar to US consumers in order to stimulate the demand. According to ZEN-NOH, this will be the first beef processing … Continue reading

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Japan’s strawberry growers prepare Chinese New Year treats

NARA, Feb. 16 — For the Chinese New Year, a group of Japanese fruit growers took some steps to expand exports of their local produce: Giant and sweet strawberries. The fruit growers in Nara prefecture sell one strawberry at between 600 and 800 yen, displayed in a luxury gift box. They plan to sell 15,000 pieces, and project sales of 10 million yen this season. Fruit is generally expensive in Japan, and people often buy melons, grapes and strawberries as a gift for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and parties. Now the growers aim to export such treats to Asian neighbors. According to the growers, one Japanese-grown strawberry can … Continue reading

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