Japanese cooperatives to launch new organization in April to tackle problems in rural communities

TOKYO, Feb. 28 – Japan’s cooperatives, including agricultural, fisheries and consumers coops, have announced that they will launch on April 1 a new organization Japan Co-operative Alliance (JCA) to step up cooperation in tackling issues related to rural communities. JCA will be created based on the existing Japan Joint Committee of Co-operatives (JJC) consisting of 17 cooperatives associations such as the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-ZENCHU) and Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union. It will work to raise awareness of cooperatives’ roles and values by supporting collaboration by cooperative associations nationwide and making policy proposals. “By encouraging different cooperatives to reinforce coordination, we hope to contribute to creating better lives and … Continue reading

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Government mulls accepting skilled foreign workers in agriculture

TOKYO, Feb. 21 – The government has begun considering accepting more foreign workers in industries with increasingly serious labor shortage including the agricultural sector. In order to secure workers, it plans to ease conditions for allowing foreign people with advanced skills to stay in the country to work. However, there are also concerns that the move could open up farm work to foreign workers in general, giving impact to employment of Japanese people. Addressing the Economic and Fiscal Policy Council meeting on Feb. 20, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said there is an urgent need to review the system of accepting foreign people with professional and technical skills. Specific measures regarding … Continue reading

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Demand of imported rice for food service is strong in Japan

TOKYO, Feb. 21 — Japan’s purchases of imported rice have reached the limit of 100,000 metric tons through the simultaneous buy and sell (SBS) tendering system in fiscal 2017. The purchases highlight the shortage of cheap Japanese-grown rice for the food service industry. The fifth round of the SBS tenders in the fiscal year ending March 31 was held on Feb 20. A total of 14,898 metric tons of imported rice from all origins was successfully bid during the auction, fulfilling the target of 100,000 metric tons, the agriculture ministry said. Of those tons, the U.S. was the largest supplier with a market share of 58 percent, followed by Australia … Continue reading

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Japanese MPs oppose US renegotiating TPP; govt keeps silent

TOKYO, Feb. 22 — A group of Japanese MPs have reaffirmed their opposition to  the government renegotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with the United States. The MPs from the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who formed a group to protect the nation’s interests in the TPP held a meeting on Feb. 21. “TPP was a result of long and complex negotiations,” said Taku Eto, who chaired the meeting. “After simply dumping it, how could they (the U.S.) come back to unravel the whole process?” The move came as U.S. President Donald Trump said in January that he might consider rejoining the trade pact, if he could get a “better deal” … Continue reading

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Tourists’ spending on foods in Japan hits a record high in 2017

TOKYO, Feb. 12 — Overseas tourists’ spending on foods in Japan surged to a record high in 2017, with the growing worldwide popularity of traditional Japanese cuisine, called washoku. While visiting Japan, overseas tourists spent a record 345.6 billion yen in 2017, up 19% from a year earlier, preliminary estimates from the agriculture ministry showed. Tourists’ spending on Japanese snacks totaled 158.9 billion yen, while that on other foods including sake, tobacco and beverage products was 186.8 billion yen. The top spenders on foods were from China, South Korea and Taiwan, highlighting Japan’s popularity as a destination for Asian neighbors. There was also a growth in visitors from Hong Kong, … Continue reading

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