【News】 MAFF taking leadership in promoting flow of human resources from private sector into agriculture through talent matching system (Oct. 25, 2016)

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) set up “Council for Promotion of Talent Matching in Agricultural Sector and Economic Circles” on October 24. The Council, main members of which are JA-ZENCHU, an apex body of agricultural cooperative (JA) organizations in Japan, Japan Agricultural Corporations Association (JACA), and Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN), is expected to play a vital role in recruiting human resources from private enterprises into a farm sector of agricultural corporations, JAs, and other related organizations. MAFF hopes that the agricultural sector will be active in recruiting talents from the private sector to make use of their technical knowledge on management and marketing as well as their personal … Continue reading

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【Opinion】How to stop the TPP : Let`s fight together with consumer (Oct. 17,2016)

[By James R. Simpson, Affiliate Professor and Senior Fellow Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service Washington State University] It is understandable that interest in fighting TPP has diminished now that the Abe administration has reorganized—essentially decimated—Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-ZENCHU) as part of national restructuring. But, I argue, there are ways for Japanese farmers to win the battle over TPP. One essence of my argument is that internationally farmers’ organizations have been able to uphold the principle that every country has a right to protect and support production of food for its own consumption. Consider that the WTO round of Doha trade negotiations is stalled … Continue reading

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【News】Japanese native breed cotton production on increase, promoting use of abandoned lands and creation of new local specialty (Sep. 24, 2016)

Futon shop owner and farmers collaborate in growing Japanese breed cotton and supporting use of recycled cotton in Toyama Prefecture The very first raw “yumigahama” Japanese breed cotton harvesting began at an abandoned rice field in one mountainous farm area in Matsukura, Uotsu, Toyama Prefecture. It’s a part of the project named “Wata Hajime,” which literally means “starting with cotton” and aims at starting and expanding the production of Japanese native breed cotton in the prefecture so that the product which is free from bird and animal damage can create jobs and a place to gather for local female and senior workers. The project also focuses attentions to the increasing … Continue reading

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【News】 SBS imported rice transacted because of its “cheaper” price: Trading houses reply to interview-based survey by Japan Agri. News (Oct. 24, 2016)

The Japan Agricultural News implemented an interview-based survey on transactions of rice imported under “simultaneous buy and sell” (SBS) system, and revealed that all of trading houses, responding to the survey, took part in the so-called SBS rice business because “imported rice is cheaper than domestically-produced rice.” The survey was carried out from October 13 to 21 for all of the 24 trading firms with qualifications for bidding under the SBS system, out of which 11 firms responded. With regard to prices of transacted SBS rice, most common response was “SBS imported rice costs 20 percent less than domestic rice.” On October 7, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries … Continue reading

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【News】 Halloween sales market expanding to record of 134.5 billion yen in 2016: New entrants in the market increase targeting “at-home consumption” on Halloween Day (Oct. 23, 2016)

A Halloween sales battle is getting heated in Japan toward a world-wide Halloween festival to be held on October 31. Increased public recognition of the Halloween has been continuously expanding the Halloween sales market, which now exceeds 100 billion yen. Halloween is becoming the most popular festival next to Christmas among the people of the country. A number of young people celebrate Halloween by joining costume parades in many streets of big cities. On the other hand, people have increasingly celebrated Halloween by tasting autumn foods with their family members at home. With a view to keeping up such trend, producers of related commodities and retailers are making efforts to … Continue reading

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