【Opinion】Arrogance of the world’s superpower (Aug. 15, 2016)

[By Katsuto Uchihashi, economic critic] With less than three months before the United States presidential election, Republican nominee Donald Trump still has not stopped making outrageous remarks. When Trump announced his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election, he was seen only as a minor candidate. However, it was his wild, populist messages that has created a fierce political sensation and propelled his candidacy from the fringes of the race to the summit of the Republican nomination leaderboard. His roars, which made people excited, can be symbolized by his famous remark: “I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall.” … Continue reading

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【News】 Moss’s popularity steadily grew especially among young females: Shimane prefecture to increase moss production (Aug. 30, 2016)

  Mosses are now gaining slowly, but surely, popularity among city people. Gardening service industry has been increasing its demand for mosses replacing lawns in the garden. Mosses are also popular especially among young females as their favorite goods for interior decoration and the like. In Gotsu-shi, Shimane prefecture, farmers and a cosmetic company based at Osaka, president of which comes from the city, jointly established a moss producers’ association to meet growing demands for mosses on contract basis. Only a few examples of such organization are available in the country. Reiji Ishihara, 36, quit his corporate job last year and joined the moss production with his wife, because he … Continue reading

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【News】 Producer’s photo displayed on monitor screen at farmer’s market cash counter provides customers with a feeling of security: JA Chichibu, Saitama prefecture (Aug. 29, 2016)

【News】 Producer’s photo displayed on monitor screen at farmer’s market cash counter provides customers with a feeling of security: JA Chichibu, Saitama prefecture (Aug. 29, 2016) When a two-dimensional barcode (Quick Response Code) of a farm product is read at a cash counter of farmer’s market operated by Chichibu Agricultural Cooperative (JA) in Saitama prefecture, a portrait photograph of the producer comes on the monitor screen with his or her message of “I have grown this crop!” as well as a name of the product and its price. A number of farmer’s markets display a set of member farmers’ photographs on the wall, but few of customers reading producer’s name … Continue reading

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【News】 FY 2017 MAFF’s budget request is 2.6 trillion yen: farm land improvement project 20 % up on FY 2016 (Aug. 26, 2016)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is finalizing its outline request for agriculture, forestry and fisheries-related budgets for FY 2017. The amount of MAFF’s estimated budget request for the next fiscal year totals 2.635 trillion yen, 14 percent up on its budget allocated for FY 2016, while it is almost similar to its budget request for FY 2016. Stakeholders will shift their focus to how the MAFF’s budget request will be met at the final budget compilation this December. MAFF requests the Ministry of Finance to allocate a farm land improvement budget of 355.5 billion yen for its agriculture and rural society consolidation projects, 20 percent more than … Continue reading

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【Opinion】Messages from the wartime generation (Aug. 13, 2016)

[By Kayoko Ebina, writer and essayist] I often hear the phrase “Let’s hope the postwar era lasts for good,” but I hate that idea. The postwar period is dreadful. Because I was a war orphan, the postwar period was to me a lonely battle of life and death. Wearing sneakers with holes and shorts which were so tight that my thighs hurt, I wandered about in the burned ruins searching for food and the remains of my family. War should never happen. We must never start a war no matter what. I want to say this to all the people in the world from the bottom of my heart. Let’s … Continue reading

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