Large-scale commercial cultivation of Shinano Gold yellow apples developed in Nagano Prefecture will start in South Tyrol, Italy. Nagano Prefectural Government has signed a license contract with the South Tyrolean Fruit Growers’ Cooperatives (VOG) and the Val Venosta Cooperative Association (VI-P) on March 24, 2016. Italian-grown Shinano Gold apples will be sold in Europe and surrounding areas and the prefecture will receive license fees. Nagano expects that this will also help it to promote Nagano Brand in Europe. Shinano Gold is a medium-late season apple variety with well-balanced sour-sweetness. It was developed by Nagano Prefecture in 1999. The two European fruit grower’s associations expect Shinano Gold to become popular in … Continue reading →

Landscape paintings of a 33-year-old farmer-cum-painter in Kasai-shi, Hyogo Prefecture, are drawing attentions for their fresh interpretation of the harshness and the preciousness of the nature that the painter knows from his days as a farmer. The young farmer and landscape painter, Kazuya Sakurai, draws fruits and vegetables by the window and farmland looking through the window on one canvas. He paints out of his imagination using many very small dots. He came up with this style without receiving any formal art education. He once was a shut-in, or hikikomori in Japanese, and isolated himself from any social contact after becoming truant and dropping out of senior high school. However, … Continue reading →