Japan’s JA youth shares motivations during annual meeting

TOKYO, Feb. 20 ― The Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) Youth group has kicked off an annual meeting in Tokyo, pledging to protect its present as well as future and lay the foundations for the next generation. JA Youth group is an important instrument for rallying direct farmer engagement in the country’s agriculture policy. The annual meeting will continue till Feb. 20.

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Niigata to host a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers in May

NIIGATA, Feb. 18 ― Japan is stepping up efforts to host a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers on May 11 and 12 in Niigata, Niigata prefecture. Agriculture Minister Takamori Yoshikawa made a visit on Feb. 17 to the G20 conference site in Niigata and exchanged views with Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi and Niigata Mayor Yaichi Nakahara. During the G20 agriculture ministers’ meeting, Niigata prefecture is expected to demonstrate its automated farm systems such as unmanned tractors. Osaka will host the G20 summit in June.

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Japan’s JA Bank unveils new animal character image

TOKYO, Feb. 23 ― The Norinchukin Bank, the financial arm of Japan’s agricultural cooperatives, also known as JA Bank, has unveiled its new animal character image, Yorizo. Yorizo is merging the two Japanese words of “yorisou” or being considerate of someone’s feelings and “zou” or elephants. It is designed to alight JA Bank’s new business strategy of listening to its clients carefully.

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Okayama Prefecture to strengthen protection of intellectual property rights abroad for its fruit brands

OKAYAMA, March 18 – The Okayama Prefectural Government will strengthen protection of intellectual property rights abroad for brands of peaches and grapes developed in the prefecture, amid the increase of usurped patent applications filed outside Japan. Starting in fiscal 2019, the prefectural government will conduct research on cases of infringement of intellectual property rights and prepare to register fruit varieties and trademarks in foreign countries, especially in Southeast Asian nations, in addition to Taiwan and Hong Kong which are the key export destinations for fruits produced in Okayama. Okayama Prefecture allocated 7.16 million yen for the project in the fiscal 2019 draft budget, more than triple the amount of 2 … Continue reading

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Miss World Japan candidate appointed as Green Ambassador

TOKYO, Feb. 19 ― Japan’s forestry agency has appointed Reika Fujimoto, one of final candidates for Miss World Japan 2019, as green goodwill ambassador to promote the awareness and importance of Japanese forestry tradition. Fujimoto, 26, a former member of the Takarazuka Music School in western Japan, becomes the fifth of the country’s green goodwill ambassador. For one year, she will attend events related to Japanese forestry.

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