Gifu pref. lifts restrictions after Japan’s hog cholera outbreak

TOKYO, Jan. 27 ― Gifu prefecture on Jan. 26 lifted restrictions of movement and shipment on hog farms, which were imposed since an outbreak of classical swine fever, also known as hog cholera, in domestic pigs in central Japan in September 2018. On Sept. 9, the agriculture ministry reported a case of classical swine fever at a farm in Gifu prefecture for the first time in 26 years. The remaining 610 pigs were culled to contain the outbreak and depopulation of the farm was completed. As a result, Japan suspended exports of pork and other pork products. Since then, Gifu prefecture employed measures to stamp out the disease that include … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Gifu pref. lifts restrictions after Japan’s hog cholera outbreak

[Our Noh no Ikebana] “Let’s celebrate the joy of the new year with colorful, happy display,” says Keiko Sato, 74, from Mamurogawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture

“I saw the photos of Noh no Ikebana on the Japan Agricultural News and thought I want to do it myself. Then I began in 2012. I often use vegetable flowers. My favorite ones are flowers of Chinese chives. Looking at the white, small, and cute flowers, many blooming all together, makes me feel happy and calm. I also love the interesting look of their buds, which look like the heads of snakes. We seldom see vegetable flowers in supermarkets. So, we farmers are lucky to have and enjoy looking at them. When I find good-looking vegetables, plants and flowers, I took them home for my display at home entrance. … Continue reading

Posted in Noh no Ikebana, Photos | Comments Off on [Our Noh no Ikebana] “Let’s celebrate the joy of the new year with colorful, happy display,” says Keiko Sato, 74, from Mamurogawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture

Japan’s meat imports in 2018 likely surge to record levels

TOKYO, Dec. 30 ― Japanese farmers have faced an influx of cheap meat imports, as the country’s imports of red meat and poultry were set another new record volume in 2018, government data has showed. And that was even before the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the U.S., known as TPP-11, entered into force on Dec. 3o, 2018, suggesting the landmark trade pact would have knock-on effects for Japanese farming business, industry officials pointed out. Japanese meat imports totaled 1.92 million metric tons in the first 11 months through November 2018, which was 1 percent more than the same period a year ago, according to the finance ministry. The 2017 full-year … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Japan’s meat imports in 2018 likely surge to record levels

JA ZEN-NOH invests in Japanese brown rice startup

TOKYO, Dec. 21 ― Japan’s largest farmers’ group has invested in Yuwaeru Co. Ltd., a Tokyo-based startup that specializes in manufacturing prepackaged brown rice, continuing its aggressive move to seek out growth business. JA ZEN-NOH, the National Federation of Agriculture Cooperative Associations, the marketing arm of JA group, said on Dec. 20 that it acquired an undisclosed stake in Yuwaeru through a third-party allocation of newly issued shares. The equity investment took place in November 2018, enabling JA group to push for sales of Japanese-grown brown rice at home and abroad. Brown rice is known as a superfood owing to its multitude of nutritional benefits. That makes it a healthier … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on JA ZEN-NOH invests in Japanese brown rice startup

Japan’s PM Abe seeks removing barriers to boost farm exports

TOKYO, Dec. 20 ― Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stressed that his administration is pushing countries to ease up on restrictions and open their market access for Japanese agricultural products. Pointing out that China and Hong Kong have recently relaxed some import restrictions on Japanese food, Abe said: “We are cracking the door open a little wider.” The prime minister spoke at the Dec. 19 general assembly of the national council for export promotion of agricultural products, a key public-private joint initiative to boost Japanese agricultural exports. Japan has set a target of 1 trillion yen in agricultural exports in 2019. Last year, the country’s agriculture exports totaled a record … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Japan’s PM Abe seeks removing barriers to boost farm exports