Japan’s farm minister to allow swine fever vaccination

TOKYO, Sep. 21 – In the battle against swine fever, Taku Eto, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, has decided to start preparing for the change the country’s epidemic prevention policy. After the policy change, the country is going to introduce a new vaccination program for pigs grown at pig farms, he said. The revision will make it possible to vaccinate pigs based on the permission by a governor of each prefecture. However, there will be several issues to be clarified, such as target areas, and the ministry intends to discuss with experts and representatives of prefectures to establish a concrete plan. The revision is expected to take … Continue reading

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Typhoon Faxai’s record-strong wind hits farmers in Kanto region

CHIBA, Sep. 10 – A strong typhoon Faxai landed Chiba, near Tokyo, before 5 a.m. It was the largest typhoon landed in the Kanto region and registered a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 57.5 meters per second in Chuo Ward, Chiba City, 49 meters in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, and 43.2 meters in Ota Ward, Tokyo. The powerful storm slammed pears, kiwis and many other ripe fruits and knocked down greenhouses, causing devastating damage on farmers. Local agricultural cooperatives (JAs) were swamped by the work to confirm the loss. From September 8 to 9, the massive typhoon Faxai traveled over the Izu Island chain and the Kanto region before it … Continue reading

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Bonsai Art Museum in Saitama gives first workshop for non-Japanese bonsai fans

SAITAMA, Aug. 31 – The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama, in Saitama Prefecture gave a workshop for inbound visitors to Japan for the first time on August 30, 2019. The workshop “Saitama International Bonsai Academy” was participated by three non-Japanese bonsai lovers from Singapore and the U.K. They enjoyed a guided tour of the museum and learned the tips for appreciating the art and its history. Then, they had the first-hand experience of trimming and replanting young Japanese black pines. The instructor of the class was a 36-year-old bonsai professional from the U.S., Adam Jones, an owner of a bonsai export company “Tree House Bonsai” in Ami Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. … Continue reading

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Swine fever still spreading in Japan after 1-year effort to end outbreak: 40 cases found in 4 prefectures

TOKYO, Sep. 10 – A year has passed since Japan found its first swine fever case in 26 years at a pig farm on September 9, 2018. So far, more than 130,000 pigs were culled at 40 pig farms in four prefectures. New cases are found every week. The measures to contain the disease have not been successful, and farmers are increasingly exhausted. In the past twelve months, the outbreak expanded from Gifu Prefecture to Aichi, Mie, and Fukui Prefecture, and the number of the cases reached 40 by September 8. Wild boars which carry the virus are found in Nagano, Toyama, and Ishikawa Prefectures, and they are making the … Continue reading

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Japan’s hen egg exports up in 1st half of 2019, demand for hot-spring eggs growing

TOKYO, Aug. 20 – Japan’s export of hen eggs is now strong. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan’s export of shell chicken eggs in the first six months of 2019 amounted approximately 1 billion yen. It’s 60% higher than the same period last year, which was the highest in the past 30 years. In Hong Kong, the primary market for eggs from Japan, both the sales of raw eggs for supermarkets and the demand for onsen tamago (hot-spring eggs) are growing. Onsen tamago is a half-boiled egg with soft and creamy yoke and half-done white. It’s become popular among consumers outside Japan as it is … Continue reading

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