Tag Archives: News

【News】 Rice gel with flexible texture possessing potential for wide application (Sept. 13, 2015)

Kazuhiro Eguchi New rice-derived foodstuff is drawing attentions as a new ingredient with a potential for a wide variety of applications. The new ingredient is made from rice of high amylose content and called “rice gel” from how it has a jelly-like consistency. You cook the rice and chop it up using a special high-speed mixer. The thickness of the texture is controllable from soft jelly to gumlike by changing the amount of water to cook rice and the mixing speed. The rice gel was developed by National Food Research Institute (NFRI), which is one of the research institutions within the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), in cooperation … Continue reading

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【News】 Floods bring severe damage to houses and rice fields in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures (Sept. 11, 2015)

Houses and farmlands in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures were flooded Thursday, Sept. 10, as Typhoon Etau which turned into a tropical cyclone brought about torrential rain in the Kansai and Tohoku regions. In Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture, banks of the Kinugawa River collapsed and a large area in the eastern side of the river was swallowed up by the muddy stream. A number of houses were swept away and greenhouses and rice plants which were almost ready to be harvested were submerged under water. “The river was flooded and water came closer and closer,” said Yukihiko Yamaki, 52, totally aghast by the heavy rain that he has never experienced before. He … Continue reading

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【News】 Farmers protest against security bills and government’s indifference to people’s concerns (Sept. 10, 2015)

Hiroko Obara Many farmers have been protesting against the security bills which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration aims for approval at the current Diet session. Farmers on pickup trucks rallied in Nagano Prefecture, while a farmer of Aichi Prefecture collected signatures opposing the bills. They are increasingly worried as the bills are expected to be passed in the Diet next week. On Saturday, Sept. 5, farmers driving 33 pickup trucks paraded down the streets in the town of Ikeda, Nagano, with placards holding slogans like “Stop the war bills”. “Pickup trucks are the most appropriate vehicle for farmers to rally. We wanted to hold a demonstration which can only be … Continue reading

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【News】 Number of new farmers aged under 50 marks record high in 2014 (Sept. 9, 2015)

The number of beginning farmers totaled 57,650 in 2014, up some 7,000 from the previous year, according to the farm ministry. New farmers under the age of 50 amounted to 21,860, marking a record high since 2007 when the ministry began compiling data by age groups. The government has set a goal of doubling the number of farmers aged under 50 to 400,000 by 2023 as a part of its plan to revitalize the agriculture industry and rural areas. Farm minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters after the regular Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, that the government will make further efforts to increase the number of beginning farmers and help … Continue reading

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【News】 Nearly half of farm co-ops join local chambers of commerce and industry, stepping up cross-sector cooperation (Sept. 8, 2015)

  45 percent of primary agricultural co-operatives (JAs) nationwide have become a member of local chambers of commerce and industry, indicating improved coordination between commercial and agricultural organizations, according to a survey conducted by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The survey showed that many farm co-ops and the chambers have cooperated in holding events, as well as developing new products and services. The chamber says such joint efforts by different industries is important to make good use of local resources and revitalize regional areas. The survey was conducted on chambers of commerce and industry nationwide between November last year and the end of January. 451 chambers, 88 percent … Continue reading

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