Japan’s Fundodai Goyo unveils new soy sauce with no color

KUMAMOTO, March 6 ― Fundodai Goyo Inc., a Kumatmoto-based maker of soy sauce and miso, has unveiled its new product: soy sauce with no color. To celebrate its 150th anniversary this year, Fundodai Goyo developed the new shoyu, which flavors and seasons like regular soy sauce, color but without reddish-brown color. With no color, the new product doesn’t darken the color of foods. One bottle, or 100 ml, costs 500 yen (about 4.45 dollars).

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Ruling party urges government to avoid further market liberalization for farm products in trade talks with the United States

TOKYO, April 13 – As Japan and the United States are set to launch talks on a trade pact in Washington on April 15, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party held a meeting on trade negotiations on April 12 and adopted a resolution calling on the government to avoid reaching an agreement that is beneficial only to the U.S. The party asked Toshimitsu Motegi, minister in charge of the trade talks, the same day not to agree on reducing tariffs on agricultural products beyond levels agreed under the initial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks before the U.S.’ withdrawal. The LDP’s resolution was aimed at urging the government not to make … Continue reading

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Japan offers local rice for school meals 3.5 days a week in 2018

TOKYO, March 6 ― Japan offered locally-grown rice for school meals at elementary and junior high schools across the country on average 3.5 days per week in 2018, a government survey has showed. The school meals in serving Japanese rice has been increasing over the years, according to the education ministry. Rice were served at school lunch on average 2.9 days per week in 2006. The trend reflects as the government eyes new ways of spreading Washoku traditional Japanese cuisine at home and abroad, since Washoku has been added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, experts say.

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JA Hokkaido opens a café in Tokyo to promote local products

TOKYO, March 1 ― A Farmers’ group in northern Japan is seeking to promote their products at a newly opened café in Tokyo, as the farmers are facing an influx of dairy imports due to the landmark trade deals such as the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. The agricultural cooperatives in Hokkaido, also known as Hokuren, has opened a new outlet “Milkland Hokkaido→Tokyo” at the busy shopping district of Jiyugaoka. The café offers menu that uses Hokkaido-grown farm products such as rice, corn and dairy products. It also offers cooking classes that also use locally made products.

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Yamagata is preparing to celebrate Hina Matsuri with rice cakes

TSURUOKA, Feb. 24 ― As the month of March is approaching, so is the production of Japanese rice cakes here that feature local farm produce in Yamagata prefecture. March 3 is a Japanese traditional holiday, also known as Girls’ Day or Hina Matsuri, which wishes for the good health for young females in a family. It is customary to display beautiful dolls in the house. Tsuruoka city has a tradition to display its rice cakes next to those dolls. The rice cakes resemble locally grown vegetables and fruits such as cherry.

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