Illegal meat product imports by Chinese visitors total 42,000 cases in 2018, up 1.5 times in three years

TOKYO, Feb. 21 – Cases of illegal imports of meat products such as sausages and ham by Chinese travelers to Japan totaled 42,280 in 2018, increasing 1.5 times in three years to mark the largest figure in the last decade, according to the agriculture ministry statistics. Because an African swine fever outbreak has recently been reported in China and there is a fear that the virus could spread through pork products, the ministry has been calling on visitors to follow the rules that ban travelers from bringing in meat products without inspection. The cases of such products illegally entering the country, however, have not declined. The ministry estimates that around … Continue reading

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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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