Cowskin wallets with flawless webbed pattern looking so plush and tasty

TOKYO, Sep. 26 – A Tokyo-based leather goods manufacturer and seller has released a line of items made of leather looking exactly like the skin of Shizuoka crown melon. The company, Earl’s Favorite, has succeeded in delicately recreating the beautiful webbing seen on the surface of the king of fruits in Japan by embossing the pattern on domestically-tanned cow leather. Currently, it sells wallets, smartphone cases and several other items made of the melon-skin leather with excellent texture. Even the color inside its products is chosen very carefully – juicy pale yellow-green, which is the color of the flesh of Shizuoka crown melons. To recreate the perfect texture and the … Continue reading

Posted in Food & Agriculture, Photos | Comments Off on Cowskin wallets with flawless webbed pattern looking so plush and tasty

New minister seeks cooperation on farm reform with JA group

TOKYO, Oct. 4 ― Japan’s new agriculture minister, Takamori Yoshikawa, has said that he wants to work the sector’s reform with the country’s largest farmers’ group, or JA group. “The core of the farm reform is to boost farmers’ income and support young people to run farms with a focus on production,” Yoshikawa told the Japanese press in an interview on Oct. 3, one day after he was appointed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In the latest cabinet reshuffle Abe retained key ministers in their posts, who have been handling thorny trade issues with the United States. Last week, the Japanese prime minister and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on New minister seeks cooperation on farm reform with JA group

Japan PM Shinzo Abe keeps key ministers in cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO, Oct. 3 ― Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has retained key ministers in their posts including finance, foreign affairs and economy in the latest cabinet reshuffle, who have been handling thorny trade issues with the United States. Last week when Abe met U.S. President Donald Trump in New York, the two leaders agreed to begin negotiations for a trade agreement on goods (TAG). For the new cabinet, Abe appointed Takamori Yoshikawa, 67, a former vice agriculture minister, to replace Ken Saito as agriculture minister, reaffirming his commitment to reform the sector. He also kept Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, who doubles as finance minister, Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko, Foreign … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on Japan PM Shinzo Abe keeps key ministers in cabinet reshuffle

[Editor’s column] Never victimize agriculture (Sept. 28, 2018)

Tsuneyoshi Fujii, head of agricultural policies department, The Japan Agricultural News Talks between Japan and the United States on a so-called Trade Agreement on Goods (TAG) have progressed rapidly after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he is ready to impose additional tariffs on Japanese vehicle imports and Japan scrambled to avoid the move. This is a total nuisance for the agriculture sector. We should never allow agriculture to be victimized for the sake of preventing a potential blow on the auto industry. To begin with, the joint statement issued by Japan and the United States following a meeting by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Trump in September indicates that the … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Policy, Trade Talks | Comments Off on [Editor’s column] Never victimize agriculture (Sept. 28, 2018)

JA group to tap into rising demand for agri-tourism in Japan

TOKYO, Sept. 9 ― As more Japanese people have appreciated for the benefits of a rural life, Japan’s largest farmers’ group will start offering a unique service next year, providing them with access to farms seldom visited by single travelers. Nokyo Tourist Corp., an arm of the Japan agricultural cooperatives, or JA group, will arrange farming experiences for employers who plan corporate training or fringe benefits for their employees. Nokyo Tourist Corp. will also act as a matchmaker connecting between corporate clients and agricultural communities. As such, agricultural tourism will allow farmers in rural regions to fill that void and earn valuable supplemental income while opening their farms to tourism … Continue reading

Posted in Cooperatives, Food & Agriculture | Comments Off on JA group to tap into rising demand for agri-tourism in Japan