Heavy floods and landslides leave more than 200 dead in Japan

SOJA, July 10 ― The Japanese government has issued new alerts over record rains that have killed more than 200 people and left dozens missing in central and western Japan. The torrential rains caused heavy floods and landslides across central and western parts of the country, prompting evacuation orders for nearly four million people. In Soja city, Okayama prefecture, the swirling Takahashi river water burst its 5-meter banks and swept away all the efforts of fruit trees and greenhouses that the Kariya family had made. “There was a greenhouse here. Where has it gone?” said 69-year-old Yuriko Kariya, with a big sigh. Her husband, Mamoru Kariya, 71, said he has … Continue reading

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Japan suspends sales of Canadian wheat after GMO discovery

TOKYO, June 16 — The Japanese agriculture ministry said on June 15 that it has suspended tenders and sales of Canadian wheat indefinitely after the discovery of genetically modified wheat in the exporting country. This is the first case Tokyo suspended wheat imports from Canada. Canada is Japan’s No. 2 wheat supplier. Last year, Japan imported 1.54 million metric tons of wheat, with Ottawa accounting for 30 percent of imports. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed that the wheat found was genetically modified and herbicide-tolerant. Because GM wheat is not authorized for commercial use in Canada, the CFIA said in a June 14 statement that it is working “with … Continue reading

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Who is up for a mountain sweet of melon that weights 2kg?

SAIJYO, June 10 — A Japanese farmer co-operative café has introduced a sweet treat, containing a giant melon that weighs 2kg. Created by the café in Saijyo city, Ehime prefecture, the sweet uses a melon cut in half, which has a diameter of 18 cm. The café names it “Mega Mountain” priced at 1,500 yen ($14). The café sells “Melon Mountain” that uses an ordinary-sized melon at 880 yen ($8). But the sizes of harvested melon are bigger this year, the café operator said.

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Japan to relax sale of unrefrigerated biologically clean tofu in July

TOKYO, June 28 – The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan is going to lift the ban on the sale of tofu at room temperature partially in mid-July at the earliest, according to a report released on June 27, 2018. At present, tofu sellers in Japan are required to sell only refrigerated tofu, but the ministry is to permit the sale of unrefrigerated one only if it’s packed in an aseptic container. Some of the tofu producers today already have the technology to make biologically clean tofu suitable for selling at room temperature, and the change in the law may support their extended efforts to market the soy … Continue reading

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Osaka earthquake shakes farm businesses in western Japan

IBARAKI, June 20 — One day after a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Osaka, Japan’s second largest metropolitan area, the vulnerability of many elements of urban infrastructure has been exposed. Four people died and more than 400 others were injured after the earthquake. The Osaka earthquake hit during the morning rush hour and affected many businesses, including farming operations. The agriculture ministry and the farmers’ co-operative JA group rushed to assist and assess quake damages. The meteorological agency warned additional earthquakes in the form of aftershocks of the magnitude 6.1 earthquake.

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