Japan to set up online farmers’ community to expand exports

TOKYO, May 31 — Japan will set up a farming community site where food producers and makers and trading companies can build on their successes by helping each other to access benefits from potential models. The governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) committee that promotes agricultural exports on May 30 complied a recommendation list to present the administration led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Setting up the farming community site is in the recommendation list. The list also includes strengthening marketing of the Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (JFOODO), which has export strategy for seven agriculture sectors: wagyu beef, rice flour, green tea, sake, wine, craft beer and fishery products. … Continue reading

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Make a wish upon a star at Taketanada fire festival in Toho Village, Fukuoka Prefecture

FUKUOKA, June 17 – On June 9, the Toho village in Fukuoka Prefecture held “Taketanada no Himatsuri,” a local festival that features torches of over one thousand. In July last year, the village was severely hit by the concentrated heavy rainfall that struck the northern part of the Kyushu. The villagers still find it difficult to recover some of the local stepped rice paddies (tanada in Japanese) but decided to have the event to express their hope for the quick recovery of the region. So, they decorated the paddies in the Take district of the village with approximately 1,200 torches to allure the travelers. Tanada in the Take district is … Continue reading

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Japan to relax age-based testing on cattle after BSE scare

TOKYO, June 6 — Nine years after the last outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease, Japan is likely to relax testing requirements for the disease, informed sources said. The agriculture ministry will advise an advisory council on June 8 to consider to relax the mandatory testing requirements for cattle, from the current 48-months of age and older, to 96-months and older. If the council approves, the change will likely be implemented in fiscal 2019. That would reduce the number of cattle bound to undergo the testing to about one third of the current levels, according to the agriculture ministry. The ministry conducted 66,403 testing on … Continue reading

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Women of farm coop in Ehime promote local products as escorts at FC Imabari’s home game

IMABARI, June 12 – Female members of JA Ochiimabari, an agricultural cooperative in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, appeared at a soccer game on June 10 as escorts for local soccer team FC Imabari, the first such attempt by the farm coop which sponsors the team. Twenty-two women walked into Arigato Service Yume Stadium in Imabari packed with more than 2,000 fans, each holding hands with 11 FC Imabari players and holding local products in season, such as tomatoes and eggplants, on the other hand. They hope that promoting local agricultural products while supporting the local soccer team of the Japan Football League will contribute to boosting the town. “It was like … Continue reading

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Japan’s Gulf Food Fund buys UAE’s meat wholesaler company

TOKYO, June 4 — A Japanese private equity fund has acquired the United Arab Emirates-based Country Hill International (CHI), a leading meat importer and distributor, for an undisclosed amount. The Gulf Japan Food Fund (GJFF), the Japanese fund that promotes Japanese agricultural exports, acquired the CHI, with an aim to boost the exports of halal wagyu beef to the Middle East market. The CHI is a meat wholesaler company that specializes in importing meat products from New Zealand and Australia. It distributes them to high-end hotels, restaurants and major supermarket chains in the UAE. The move comes as the high-priced Japanese delicacy, such as wagyu beef, has become increasingly popular … Continue reading

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