【Booklet】Beginning of JA insurance <Birth of nokyo-kyosai (agricultural cooperatives mutual insurance) ⑦> (September 17, 2016)

“Life” and “buildings” as two wheels Even after establishment, National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (Zenkyoren) went groping in the dark. It was life kyosai (mutual insurance) which secured Zenkyoren’s progressing walk in this situation. The original purpose of nokyo-kyosai (agricultural cooperatives mutual insurance) was to prevent the outflow of funds from the rural areas and to promote internal accumulation of rural funds. After the war, Kyosairen Hokkaido had started “life kyosai (mutual insurance) (long-term)” along with “buildings kyosai (mutual insurance) (short-term)” from the beginning of business start. In October 1951, in Hokkaido, where life kyosai (mutual insurance) was practiced, directors of Zenkyoren visited and studied the actual situation. … Continue reading

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【Booklet】Beginning of JA insurance <Birth of nokyo-kyosai (agricultural cooperatives mutual insurance) ⑧>(September 24, 2016)

Overcoming the weaknesses by amendment of the law Ensured foundation promoted rapid progress Since 1948 when born in Hokkaido, nokyo-kyosai (agricultural cooperatives mutual insurance) business had suffered the incessant pressure from the private commercial insurance industry and nogyo-kyosai (agricultural insurance) organization. The kyosai (mutual insurance) business was in compliance with the provisions of Article 10, Paragraph (1), Item8 of nokyo (agricultural cooperatives) law. However, the contents of contract and rights & obligations had been carried out based on voluntary guidelines between the cooperatives members and nokyo. There was a remarkable difference from detailed supervision against nogyo-kyosai (agricultural insurance) organization and commercial insurance companies. Commercial insurance companies had been poked Its … Continue reading

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Revived Trans-Pacific trade deal without US signed by TPP-11

SANTIAGO, March 10 — Moving ahead without the United States, 11 countries including Japan signed a revived Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) pact in Santiago, Chile on March 8. But Washington managed to steal the limelight from the mega free trade deal. On the same day as the new TTP signing, U.S. President Donald Trump set in motion a proclamation imposing heavy tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which could open the door for other countries to retaliate, sparking fears of a global trade war. The original TPP was thrown into limbo last year when President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal during his first week in office saying he … Continue reading

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Japan’s frozen vegetable imports exceed 1 million tons in 2017

TOKYO, Feb. 26 ─ Japan’s frozen vegetable imports broke the 1 million ton barrier last year for the first time, driven by rising prices in domestically-produced vegetables. Frozen vegetable import volume rose 7% to 1,009,000 tons in 2017 from a year earlier, with stem vegetables such as broccoli and spinach being the biggest increase, data from the finance ministry showed. The majority of frozen vegetable imports come from China and the U.S. Frozen potato, which account for about 40 percent of total frozen vegetable imports, increased 8% to 378,000 tons due to a poor harvest in the northern island of Hokkaido after heavy rains last year. “Demands from businesses, as … Continue reading

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Japan to push for ban lifts after Fukushima-related row victory

TOKYO, Feb. 24 — Japan will step up efforts in talks with countries to lift import restrictions imposed on Japanese foods, following the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s ruling on the Fukushima-related seafood dispute with South Korea. The WTO backed a Japanese complaint against South Korea’s import bans on seafood as well as additional testing requirements on agricultural foods after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. A WTO dispute panel ruled Seoul’s import bans were justified right after the nuclear meltdown, but continuing them violated the WTO’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. “Japan welcomes the WTO ruling,” said Agriculture Minister Ken Saito at a press conference on Feb. 23. “We will accelerate … Continue reading

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