The eighth World Bonsai Convention was held in Saitama city, Japan, during four days from April 27. Venues of the Convention have been crowded every day with a number of visitors including lovers of Bonsai or potted miniature trees, who came to Japan from various countries to see “Bonsais at the home of Bonsai.” More than 300 Bonsai trees were displayed at the Convention Center, highlighting a nearly 400-year-old Bonsai that has been exhibited at the Imperial Palace since the Edo period. Lots of Bonsai trees were sold to inbound visitors after roots of those miniature trees were washed so that the visitors could carry back with the bonsais passing … Continue reading →

Cartoon programs featuring rice-themed characters are rising in popularity. One features a group of moe-type cute female characters and another a team of good-looking male personifications of popular Japanese rice brands, for example, both in order to develop a fondness for rice among young Japanese who are increasingly moving away from rice. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan has decided to use the anime characters on its official posters to promote Japanese food overseas, and the potential of those characters as new promotional tools are drawing attention. In April this year, a 5-minute TV anime program, Love Kome -We Love Rice-, went on air on six local … Continue reading →

The Japanese government decided on April 26 to strengthen its support measures to be taken for variety registration of Japanese agricultural crops in foreign countries. The measures aim at protecting Japanese breeders’ rights of marketing seeds, plants and harvests of the crops concerned by registering the plant patents with overseas authorities in order to block unauthorized cultivation of those crops in foreign countries. The government plans to revise its Intellectual Property Promotion Plan next month, in which the new support measures are to be put into practice. A draft of the new Plan was proposed by the government at a meeting of its Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters on April 26. … Continue reading →