【News】 Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks reach broad agreement (Oct. 6, 2015)

  Takanori Okabe, Satomi Tamai and Hayato Niki – Atlanta The 12 member nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks reached a landmark agreement at a ministerial meeting held in Atlanta on Monday, Oct. 5, which represents a major turning point for Japan’s agriculture in the years to come. As for the most controversial issue of rice, Japan has agreed to establish new import quotas for the United States and Australia totaling 78,400 tons. Under the agreement, Japan will have to further open its markets for other farm products as well. The agreement was reached Monday after marathon negotiating sessions in Atlanta through the weekend over such thorny issues as … Continue reading

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【News】 Can rice milk boost rice consumption? – Low calorie milk made from rice goes excellent with fruits and vegetable – (Oct. 5, 2015)

Rice milk is a grain milk made from rice. Being low in calorie, low in fat and cholesterol-free, it’s starting to gain ground in the Japanese market as a new healthy option for milk particularly among women. Its consumption is growing, and expected to grow further, as major food producers bring out new rice milk products while in-station juice bars adds rice milk beverages on their menu. In the near future in Japan, you’ll be able to buy cow’s milk, soy milk and rice milk anytime, anywhere. Growing popularity A juice bar “Vegeteria, Ecute Ueno” in the JR Ueno Station in Taito-ku, Tokyo, is always crowded with both female and … Continue reading

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【News】 Senior U.S. Congressmen express reservations over TPP agreement (Oct. 2, 2015)

  Takanori Okabe – Atlanta As the ministers of the member nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks meet in Atlanta with hopes of reaching an agreement, two senior U.S. Congressmen said that even if a TPP deal is concluded, they would not support it if it falls short of Congress’ expectations. They urged negotiators to realize an agreement which benefits the U.S. workers and businesses, apparently pressuring them not to make concessions regarding such thorny issues as the period of patent protection for next-generation biotech drugs and access to dairy markets. Increasing pressure by Congress could make the U.S. government act more harshly in the ministerial meetings. “No one … Continue reading

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【News】 Farmers rally against expansion of rice imports (Sept. 30, 2015)

Some 250 farmers from across the nation gathered in Tokyo on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to rally against the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, calling on the government to keep the Diet resolutions which pledge to protect key farm items. Headed by two tractors, the farmers paraded about 2 km from Hibiya Park to the Diet, carrying banners and mikoshi portable shrine made of straw sacks filled with rice. They called out: “Protect rice!” “Withdraw from TPP!” The demonstration was hosted by four farmers’ organizations including Japan Family Farmers Movement. After the rally, they met with a farm ministry official and urged the government not to expand rice imports, as reported to … Continue reading

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【Opinion】 Primary farm co-ops’ directors should represent regional interests (Sept. 29, 2015)

  Yoichi Tashiro, Professor of agricultural economics at Otsuma Women’s University The revised Agricultural Co-operative Society Law, which strongly reflects the intentions of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration, was recently approved in the Diet. There are many aspects of the law that don’t make sense, and a rule on assigning primary farm co-ops (JAs)’ directors is one of them. The new law states that more than half of primary JAs’ directors should be certified farmers or professionals of farm product sales and corporate management, and that boards of directors should not be largely imbalanced in terms of age and gender. However, JAs are not public institutions nor government-funded organizations. They … Continue reading

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