Virtual singer Hatsune Miku appears on a gift box for apples from Aomori

AOMORI, No. 15 — JA Tsugaru Hirosaki, an agricultural cooperative in Aomori Prefecture, will sell apples in a gift box with globally popular virtual singer Hatsune Miku printed on it. It is the first time for a farm coop in Japan to collaborate with Hatsune Miku, and JA Tsugaru Hirosaki hopes the move will help boost consumption of apples among younger generations. The gift box comes with a photograph-like illustration of Hatsune Miku holding an apple and smiling against a backdrop of an apple orchard and Mount Iwaki, a mountain located in Aomori Prefecture. The farm coop’s online shopping website started accepting pre-orders on Nov. 15 for the gift box … Continue reading

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Rakkyo Japanese scallion flowers bloom, offering eye-pleasing views

TOTTORI, Nov. 10 — Reddish purple rakkyo Japanese scallion flowers are in full bloom in the city of Tottori, blooming around two weeks later than usual due to scorching summer heat and little rain. Tottori Prefecture is Japan’s No. 1 rakkyo producing region and the Fukube district in the city of Tottori near the famous Tottori Sand Dunes is the leading producing area. Tottori Sakyu Rakkyo and Fukube Sakyu Rakkyo, Japanese scallions grown near the sand dunes, are registered under the Geographical Indication (GI) protection system. In areas covered by the Fukube branch of JA Tottori Inaba, a local agricultural cooperative, 54 farms grow rakkyo on fields totaling 102 hectares. … Continue reading

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Take a chance with this Niku (meat) Gacha vending machine in Kumamoto to win “Wao” premium wagyu beef

KUMAMOTO, Nov. 7 – Kumamoto Chikusan Ryutsu Center Co., Ltd. has set up a “JA Niku Gacha” vending machine at the you+you Kumamoto Agricultural and Livestock Market run by a local agricultural cooperative in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, JA Kumamoto Economic Federation. It offers the thrill of randomly winning a super-premium prize to stimulate meat consumption, which has recently been hovering at low levels. The machine sells beef and pork only from Kumamoto Prefecture for prices varying from 1,000 to 2,000 yen. You’ll have a chance to win a premium prize with an “Atari (Bingo)” sticker worth double the cost you paid for, such as Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu “Wao” premium … Continue reading

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Construction material created using soil from vegetable fields

TOKYO, Nov. 4 — A building material for interiors using soil from vegetable fields was created and used at a store in Tokyo. The material is produced by casting clay into forms and drying them just like sun-dried bricks. It can absorb and release humidity, and also has the ability to fix carbon. It is an eco-friendly material that can also be crushed and reused. Imomatsu, a food store in Tokyo, requested an architect to develop the material in order to make its interiors match the store’s goal of promoting the attractiveness of the vegetables it sells. The architect created the material using soil taken from fields in the town … Continue reading

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Aomori Prefecture’s 3D puzzle challenge: Tell the difference between six apple skins

AOMORI, Oct. 30 – The “Aomorik Cube” puzzle featuring six different Aomori-made apple skins on all sides is causing a buzz for being too difficult to solve. Each side of the six-sided 3D puzzle has a picture of skins of different but all red apples, making it extremely difficult. It is a challenge from Aomori Prefecture, which required two days to solve even for the official of Aomori’s Tourist Attraction and Exchanges Section, who planned the item to promote apples produced in the northernmost prefecture on Japan’s main island. The Aomorik Cube uses pictures of skins of Fuji, Jonagold, Sekai-Ichi, Kogyoku, Chiyuki, and Mutsu apples. It was released on October 17 … Continue reading

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