【Series】 Japanese food worth sharing with world – “Ohira” Simmered Vegetables from Shizuoka Prefecture (Aug. 1, 2014)

Posted on 2014-08-01 by The Japan Agricultural News

“Ohira” is local cuisine in Shizuoka Prefecture served particularly at gatherings such as Buddhist memorial services. It’s a dish mainly with simmered root vegetables which are cut in large pieces to minimize the loss of nutrients. They also look gorgeous on the plate this way. Japanese home cooks make Ohira by cooking each vegetable separately in stock that is prepared for each vegetable using different combination of seasonings. The name Ohira came from how they serve the vegetables on large (ohkii) flat plates (hirazara). Everything except carrots is cooked in salty-sweet taste basically using soy sauce while carrots are cooked using no soy sauce to keep their bright color. As … Continue reading →

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【News】 Co-operatives on the increase in Seoul (July 31, 2014)

Posted on 2014-07-31 by The Japan Agricultural News

  Zhezhu Jin The number of co-operative associations is rapidly increasing in Seoul, totaling 1,350 as of July 30, up 60 percent in two years. The rise is attributable to efforts by the Seoul municipal government to encourage establishment of co-operatives under the vision of “Seoul, the City of Co-operative” declared in July 2012. The vision was set up to cope with social issues that emerged with the rapid economic growth, including widening disparity of wealth, increase in unemployment and social unrest caused by dismantling of communities. The city said co-operatives can play a role in solving such problems, as citizens are increasingly concerned that the government’s neoliberalistic economic policies, … Continue reading →

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【News】 Expanding the domestic production of licorice, an ingredient for herbal medicines, because of demand (July 30, 2014)

Posted on 2014-07-30 by The Japan Agricultural News

  Hayato Niki A move toward domestic production of medicinal plant licorice is getting active.  Licorice is used as an ingredient for herbal medicines of Kampo (Japanese adaptation of traditional Chinese medicine). This is because its stable supply is getting uncertain as China started to control licorice export on the ground of environmental protection.  Japan depends on China for most of licorice import now.  Some Kampo medicine manufacturers started to develop superior varieties or use contract farming. A research institute in Hokkaido applied for registration of a new variety suitable for Japanese climate. The institute is also promoting construction of cultivation systems such as development of harvesting machines. Roots of … Continue reading →

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【News】 Exploring value-added agriculture: Umaji, Kochi Prefecture (July 29, 2014)

Posted on 2014-07-29 by The Japan Agricultural News

The village of Umaji, Kochi Prefecture, located on the eastern prefectural border about a two-hour drive away from the city of Kochi, boasts annual sales of JPY3.4 billion with products using Yuzu citrons grown in the area. JA Umajimura, an agricultural co-operative in the village, employs 86 villagers, roughly 10 percent of the total population of 942 as of June 30. Businesses centered on direct sales of Yuzu products have become the center of the village’s economy, and JA has worked on developing new products to continue fascinating consumers nationwide. Establishment of a stable and sustainable market has also encouraged farmers to increase Yuzu production. As much as 96 percent … Continue reading →

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【Booklet】 Learning from European roots – The 110th anniversary of enactment of “Sangyo Kumiai Law”

Posted on 2014-07-25 by The Japan Agricultural News

  PREFACE Two years have passed since financial crisis has threatened the world. Through the experience, people saw the negative side of market fundamentalism and have started to explore the way to switch to new social and economic system based on “co-existence”, from the former style that stands on “the law of the jungle”. In this context, the advantages of cooperative associations built on the spirit of mutual aid are now being re-acknowledged. It was symbolic that the United Nations appointed 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives. However, less is known about the roots of Japanese cooperatives such as Japan Agricultural Cooperative (JA), Japan Fisheries Cooperative, and Consumers’ Cooperatives. … Continue reading →

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