CowTuber Kazuma Tanaka beaming messages directly to consumers from Kami Town, Hyogo prefecture

HYOGO, Nov. 2 – A Japanese wagyu beef breeder in Kami, Hyogo Prefecture, the town known as one of the producers of high-quality Tajima-brand beef, is actively sharing his warm views on wagyu and scenes from his daily life on a video-sharing website YouTube. Despite being a certified cattle hoof trimmer and a super-busy manager of the farm that also handles meat processing and direct sales, the 42-year-old cattleman has created over 240 “CowTube” videos so far. “I want to show the deep and rich part of the life of a cattleman,” he said. “Hi, I’m Kazuma Tanaka from Tanaka Chikusan!” His YouTube post always starts with this cheerful greeting. … Continue reading

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[Noh no Ikebana for every season] Receive energy from ikebana arrangements amid COVID-19 crisis

HIROSHIMA, Sep. 25 – The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many events to be canceled or postponed. So, Setsuko Muneoka in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, displays her Noh no Ikebana arrangement at a local communication center in Shiwahori to celebrate the coming of the harvest festival season. “I hope people feel happier when they see my Noh no Ikebana arrangement,” Muneoka said, explaining the thought she put into the work. ・Joy of festival on full display The theme of this arrangement is a local harvest festival. Rice stalks, lotus leaves, taro leaves, mountain grapes, persimmons, chestnuts, and all other beautiful materials from rice fields, vegetable gardens, and mountains are on display. … Continue reading

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Japan passes bill to prevent outflow of fruit and vegetable varieties

TOKYO, Dec. 3 – A bill aimed at protecting Japanese-developed fruit and vegetable varieties from being taken abroad is passed in the Upper House of Japan’s parliament on Dec. 2. The revised seed and seedling protection law, expected to take effect in April next year, will allow plant breeders to limit areas where their varieties can be grown to places within the country or designated prefectures. Another revision to the law, which will take effect in April 2022, will introduce a permission system for the use of seeds that domestic farmers collect from registered varieties they harvest for next season’s planting. Currently, it is not illegal to take seeds and … Continue reading

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Japan ratifies U.K. trade deal to take effect from January

TOKYO, Dec. 5 – The Upper House of Japan’s parliament ratified the Japan-U.K. trade agreement on Dec. 4, paving the way for the deal to take effect on Jan. 1 if it is ratified in Britain smoothly. The bilateral economic partnership agreement “will pose no additional impact on our nation’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries industry,” agriculture minister Kotaro Nogami said during Diet deliberations. Tariff cuts and reductions on British farm produce are kept at the same level as under the deal between Japan and the European Union, but no new import quotas will be set for Britain. For 10 items, including soft cheeses such as blue cheese, Britain will be … Continue reading

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Japan to hold quinquennial wagyu competition in Hokkaido for first time in 2027

HOKKAIDO, Nov. 26 – Japan’s Wagyu Registry Association has chosen Hokkaido as a host prefecture for the final stage of the 13th National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu in 2027. The quinquennial all-Japan wagyu Japanese beef cattle show, commonly known as Wagyu Zenkyo, is held to confirm how the quality of wagyu is improved nationwide. The largest agricultural and livestock product fair in Japan will be held in Hokkaido for the first time. Hokkaido is a thriving producer of wagyu cattle and calves. In the fiscal year 2019, the northernmost prefecture of Japan ranked second in wagyu calve production. The prefecture expects that hosting the 2027 Wagyu Zenkyo will boost its … Continue reading

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