[Joy of Noh no Ikebana] Any vegetable can be a star, says Yuriko Terashima, 66, from Ide Town, Kyoto Prefecture

“It was the time that I decided to help my family out on the farm as my kids were big enough. I began reading the Japan Agricultural News and saw some articles about Noh no Ikebana, which I found was very interesting. I decided to take on the challenge as I have the right materials at home. Each piece of materials looks gorgeous. Simple agricultural products I brought back from the farm are so brilliant in Noh no Ikebana. Vegetables in irregular sizes and shapes are something special to me. I sometimes hide them before somebody discards them. While I’m walking to the farm, I always look for something beautiful. … Continue reading

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Shiga Prefecture taking action to protect Omi-gyu beef brand in export markets

SHIGA, Feb. 28 – Shiga Prefecture is launching an initiative this fiscal year for protecting the name of Shiga’s signature agricultural product, Omi-gyu or Omi Beef. The action is taken as an increasing number of non-authorized parties are registering the brand names of Japanese agricultural and livestock products abroad. The prefecture plans to file for the trademark registrations in seven countries and regions, mainly in Asia, during the next fiscal year. In its initial budget for the fiscal year 2020, it allocates one million yen for the new project it launched exclusively for promoting the registrations of Omi beef brand names. The initiative will be led by an Omi beef-related … Continue reading

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FY2018 feeding damage reaches 15.8 billion yen, nationwide damage drops for six consecutive years, regional damage up in 13 prefectures: Farm Ministry

Tokyo, Feb. 26 – Farm Ministry of Japan said that damage to agricultural products by birds and animals in Japan was 15.8 billion yen in the fiscal year 2019. The figure was reported on February 26, 2020, at the Liberal Democratic Party’s joint meeting on wild birds and animals. The nationwide number dropped for six consecutive years, but 13 prefectures saw a rise in the damage. According to the report, the impact was not limited to the loss of agricultural products -affected farmers are feeling reluctant to continue farming and the number of farmers who decided to exit is increasing. The ministry, therefore, is now preparing an additional survey on … Continue reading

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Nagano successfully develops new pink, rich, crispy apple, expecting to discover new use

Nagano, Feb. 21 – Nagano Prefecture Agricultural Experiment Station has successfully developed a new strain of apple called “Apple Choka 34.” It’s a late-maturing variety that features pink flesh, which is sweet-and-sour and rich in taste. Also, it has a pleasant crispy texture. It’s good not only for table fruit but also for various other purposes, for example, as colorful cut fruits for salad or semi-dried products. With Apple Choka 34, the prefecture expects to create a very new demand that cannot be found with existing varieties. Private breeders and universities have also bred the apples with red or pink flesh, but it was the first time for Nagano to … Continue reading

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Miyazaki aiming to keep and make tradition of yagura radish towers Japan’s agricultural heritage system

Miyazaki Prefecture, Feb. 15 – In Tano Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, sun-dried daikon radishes are almost ready for shipment. Building significant scaffolds called yagura for drying radishes in the sun and the cold wind in winter is a food culture that gives Miyazaki’s signature scenery. Now people have gathered to make “the number one production of sun-dried daikon radishes and daikon yagura towers in Japan” one of the Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. Officials of a local agricultural cooperative (JA Miyazaki Chuo), Tano Town Commerce and Industry Association, and Prefecture and Town governments have formed an association, and they are boosting their activities. -Inviting more people for daikon hanging to … Continue reading

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