KUMAMOTO, Jul. 23 – A local agricultural cooperative in Ashikita Town in Kumamoto Prefecture (JA Ashikita) started to sell green tea leaves in special packages featuring characters of a manga series called Houkago Teibo Nisshi (Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater). Minamata Tea is grown taking advantage of the climate and natural environment of the Ashikita Town, Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, at altitudes of 100 to 600 meters, and has excellent aroma and flavor. Houkago Teibo Nisshi is a cartoon series about high school students enjoying fishing in the town of Ashikita, Kumamoto Prefecture, an area with a strong fishing industry within the jurisdiction of the JA Ashikita. The JA … Continue reading →

TOKYO, July 29 — Many companies in Japan are eagerly promoting food items and agricultural produce associated with France, inspired by the ongoing Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. They hope to capitalize on the event to boost sales through such products as rice balls with French taste fillings and bouquets depicting the French national flag. The Mitsuhashi Inc., a rice wholesaler in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, started selling “Parisian Onigiri” rice balls at supermarkets in the Kanto eastern Japan region on July 26. The rice balls, which are meant to be eaten with a knife and fork, come in two types — truffle-flavored beef with ginger butter and basil-flavored salmon and … Continue reading →

SAITAMA, Jul. 17 – Eat French cuisine at school and feel additional excitement for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics Games! On July 16, five primary schools in Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture, served “Olympics School Lunch” as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening is approaching. Students thoroughly enjoyed traditional French cuisine at school. Just before noon, serving carts carrying soft baguettes, Julienne soup cooked with bacon, cabbage from the neighboring town of Kamisato, and some other ingredients, and chicken white bean Cassoulet stewed in tomato sauce were brought to classrooms at Honjo Higashi Primary School. Julienne is a French word for cutting vegetables and ingredients into strips. The menu to celebrate … Continue reading →

YAMANASHI, Ju. 13 – On July 15, a local agricultural cooperative in Yamanashi Prefecture (JA Minami Alps City) began hosting an all-you-can-eat event with locally-grown peaches, which are currently in high season. A trial event on July 11 already attracted many visitors from inside and outside the prefecture. The event takes place in Michi-no-eki Shirane, a local JA-run farmers’ market. You will have 30 minutes to spoon up peaches from a water pool and eat as many as you can. The JA prepares approximately 30,000 peaches of several local varieties, such as Akatsuki, Hakuo, Alps Bejin, and Natsukko, and expects to welcome 45,000 people at the nine-day event. One of … Continue reading →