National Sep 20, 2019
In bid to contain swine fever outbreak, Japan's farm ministry announces plan to vaccinate pigs
The ministry saw the move as inevitable after the first outbreak in the country in 26 years was confirmed in September last year.
National / Politics Sep 14, 2019
New farm minister Taku Eto determined to stamp out swine fever
Newly appointed Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Taku Eto has expressed his determination to take decisive action on measures for ending the spread of swine fever in Japan, including whether to administer vaccines to pigs. "We practically only have nine months until we are stripped ...
National Sep 3, 2019
Government to send officials to disaster-hit Fukushima to expand resumption of farming
The agriculture ministry said Tuesday it will send officials to 12 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture that were hit by the 2011 nuclear disaster to help farmers there resume agricultural production. From April 2020, one official will be stationed in each of the 12 municipalities near ...
National Aug 6, 2019
Japan's food self-sufficiency rate hits lowest level in 25 years due to drop in wheat production
The nation's food self-sufficiency rate on a caloric intake basis was 37 percent in fiscal 2018, the lowest level in 25 years, after domestic wheat and soy bean production dropped sharply due to bad weather, the latest data compiled by the farm ministry has ...
Business / Corporate Jun 13, 2019
The Japanese and Irish governments have reached a broad agreement on the lifting of Japan's 18-year-old ban on imports of sheep meat from Ireland, Irish agriculture minister Michael Creed said on Twitter on Wednesday. The accord came after Japan resumed imports of Irish beef only ...
National / Crime & Legal Jun 3, 2019
Former top farm official says Kawasaki knife attack prompted him to kill his son
Hideaki Kumazawa reportedly tells police he believed his son could “harm others” after he found out about last week’s stabbing rampage.
National / Crime & Legal Jun 2, 2019
Former top farm bureaucrat arrested over alleged murder of son
A 76-year-old former top bureaucrat at the farm ministry is arrested for allegedly murdering his son at their home in Tokyo.
National May 28, 2019
Damage to Japan's farm sector from natural disasters and extreme weather topped ¥560 billion in 2018
The cost of damage to the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries from abnormal weather and natural disasters including typhoons and torrential rain stood at ¥567.9 billion in 2018, a government white paper said Tuesday. The total also included damage caused by a powerful earthquake in ...
National Apr 2, 2019
Infectious form of African swine fever virus detected for first time in Japan, in meat from China
The agriculture ministry said the discovery of the virus has prompted a decision to strengthen measures against illegal imports of livestock products.
Business Feb 8, 2019
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries exports in 2018 grew 12.4 percent from a year earlier to hit a record high for the sixth straight year, buoyed by strong demand from other Asian nations, the farm ministry said Friday. The preliminary figure of ¥906.8 billion ($8.3 billion) ...
National Feb 6, 2019
Japan's government warns of 'extremely serious situation' as swine fever spreads to five prefectures
A swine fever epidemic continues to spread in Japan, with local authorities in five prefectures saying they are struggling to contain the highly contagious pig virus.
National Jan 5, 2019
The agriculture ministry plans to submit to the Diet a new bill for stricter management of reservoirs for farming, after heavy rain that hit western Japan last summer destroyed some ponds and caused damage, it was learned Saturday. The ministry intends to submit the legislation ...