Japan’s Largest Farming Corporation Unveils Strategy to Compete in Asia

TOKYO, Jul 15 (News On Japan) - A major farming corporation based in eastern Japan, Butai Farm, known for using robotics to grow lettuce and supplying pre-cut vegetables to 7-Eleven stores, has announced a new strategy to promote agriculture that can compete in Asian markets.

On July 14th, the company revealed an open-platform strategy aimed at expanding production bases by sharing its smart farming expertise—such as solar-powered systems—with local farmers and municipalities across the country.

The goal is to support aging and struggling farming communities nationwide and stem the decline of Japanese agriculture. Butai Farm also announced plans to produce and distribute seedlings of a high-yield, heat- and typhoon-resistant rice variety called "Niji no Kirameki" across Japan. Through the distribution of these seeds, the company hopes to help ease the current rice shortage and promote sustainable agricultural growth.

Source: テレ東BIZ

Long Lines in Russia for Japan Tourist Visas

Long lines have been forming daily outside the Japanese Embassy in Russia as people seek tourist visas to visit Japan, with an unprecedented boom in travel interest despite Moscow designating Japan an “unfriendly nation” over sanctions related to the Ukraine invasion.

Can Foreign Drivers Save Japan’s Logistics Industry?

A severe shortage of truck drivers—forecast to reach 210,000 by fiscal 2030—has prompted a driving school operator in Fukuoka Prefecture to begin recruiting foreign drivers in an effort to support Japan’s strained logistics sector.

Chinese Media Reports Travel to Japan Down 54%

China’s week-long Lunar New Year holiday began on February 15th, marking the start of the longest Spring Festival break on record at nine days.

Six Students Taken to Hospital After Eating Overly Salty Pizza

Six junior high school students were taken to hospital after falling ill from eating pizza made during a home economics class in Kitakyushu last month, with officials suspecting the cause to be an excessive amount of salt added to the dough.

Osaka Fraud Losses Top 33.9 Billion Yen as Police-Impersonation Scams Surge

Losses from special fraud and SNS-based investment and romance scams in Osaka Prefecture over the past year exceeded 33.9 billion yen, marking a record high.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Japan’s GDP Returns to Growth in October–December but Lacks Momentum

Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) for the October–December period posted an annualized increase of 0.2%, marking the first growth in two quarters, though the recovery remains weak.

80s Rise of Japanese economy | Doc Preview

After its defeat and surrender in World War II, Japan experienced rapid economic growth that permeated the entire nation, reaching its peak in the late 1980s. (TRNGL)

Japan To Raise Initial And Follow-Up Medical Fees

Medical consultation fees at healthcare institutions in Japan are set to rise starting in June as authorities move to address soaring costs and wage increases, with around 70 percent of hospitals nationwide currently operating at a loss.

PayPay Teams Up With Visa to Break Into the U.S.

PayPay, Japan’s leading QR-code payment service, has announced a partnership with Visa, the world’s largest credit card network, as it looks to expand into the United States, where QR payments remain far less common and tap-to-pay dominates everyday transactions.