New Cold-Storage Technology Helps Farmers Avoid ‘Bumper Crop Poverty’

Jan 18, 2026 | News On Japan

SAGA, Jan 18, 2026 (News On Japan) - A logistics company based in Tosu, Saga Prefecture, a key transport hub in Kyushu, has developed a massive high-performance refrigerated warehouse in-house, using advanced technology to extend the freshness of vegetables and fruit and help farmers avoid the income squeeze known as “bumper crop poverty.”

Fukuoka Sonoriku says its system removes ethylene gas, a major cause of deterioration in produce, allowing cabbage to stay fresh for around 50 days and muscat grapes for as long as four months.

By storing crops until market prices recover, the company aims to prevent farmers from being forced to sell at a loss during periods of oversupply, helping stabilize earnings even when harvests are strong.

Leveraging its long-term storage capability, the firm has also secured fixed-rate transactions with major distribution companies, expanding beyond a traditional logistics role and evolving into a supplier with trading-house functions.

The company says sales have grown 2.5 times over the past eight years, and it plans to expand nationwide through mergers and acquisitions, positioning itself as a future “Amazon of agricultural products.”

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS

Typhoon No. 25 Threatens Heavy Rain in Early Silver Week Holiday

Typhoon No. 25 was moving westward over waters south of the Ogasawara Islands as of noon on September 18 and is expected to bring heavy rain and stormy weather to the islands, Kanto, the Izu Islands and eastern Shizuoka Prefecture during the first half of Japan's five-day Silver Week holiday, before conditions improve across much of the country later in the break.

Bear Sighting Raises Alarm at Popular Tokyo Hiking Spot

A black bear has been spotted near one of the most popular hiking trails on Mount Takao in western Tokyo, prompting authorities to urge visitors to take precautions ahead of the five-day Silver Week holiday and the approaching autumn foliage season.

Starbucks Considers Selling Majority Stake in Japan Business

Starbucks is considering selling a majority stake in its Japanese business, potentially valued at as much as $3 billion, or about 470 billion yen, as the U.S. coffee chain seeks to concentrate management resources on its struggling North American operations.

Halloween Jumbo Lottery Goes on Sale With 400 Million Yen Top Prize

Japan's Halloween Jumbo Lottery went on sale nationwide on September 16, offering a combined top payout of 400 million yen for the first prize and its adjacent-number prizes.

Shinkansen Introduces New Luxury Private Compartment

A new top-tier "Supreme Class" offering fully private compartments above the level of Green Car service will debut on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen on October 1, with passengers able to experience the new seating at a demonstration booth at Shin-Osaka Station.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Nikkei Rallies as BOJ Rate Hike Weakens Yen and Lifts AI Shares

Tokyo stocks rose sharply on September 18, with the Nikkei 225 climbing to around 65,350 in afternoon trading after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to 1.25%, as the yen weakened and investors bought artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares.

BOJ Raises Policy Rate to 1.25% as Yen Weakens

The Bank of Japan raised its policy interest rate from 1.0% to 1.25% on September 18, lifting borrowing costs to their highest level in 31 years as policymakers moved to contain growing inflation risks, but the yen weakened sharply after the decision as markets focused on two dissenting votes and uncertainty over the pace of further increases.

Nikkei Rises as Fed Relief Fades Before BOJ Decision

Tokyo stocks rose on September 17, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,136, up 213.25 points, as investors bought selected technology, pharmaceutical, insurance and consumer-related shares after the Federal Reserve’s rate hike, though gains were capped by a stronger dollar, renewed yen weakness and caution before the Bank of Japan’s policy decision.

Gas Stations Decline Nationwide, Only 2 Left in Hakone

Hakone, one of the Kanto region's most popular tourist destinations, has been left with just two operating gas stations after a series of closures, prompting the town to provide more than 10 million yen in subsidies to help reopen a shuttered facility.

Halloween Jumbo Lottery Goes on Sale With 400 Million Yen Top Prize

Japan's Halloween Jumbo Lottery went on sale nationwide on September 16, offering a combined top payout of 400 million yen for the first prize and its adjacent-number prizes.

Japan Plans First Major Overhaul of Unlisted Share Inheritance

Japan's National Tax Agency is preparing a major overhaul of the way unlisted shares are valued for inheritance tax, a reform that could significantly affect business succession at profitable, asset-rich companies and would mark the first fundamental revision of the rules since they were introduced in 1964.

Nikkei Rises as Investors Brace for Fed and BOJ Decisions

Tokyo stocks rose on September 16, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 63,923, up 438.90 points, as futures-led buying lifted the index into a high close before the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, while investors remained cautious over oil prices, rising interest rates and the Bank of Japan’s meeting later this week.

Kansai Land Prices Continue Rising in Urban Areas

Benchmark land prices released on September 15 showed continued gains in urban areas across Kansai, led by strong increases in central Osaka and parts of Kyoto, with experts expecting the upward trend to continue for the time being while warning of growing effects on housing costs and regional disparities.

< 2 3 4 5 >