Japan News Update #40 (1 - 15 Nov, 2022)

Stay updated on the latest agricultural news in Japan, that we publish every two weeks.

by Yuki Sano

 Sustainable trends in reducing waste and upcycling

Convenience stores and supermarkets in Japan use artificial intelligence to determine what discounts to apply to perishable items based on data. Lawson, one of Japan's leading convenience store chains, has introduced an AI system in 2015 and plans to begin a nationwide expansion in fiscal 2023. Aeon Retail, a major grocery store operator, has also created an AI discounting system, which one executive praised for “ending the practice of needing to make huge discounts right before closing time.”
Source: AI helps Japanese convenience stores profit from reduced waste

Photo: a discount sticker

Japanese firms explore projects to turn sugar cane and cassava waste into energy that does not deplete food stocks in Thailand. Sumitomo aims to collaborate with a local firm, Global Green Chemicals, a Thai petrochemical conglomerate PTT Global Chemical subsidiary, to establish Asia's first facility to mass-produce biofuel from sugar cane waste. Kao, whose products include laundry detergent and soap, plans to have a bioethanol demonstration facility in Thailand by 2027.
Source: Japan looks to Thailand for bioethanol that doesn't fuel food insecurity           

Agricultural trainees at a kiwi farm in Fukuoka Prefecture attempt to build "composting toilets" so that women may readily use the restroom while working in the fields. Last year, the farm's women’s bathroom was too far away, although all trainees were women. They intend to construct ecological toilets out of local bamboo and to recycle and compost excrement.
Source: Compost toilets to solve women's toilet needs during farm work

Sustainable practices through labelling

Japanese food service industry attempts to position sustainability efforts as an add-on. For example, the sustainable Restaurants Association Japan launched "FOOD MADE GOOD," a service from the UK, rating sustainability such as reducing environmental burden and improving the labour environment. Currently, 35 restaurants have introduced the rating. In addition, The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) experiments with a label of greenhouse gas emission reduction. It aims to sound out consumers’ willingness to pay extra for more sustainable products as part of MAFF's Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems policy.
Source: UK-originated Sustainable restaurants scoring activities launches in JapanMAFF tests greenhouse gas emission reduction labels on agricultural products

Healthy junk food and Health food welcomed by JP consumers

A series of "Kanzen Meshi" (Perfect Rice/Meal), released by Nisshin Food, a Japanese food manufacturer, is a smash hit in 2022. The company says the products, such as a cup of instant curry noodles, contain 33 nutrients recommended per day by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, as well as a "perfect" balance of carbs, protein, and fat. As a result, consumers tend to buy the products since there is no need to change their lifestyle, resulting in popularity among men in their 30s and 40s.
Source: Nissin food's "Complete meal" exceeds 4 million servings

BASE FOOD Inc., a Japanese startup that creates nutritionally balanced staple foods, was newly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The number of return consumers is growing, particularly among health-conscious individuals. Around 140,000 people have purchased products such as bread and pasta subscriptions. The company also aims to expand to China and US markets.
Source: Japan's startup develops "Complete nutritional foods"; BASE FOOD was newly listed

In Japan, the market for food and beverage items that promise to improve sleep quality is flourishing due to the increasing number of individuals plagued by mental and physical difficulties triggered by the pandemic. According to Fuji Keizai Co., a Tokyo-based research firm, the market for food products aimed at reducing stress and enhancing sleep quality increased 1.5-fold from the previous year to 36.5 billion in 2021.
Source: Can't sleep? Drinkable aids are booming in JapanFood Items for Better Sleep Booming in Japan

New technology from Japanese Universities

Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have devised a novel way of producing squid that might alleviate scarcity amid attention to animal welfare issues. The OIST team is sure that their effort will lessen the strain on local and worldwide squid populations while continuing to provide Japanese customers with nutritious, sustainable seafood.
Source: Japan makes squid farming breakthrough as wild catches plummet

Photo: squid sushi

A research team at Kindai University developed a new method that uses enzymes to easily peel the skins off vegetables and fruits. It is expected to save labour in peeling work, which is a burden when processing and selling agricultural products. The team plans to commercialize this technology in three years.
Source: Fruit peeling technology using enzymes