Fukushima rice bound for U.S. next winter, 1st local product freed of import ban
The Fukushima prefectural government is considering resuming shipments of locally produced rice to the United States as early as the winter of fiscal 2022. It is giving rice top priority among the 35 products that have been removed recently from an import ban list imposed by Washington after the 2011 nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima …
Fukushima completes rebuilding all tsunami-ravaged fishing ports
Work to repair Ukedo fishing port in the Fukushima Prefecture town of Namie, badly damaged by the 2011 earthquake and ensuing tsunami, has been completed, meaning all 10 local ports impacted in the disaster are again working as normal, the prefectural government announced on Nov. 11. It took more than a decade to restore the ports, partly due to the …
Japan's national softball team makes glorious return to Fukushima
Japan's national softball team returned triumphant on Nov. 3 to Azuma Stadium in Fukushima city, which hosted some epic games during the Tokyo Olympics. The Japan Softball Association held a "ceremony for the gold medalists" in the ballpark run by the Fukushima prefectural government. Head coach Reika Utsugi, 58, and 15 players extended their gratitude to people in Fukushima Prefecture …
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4 November 2021
Fukushima’s new rice variety debuts as original quality breed
A new variety of high-grade rice developed by Fukushima Prefecture went on sale on Oct. 28. Called "Fuku, Warai" (literally meaning "good luck, laughter"), it was unveiled at events held the same day at the Yoshikawaya inn at the Anahara …
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28 October 2021
Head of Fukushima-tied group in London fetes 50 years of stay in Britain
A commemorative party was held in London on Oct. 20 in honor of Yoshio Mitsuyama, president of the Fukushima Prefectural Association in London (popularly known as London Shakunage Kai, which literally means "alpine rose society"), who celebrates the 50th anniversary …
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21 October 2021
Exchange center opens in Okuma town, 1st coming-of-age ceremony in 10 years held
An opening ceremony was held in the Ogawara district of the Fukushima Prefecture town of Okuma on Oct. 16 to celebrate the completion of a center for exchange among citizens built by the municipal government as a new symbol of …
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18 October 2021
No new COVID-19 case in Fukushima on Oct. 8, first in 230 days
No one tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Fukushima Prefecture on Oct. 8, the local government announced on Oct. 9. It was the first time in 230 days since the daily tally was published on Feb. 21 that no …
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7 October 2021
JA's 5 units in Fukushima mull merger, other options for overhaul
A group of five Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) outposts in Fukushima Prefecture will consider reviewing their current organizational setup, with assumed options including their possible merger in line with the principle of "one JA in each prefecture" and closer partnerships …
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30 September 2021
U.S. lifts import ban on food products from Fukushima, elsewhere in Japan
The United States has eliminated all import restrictions on food products from 14 prefectures in Japan, including Fukushima, imposed after the killer earthquake-caused nuclear accident in 2011 at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima Daiichi plant, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced on Sept. 22. The banned products from Fukushima in question were 35 items, the largest number among the prefectures. They included rice, raw milk, and log-grown "shiitake" mushrooms. The U.S. move is expected to help dissipate the bad reputation overseas of Fukushima products stemming from the disaster and further expand exports from the prefecture. But …