Japan’s gari ginger makers face rising costs, sushi-market consolidation, and low-priced Chinese competition, prompting new domestic demand development in red ginger, prepared foods, seasonings, bakery, and confectionery.
Rokko Butter and Oguni Hospital hosted “for mom CAFE” for pregnant women and families, serving QBB Cheese DE Iron menus and sharing pregnancy nutrition tips, alongside 4D ultrasound and maternity experiences.
Yoshimura, a Japanese tea-packaging pioneer founded in 1932, is advancing digital flexible packaging, tea branding, tourism, and exports under fourth-generation President Ryusei Hashimoto.
USDEC positions Japan as a priority dairy export market, expanding supplies of cheese, cream cheese, butter, and high-value whey proteins as U.S. capacity growth supports stable long-term supply.
Cook Deli’s “Kayu Plus Meat Miso,” the first optimized nutritional food certified for elderly-care facilities, adds 33 balanced nutrients to rice porridge, delivering 303 kcal and 15g of protein per serving.
USSEC marked the 70th anniversary of its Japan office with a Tokyo reception, celebrating a long-standing U.S.-Japan soybean partnership that supports Japan’s tofu, natto, soy-food, and edible-oil industries.
The All Japan Soy Sauce Manufacturers’ Cooperative Federation appointed Kikkoman adviser Yasumasa Tajima as Executive Managing Director, prioritizing export support and considering clearer brewing-location labels for imported namashoyu.
Japan’s agriculture and economy ministries held their first food packaging exchange meeting with more than 200 industry groups, saying naphtha-based chemical supplies can continue beyond year-end and no current ink-supply disruption has been confirmed.
Chile’s pork industry is strengthening exports to Japan, highlighting ASF-free supply, sustainable antibiotic-free production, and flexible specifications as it seeks opportunities following Spain’s pork import suspension.
Seven-Eleven Japan will accelerate energy-saving investments and logistics efficiency amid rising materials and energy costs, expanding 10%-more-efficient Seven Café latte machines to about 11,000 stores in FY2026.
PPIH will open Robin Hood Toyokawa and Kasamatsu on May 29, expanding its food-focused discount format that combines Uny fresh foods with Don Quijote non-food items and aims for 300 stores by 2030.
Kagome will temporarily switch the outer packaging of its 500g, 300g, and 180g Tomato Ketchup to a reduced-print transparent design from late May, responding to white ink supply constraints linked to Middle East tensions.
Japan’s “Japanese tea” has been registered under MAFF’s national GI system, protecting 100% Japan-grown and Japan-processed non-fermented tea—including matcha—from overseas imitations as exports surge.
Ajinomoto warns Middle East tensions could cut FY2027 business profit by about 30 billion yen, citing higher raw material, packaging, energy, and logistics costs as it diversifies sourcing and considers price actions.
Ito En has rebranded its North American-born matcha LOVE brand, launching six fruit- and almond milk-inspired matcha products to bring the world’s free, café-style ways of enjoying matcha to Japan.
Fuji Oil launched “MIRA-Dashi C700,” a plant-based shrimp-style dashi with no animal-derived ingredients or flavorings, delivering roasted crustacean-like richness for ramen, pasta, soups, ethnic dishes, and processed foods.
Japanese tea farmers face a turning point as matcha-driven demand lifts later-harvest tea prices while first-flush tea struggles to find buyers, highlighting the need for stable contracts, flexible production, and renewed tea consumption.
