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.
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan, Anker Japan, and Ebina City will deploy 33 portable power stations at about 30 evacuation centers, keeping disaster-response vending machines and smartphone charging available during outages.
Showa Sangyo Vietnam unveiled locally made “SHOWA TEMPURA Batter Mix,” tailored for a crisp texture and vivid color, as its new Ho Chi Minh City premix factory strengthens Vietnam, ASEAN, and global expansion.
Japan’s almond milk market reached a record 32.5 billion yen in 2025, up 44% year on year, as health and beauty demand grows and CHOMPOO launches six almond-milk Thai dishes from May 1.
Shizuoka has launched the global premium tea brand “JAPAN TEA SHIZUOKA,” defined by 100% first-harvest tea grown and finished in the prefecture, with a Kashiwa Sato-designed “modern Rangiji” logo.
Japan faces a domestic honey shortage as honeybees disappear from hives, threatening harvests and crop pollination, while tests flag suspected adulteration in more than 10 imported products labeled 100% pure honey.
Ajikan launched powdered “Delicious Whole Burdock Tea, Including the Skin” in 2.2 g sticks for drinks, rice, ice cream, and lattes, alongside inulin green juice with claims for bowel and triglyceride support.
A-Plus operates Farm & Factory TAMURA in Fukushima, a fully automated plant factory producing 12,000 pesticide-free lettuce heads daily, while expanding into cup salads, strawberries, and global consulting.
