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JA-Zenchu chairman Banzai at press conference

TOKYO, Japan - Akira Banzai, chairman of the JA-Zenchu (Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives), speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on June 5, 2014.

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Keidanren, JA Zenchu align for agricultural promotion

TOKYO, Japan - Keidanren Chairman Hiromasa Yonekura (standing) speaks during a meeting on an export promotion plan for domestic agricultural products with Akira Banzai, chairman of JA Zenchu (the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives) (2nd from R) in Tokyo, on May 13, 2014.

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Farmers' body reform plans

TOKYO, Japan - Akira Banzai, head of JA-Zenchu, or the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 3, 2014, to release a set of reform plans for the governing body of agricultural cooperatives in Japan. Banzai said the body will appoint entrepreneurial farmers as senior officials of local agricultural cooperatives as part of efforts to rejuvenate its organization.

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Farmers call for TPP tariff exemptions

TOKYO, Japan - Akira Banzai (L), head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, hands to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the premier's office in Tokyo on March 1, 2013, a letter of request urging Japan not to join talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a U.S.-led free-trade agreement for the Asia-Pacific region, if domestic farmers would no longer enjoy tariff protection.

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JA's national conference

TOKYO, Japan - Akira Banzai, chairman of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), speaks during a national conference held by the JA group, Japan's largest farm lobby, in Tokyo on Oct. 11, 2012. It is set to adopt a resolution against Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations.

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Farm cooperative body against Japan joining Pacific trade talks

TOKYO, Japan - Akira Banzai, head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 24, 2011. He said the national farm cooperative federation will submit a petition to parliament against Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations.

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Farm cooperative body against Japan joining Pacific trade talks

TOKYO, Japan - Akira Banzai (R), head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, attends a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 24, 2011. He said the national farm cooperative federation will submit a petition to parliament against Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations.

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Farm lobby leader remains opposed to government reform plan

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Feb. 5, 2015, renewing opposition to the government's plan to reform the powerful Japanese farm lobby known as JA-Zenchu. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese farmers urge gov't to protect key items before TPP talks

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, talks with reporters after meeting with Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Akira Amari in Tokyo on July 27, 2015. Banzai urged the nation's minister in charge of a 12-country Pacific Rim free trade initiative to protect key farm products ahead of his departure for Hawaii to attend ministerial talks on the trade pact. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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JA-Zenchu head Banzai speaks at rally in Tokyo

Akira Banzai, head of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives, known as JA-Zenchu, addresses a rally in Tokyo on May 19, 2015. The rally was held to call for protection of key farm items, including rice, in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal negotiations. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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JA-Zenchu chief to step down amid Abe's push for agricultural reform

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, also known as JA-Zenchu, speaks about his resignation at a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2015. Banzai, head of Japan's powerful umbrella organization for regional agricultural cooperatives across Japan, said he made the decision as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet has approved a bill to weaken its influence and give more autonomy to local cooperatives. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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JA-Zenchu chief to step down amid Abe's push for agricultural reform

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, also known as JA-Zenchu, speaks about his resignation at a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2015. Banzai, head of Japan's powerful umbrella organization for regional agricultural cooperatives across Japan, said he made the decision as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet has approved a bill to weaken its influence and give more autonomy to local cooperatives. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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JA-Zenchu chief to step down amid Abe's push for agricultural reform

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, also known as JA-Zenchu, wipes his brow during a press conference in Tokyo on April 9, 2015. Banzai, head of Japan's powerful umbrella organization for regional agricultural cooperatives across Japan, said he is stepping down as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet has approved a bill to weaken its influence and give more autonomy to local cooperatives. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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JA-Zenchu chief Banzai to step down

Undated photo shows Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, known as JA-Zenchu. Banzai announced on April 9, 2015, he will step down around August. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese farm lobby leader speaks to foreign press in Tokyo

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, known as JA-Zenchu, speaks at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 12, 2015, focusing on the government's plan to overhaul the farm lobby. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's top farmers' union to give local cooperatives more power

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, known as JA-Zenchu, is surrounded by reporters at the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2015, after the umbrella organization for agricultural cooperatives around the nation accepted a government proposal to give up its current privileged status and become a general incorporated body by March 2019, losing the right to supervise local cooperatives. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's top farmers' union to give local cooperatives more power

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, known as JA-Zenchu, is surrounded by reporters at the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2015, after the umbrella organization for agricultural cooperatives around the nation accepted a government proposal to give up its current privileged status and become a general incorporated body by March 2019, losing the right to supervise local cooperatives. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's top farmers' union to give local cooperatives more power

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, known as JA-Zenchu, is surrounded by reporters at the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2015, after the umbrella organization for agricultural cooperatives around the nation accepted a government proposal to give up its current privileged status and become a general incorporated body by March 2019, losing the right to supervise local cooperatives. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Man in news: Choe Okuno, new head of farm lobby JA-Zenchu

Choe Okuno, newly elected head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, or JA-Zenchu, speaks in Tokyo on June 23, 2015. He won the first election for the post in 10 years. Reform-minded Okuno, 68, will succeed Akira Banzai as head of the farming lobby in August. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Farm cooperative body against Japan joining Pacific trade talks

TOKYO, Japan - Akira Banzai, head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 24, 2011. He said the national farm cooperative federation will submit a petition to parliament against Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations. (Kyodo)

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Farm cooperative body against Japan joining Pacific trade talks

TOKYO, Japan - Akira Banzai (R), head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, attends a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 24, 2011. He said the national farm cooperative federation will submit a petition to parliament against Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations. (Kyodo)