Promoting Fukushima produce

Promoting Fukushima produce

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese farm minister Michihiko Kano (R) buys ''Aizu Koshihikari'' brand rice at a sales and exhibit event for agricultural produce from Fukushima Prefecture held in front of the entrance of the ministry in Tokyo on May 20, 2011. The event, open to the public, was held to help farmers in the prefecture who have been hit by consumer fears about radiation following an accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Japanese lawmakers pitch rice from Japan in Beijing

Japanese lawmakers pitch rice from Japan in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Toshikatsu Matsuoka (L) of Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party introduced ''Uonuma Koshihikari,'' the top brand rice in Japan, to Zhou Qiang, first secretary of the Communist Youth League of China on Jan. 20. Matsuoka and other lawmakers made a pitch for the start of Japanese rice exports to China, inviting Chinese officials to try some of the top Japanese brands of rice at an event held in Beijing.

Dassai brewer releases rare sake made by mistake

Dassai brewer releases rare sake made by mistake

Undated photo shows bottles of "Dassai Shoshin," a rare version of premium Dassai sake of Japanese brewer Asahishuzo Co. in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. While Dassai is a pure rice sake using Yamada-nishiki rice, the brewer found in February 2015 that Koshihikari rice had been accidently mixed into the product. The brewer removed the "Junmai Daiginjo" label and started to sell the mixed rice sake at the lower price under the name "Dassai Shoshin." Dassai has been given by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a gift to U.S. President Barack Obama. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japanese lawmakers pitch rice from Japan in Beijing

Japanese lawmakers pitch rice from Japan in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Toshikatsu Matsuoka (L) of Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party introduced ''Uonuma Koshihikari,'' the top brand rice in Japan, to Zhou Qiang, first secretary of the Communist Youth League of China on Jan. 20. Matsuoka and other lawmakers made a pitch for the start of Japanese rice exports to China, inviting Chinese officials to try some of the top Japanese brands of rice at an event held in Beijing. (Kyodo)

Promoting Fukushima produce

Promoting Fukushima produce

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese farm minister Michihiko Kano (R) buys ''Aizu Koshihikari'' brand rice at a sales and exhibit event for agricultural produce from Fukushima Prefecture held in front of the entrance of the ministry in Tokyo on May 20, 2011. The event, open to the public, was held to help farmers in the prefecture who have been hit by consumer fears about radiation following an accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. (Kyodo)