Latest news with #MainichiShimbun
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
'Not bad at all': Japan expert taste-tests stockpiled rice as reserves hit shelves
TOKYO -- The Japanese government has started selling its stockpiled rice through negotiated contracts in an effort to curb the rising price of the staple, which has sparked public interest in the quality of old rice, particularly its taste. It's rare for stockpiled rice, released only in response to disasters, to enter the market, making this the first time for it to be used to control prices. And because it is rarely released, consumers don't often get a chance to taste it. The impression of old rice having poor flavor is deeply rooted. Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the opposition Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), commented that stockpiled rice "after a year becomes something fit for animal feed," apparently echoing this negative perception. But how much does the quality of rice actually decline over time? The Mainichi Shimbun asked a food scientist and a major rice cooker manufacturer to find out. 'Not bad,' says expert "Of course, freshly harvested rice tastes best. But older rice isn't bad at all," said Toshiaki Mitsui, a specially appointed professor at Niigata University who teaches molecular biology. On May 29, he taste-tested rice harvested in 2024, 2022 and 2020 -- all from the same region and freshly milled. "The new rice from 2024 has an excellent aroma, chewy texture and refined sweetness. Older rice can be a bit dry and lose some of its luster. But I couldn't tell the difference between the 2022 and 2020 rice. While the fragrance is fading, there was no unpleasant smell." According to Mitsui, the fat found on the outer surface of rice oxidizes and produces compounds like hexanal over time, which can cause a so-called "old rice smell" when cooked. However, in his actual tests, even rice from five years ago apparently tasted like ordinary rice. "The outer layer is removed when the rice is milled, and more importantly, it all depends on how it is stored. I've heard that government stockpiles are kept at low temperatures with carefully controlled humidity, so there shouldn't be any issue," he explained. 'Livestock are eating well' Rice prices remain high. Despite the situation, consumers likely want to continue enjoying tasty rice as part of their daily meals. Agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who is overseeing the effort to bring down rice prices, criticized Tamaki's "animal feed" comment as "a bit disappointing," though the comment itself is technically true. Stockpiled rice is generally sold for animal feed if it is stored for more than five years. Of the 300,000 metric tons now being released by the government through negotiated contracts, 100,000 tons were harvested in 2021 and 200,000 tons in 2022. Tamaki's comment referred to this. Tamaki held a speech on the streets that same evening after the animal feed remark, and said, "That's why I don't think even 1,800 yen (about $13) for 5 kilograms is cheap." While the term "animal feed" may evoke the image of rice of a severely degraded quality, Mitsui laughed and said, "You could say that Japanese livestock (that are being fed stockpiled rice) are actually eating pretty well." He added, "Older rice can still taste really good. Why not think of it as a rare opportunity and enjoy it?" How to cook old rice according to rice cooker manufacturer Japanese rice cookers have made notable progress in recent years. Major brands now boast features that allow even older rice to be cooked deliciously. Milling technology is also said to have advanced significantly. Osaka-based Zojirushi Corp., a major rice cooker and kitchen appliance manufacturer, advises on its website that "since older rice contains less moisture, it's best to add a little more water when cooking." At the same time, scrubbing the rice too hard due to worries over the quality of old grains is apparently not recommended. Older rice tends to be drier and more fragile, making it more likely to crack when washed vigorously. A representative from the company's public relations department said, "In the past, people were told to scrub the rice, but now with advanced milling technology, a light rinse is enough. You don't need to worry that much just because it's old rice."
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
'American and Japanese rice farmers can join forces': US ambassador says on exports
TOKYO -- U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass, who assumed his position in April, contributed an opinion piece to the Mainichi Shimbun regarding exports of U.S. rice, stating, "American and Japanese rice farmers can join forces to bring relief to Japanese households." Below is the full text. * * * Rice: Easing the Burden on Japanese Consumers By U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass My first few weeks in Japan as the U.S. Ambassador have reinforced for me the indispensable role of rice in the national diet. Whether it's part of a lunch bento, a sushi dinner, or an onigiri on the go, rice is eaten at least once a day by most Japanese. So, when the price of that staple increases drastically, every consumer and family is impacted. With a standard 5-kilogram bag of rice now twice as much as it was a year ago, Japanese consumers are having to make hard choices about what they buy and what they eat each day. Since food represents the largest share of monthly spending for Japanese households, the current rice situation is, naturally, causing concern across the country. Americans understand what it feels like when the price of a staple food skyrockets. Last year, the United States faced its own crisis when a bird flu outbreak led to a dramatic surge in egg prices. To help mitigate a shortage, the U.S. government looked for a solution overseas, temporarily sourcing eggs from producers as far away as South Korea and Turkey. Within a remarkably short period, egg supplies stabilized and prices returned to near-normal levels. It was bold and unconventional thinking that averted an even worse situation for American consumers. In contrast, the Japanese public has endured months of rising rice prices. Even the release of emergency stockpiles has failed to ease the burden for the average consumer. Unfortunately, a combination of restrictive domestic production policies, a deficient distribution system, and protectionism have hampered the government's ability to provide immediate relief to Japanese consumers and their strained household budgets. Amid the ongoing difficulties, retailers are doing their best to meet consumer demand. Japan's largest supermarket chain, Aeon, for example, will offer premium California-grown Calrose rice at stores across Japan from June 6. Earlier this month, I hosted an event at the Ambassador's Residence in Tokyo to launch Aeon's new product and commended the retailer for providing its customers with another rice option to help them manage their weekly grocery costs. While many Japanese may not immediately associate rice with America, it has been grown in California for more than a century. Initially using methods learned from Japanese growers, farmers in California now produce high-grade rice varieties that meet the exacting standards of the Japanese market. Getting their Calrose rice on supermarket shelves in Japan, however, can be a bigger challenge. The California farmers receive around $670 (approx. 97,000 yen) per ton for their rice, which is a fair market price. But, by the time the same rice reaches the kitchen of a Japanese family, its price has ballooned to around $5,500 (roughly 800,000 yen) per ton. Multiple charges and costs applied once the rice arrives in Japan add an extra 3,500 yen to a 5-kilogram bag. It's an arrangement with no tangible benefit for the Japanese consumer. Japan's rice challenge has highlighted the urgent need for a trading system that is flexible and responsive to market needs. Reform doesn't mean undermining the livelihoods of Japanese farmers, either. As somebody with roots in farming in my home state of Oregon, I understand the essential role our agricultural sector plays in our economies and communities. I also know what it's like to wake up before dawn and spend all day, whatever the weather, tending to livestock or crops. It's hard work that requires determination and adaptability. Like Japanese farmers, American farmers are proud and dedicated stewards of the land they cultivate and the animals they raise. And just as they deserve to be paid fairly for what they produce, consumers deserve to pay a fair price for it. As last year's egg challenges in the U.S. showed, when a nation's food security is at stake, it takes resourcefulness, ingenuity, and even help from your friends to ensure supply chains are secure and supermarket shelves are stocked. The United States and Japan have a long history of helping each other in times of adversity, just as our two countries have worked together for decades to preserve peace and deliver development to nations across the world. Now, in another example of what we can accomplish as friends and partners, American and Japanese rice farmers can join forces to bring relief to Japanese households.
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- Health
- The Mainichi
Why is Japan letting medical institutions add 'sleep disorder' to department names?
The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the Japanese health ministry's plan to let medical institutions add "sleep disorder" to department names. Question: I've heard there's a move to allow medical institutions to newly add "sleep disorder" or similar terms to their department names. Why is that? Answer: Sleep disorders can be broadly divided into categories such as insomnia, hypersomnia and parasomnia, which includes sleepwalking. Insomnia is particularly prevalent, and it is said that one in five Japanese people are suffering from chronic insomnia. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is working to add "sleep disorder" to the list of department names that institutions are allowed to display to ensure that patients can receive appropriate care from medical institutions by having the institutions specify that their departments treat these disorders. Q: What will change if it's added? A: Sleep disorders are currently treated across a wide range of departments, including psychiatric and respiratory medicine departments. After hearings in the ministry's expert panel, it will be possible to incorporate the condition into the existing department name. For example, names such as "sleep disorder psychiatric department" are envisaged. Q: Why is sleep getting so much attention? A: According to the Japanese Society of Sleep Research, the role and importance of sleep have become clear in scientific research in recent years. There is growing momentum for research not only on the health impacts of sleep deprivation but also its socioeconomic effects. In 2016, a U.S. think tank estimated Japan's economic loss due to sleep deprivation at approximately 15 trillion yen (roughly $103 billion) annually, and the Japanese Society of Sleep Research and other parties have been advocating for improved medical infrastructure. Q: How much sleep should we get daily? A: The health ministry suggests at least six hours. A national survey in 2023 found that 40% of Japanese people slept less than six hours. However, data indicates that sleeping for eight or more hours increases the mortality risk among the elderly. Striking a balance between day and night activities is essential for quality sleep.
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- The Mainichi
Spread of sexual deepfake images created by generative AI growing in Japan
TOKYO -- Sexual deepfake images and videos created by misusing generative artificial intelligence and targeting children and women are rapidly spreading across Japan. In some cases, fake nude images of individuals are created without their knowledge, and exposed online along with their real names, addresses and school names. The Mainichi Shimbun looked into the real damage caused by generative AI, which can not only lead to children becoming victims but also potential perpetrators. Sumire Nagamori, head of the volunteer organization Hiiragi Net, which patrols the internet and reports content to platform operators and the police, scrolled through her computer screen with a grim expression. She was doing research on an overwhelming volume of sexually fake images and videos posted on social media, including school group photos which have been edited to make the female students appear naked, and yearbook pictures where bodies beneath the faces have been modified sexually. Many schools use a system where professional photographers upload event photos to dedicated websites, allowing families to select and purchase the images they want. It appears that these pictures are also being leaked and misused online. There are even exchanges on the internet, such as, "Let's trade login IDs and passwords for each school's photo sales website." Previously, creating sexually fake images such as "idol collages," known as "aikora," which combine a person's face with pornographic content, required some degree of editing knowledge and technical skill. But now, with apps and websites that incorporate generative AI, users can simply upload an image and generate a deepfake in a matter of less than a minute. The lowered barrier to creation is contributing to the rapid rise in damage. The Tokyo-based nonprofit Organization for Pornography and Sexual Exploitation Survivors, or PAPS, which has supported victims of digital sexual violence, began actively calling on victims of pornographic deepfakes to seek help around six months ago. One victim became unable to attend school after fake images of them were spread online along with their school name, due to fear that "a stranger might be waiting in front of the school." PAPS chairperson Kazuna Kanajiri stated, "The fear experienced by victims is immeasurable," and urged those affected to seek support. PAPS can be reached via the phone at 050-3177-5432 (in Japanese) or email at paps@
The Mainichi
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Mascots from around the world a huge hit at Osaka Expo
OSAKA -- Unique mascot characters from various countries are proving to be a big hit at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Many pavilions offer scheduled photo opportunities with their mascots, who shake hands and give hugs to fans. The characters are working hard to appeal to visitors in Japan, where the culture of "yuru-chara" or laid-back characters, has taken root. At the center of a crowd in front of the Germany Pavilion was Circular, a round-shaped mascot. Its soft and bouncy texture makes it especially endearing. The theme of the Germany Pavilion is the circular economy, and the mascot was inspired by Japan's "kawaii culture." A woman visiting from the city of Osaka said, "I'm happy they understand Japanese culture." At the Czechia Pavilion, visitors were greeted by Rene, a multi-eyed character and a friend of the event's official mascot, Myaku-Myaku. Possibly due to its slightly eccentric design, many people were seen taking photos from a distance. Over at the Singapore Pavilion, people were welcomed by Merli, the mascot of the Singapore Tourism Board. A spokesperson explained, "He's a boy character inspired by Merlion, which is also well known in Japan. He appears in front of the pavilion three times a day." When asked about the Canada Pavilion's mascot Parka, a staff member explained, "You can only meet her on special days." That rarity seems to be part of the appeal. After spending about four hours exploring the venue, this Mainichi Shimbun reporter spotted four mascots in total, including Myaku-Myaku. Since each pavilion generally has set appearance times for these characters, visitors are recommended to check ahead and plan if they want to meet them. (Japanese original by Takehiko Onishi, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
