Fukushima: News From The Meltdowns, September 21-30 2013
Channel: rumorecurioso
Date: 14/11/2013

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

SAKE BREWERS PROMOTE SALES IN CALIFORNIA

Sake brewers from Japan have promoted their drinks at a tasting event in Los Angeles, to try and further expand sales overseas.

29 brewers featured more than 100 types of sake at the event on Monday. The Japan External Trade Organization invited some 200 non-Japanese restaurant owners and retailers.

The United States receives Japan's largest share of sake exports at about 30 percent, but most of the beverage currently goes only to Japanese restaurants.

A French restaurant manager in Los Angeles said sake goes well with not just Japanese cuisine but various foods, so he thinks it will become popular like wine.

Makoto Kanome from a city in Fukushima said some types of sake taste good with meat dishes and he would like many Americans to try the drink.

Sep. 24, 2013 - Updated 05:21 UTC

FIRST RICE HARVEST MORE THAN 2 YEARS AFTER TSUNAMI

 Farmers in Miyagi Prefecture are bringing in their first rice crop since the giant tsunami more than 2 years ago devastated their paddies.

Harvesting of the popular Hitomebore rice began on Wednesday in the Tamaura Nanbu district of Iwanuma City.

Salt water from the March 2011 tsunami destroyed 150 hectares of rice paddies in the district, and swept away farmers' homes and equipment.

In February, 15 farmers set up a cooperative to revive rice-growing. They planted about 10 hectares of paddies where the salt had been removed.

The head of the cooperative said he worried about whether he could continue to grow rice in the district, and that he is overjoyed with the first harvest in 3 years.

Farmers in the cooperative say they will plant about 70 hectares of rice next year, in paddies entrusted to them by other farmers in the district.

Sep. 25, 2013 - Updated 05:23 UTC

FUKUSHIMA TOWN MAY RESUME SHIPPING RICE

A town near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is preparing to ship rice for the first time since the March 2011 disaster.

Hirono town is located within a 30 kilometer radius of the nuclear plant. Local farmers voluntarily suspended rice growing following the disaster because of radioactive contamination.

Rice production resumed in the town earlier this year for the first time in 3 years. Last year's harvest tested within the allowable radioactive levels decided by the national government.

On Wednesday, radioactive tests on rice fresh from paddies began at an agricultural cooperative facility in a neighboring town.

All the rice harvested from 110 hectares, or nearly half the total of paddies in Hirono Town, will be tested.

Only rice that passes a stricter-than-the state safety standard will be shipped to market. But concern remains over whether consumers will buy rice from the town.

A town official said they will work to assure consumers that only safe rice will be shipped. He stressed that winning consumer confidence will be the key to restoring business.

Sep. 25, 2013 - Updated 04:42 UTC

FUKUSHIMA FISH HIT LOCAL MARKETS

Fish caught off the coast of Fukushima are being sold at local markets after test-catches resumed, following a suspension over concerns of radioactive water leaks.

Fishermen and wholesalers flocked to the Matsukawaura Port in the city of Soma early on Thursday.

They prepared around 1,500 kilograms of hairy crabs, squid and other marine products.

Fishermen resumed offshore test-fishing on Wednesday. Such fishing was suspended early this month after contaminated water leaked into the ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The local fisheries cooperative said no radioactive substances were found in the 11 types of seafood caught this time.

Any catch must clear a radiation test before reaching the markets.

The shipped products soon hit the shelves of local retailers. At a supermarket in Soma, shoppers bought the seafood after checking the attached test certificates.

A 79-year-old customer says he prefers local products because of their freshness. He says although he is concerned about the leakage, he has no worries about food safety as all the products are thoroughly checked.

The seafood is expected to be put on sale on Friday in Sendai, the prefectural capital of neighboring Miyagi Prefecture, and in Tokyo on Saturday.

Sep. 26, 2013 - Updated 04:58 UTC