Part of this demand is due to the health drink image orange juice has acquired in recent years. The ministry has kept the imports low in order to protect domestic growers. The ministry is concerned that if it gave in to the request for higher emergency imports the US may use that against Japan in negotiations on orange import quotas scheduled for 1987 to demand greater imports into Japan. The Japanese orange juice drink makers have found that the higher the ratio of imported orange juice blended with the local juice, the greater the sales. The Japanese taste buds like the taste of imports.
Some Japanese makers claim.
The imported orange juice is sweeter than Japanese juice and it smells better. If possible, we would like to increase the level of imported orange juice in our drinks. The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has decided to increase imports of beef by 800 tons in the second half of fiscal year 1985. That amounts to an increase of 0.035 ounces of beef per person per month for the six months. The increase amount is to be given to local governments to sponsor import fairs for a product strictly limited by quotas.