Japan’s Organic Markets
Ever since the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) organic certification system was established in 2001, interest in organic products has risen greatly, but even five years later, 2006, the total percentage of organic farming was only 0.18% of all farming.

For that reason, in recent years the recognition of Japanese organic products has started to rise. However, due to the recession and the deflation of normal food products, the difference in price of organic food to normal food is too large, resulting in a larger number of consumers who restrain themselves from purchasing organic even if they support it. The situation right now is that it is extremely difficult to create an increase in consumers of organic food.

In Japan’s organic market, healthy sustainable ecological lifestyles have become more popular with women in their 20s and 30s. It can be said that there is the potential for a rise in sales of organic foods. To uncover this potential, it is necessary to lower the price gap between organic and regular foodstuffs, and also to increase the knowledge of consumers regarding organic products.

Japan’s Organic Produce
In 1999, the Japanese Agricultural Standard Law was revised, strictly defining what was considered organic. Because of this, if the product does not pass through the organic registration board, it is unable to display the “organic product” label, forcing it to conform to the strict international standards.

Japanese organic produce has the following standards to comply with
– Must be cultivated on land that has not been chemically fertilized in the last three years
– In principle, cannot be treated with chemically synthesized chemicals or fertilizer
– Cannot be grown from materials which have gone under gene recombination
– Cannot be exposed to radiation of any kind
– Be treated with a limited amount of synthetic additives

EXPO – Dealing with Japanese organic produce

Organic EXPO (BioFach Japan Organic EXPO)

The largest organic/natural goods exhibition in the world, the BioFach Organic EXPO was first held in 2001 with the enforcement of the Japanese Agricultural Standard. Since its opening, exhibitors and those attending have grown steadily. In 2006, 188 companies joined, and over 16,300 people came to see. In 2007, 19 countries, 208 companies and groups, and over 15,000 industrial people came. It has become the largest organic/natural product trade fair in the country.

Date: September 21st – 23rd (Tue – Thu)
Place: Tokyo Big Site
Website: https://www.biofach.jp/

Organic Festa
In 2010, the Organic Festa will see its 7th year. Countries from around the world, as well as various places in Japan, bring their best organic produce to this festival.
It began in 2004, and is on its seventh year.
To create a world where health and environment are protected, and our children and grandchild can live in happiness, what we can do today is live an organic lifestyle. This is the method of living proposed by the Organic Festa. This year it will be held in Akasaka Sakasu. The Organic Festa is a place where consumers, producers, importers, and negotiators can meet and do business directly.

https://organicfesta.com/index.html