TPP

[matsuki]

How about "offensively high."

That will do nicely, sir. Will that be a one off payment, or revolving credit?

The other day the supermarket girl asked me that for a 68yen purchase (I didn't have any change, nor did I want to break a ichimansatsu) and when I replied "I pity the person who needs to make payments on a can of coffee" I got the finger (not the middle) and "ikkatsubaraissne?!" Robots! Robots I tell yah!!

My testicles join me is giving you thanks.

Don't take the electrodes off on my account

[Russell]

One man shows how rice farming can be competitive

Shuichi Yokota may be the future of Japan’s struggling rice industry.

The 38-year-old is about half the age of most growers and he relies on cutting-edge technology to cultivate vast paddy fields that eclipse the bulk of the country’s rice plots.

And Yokota doesn’t fear opening up to foreign competition—taboo in a place where rice is a sacred cow that is protected by subsidies and massive tariffs.

His farm in Ryugasaki, a community north of Tokyo, has ballooned more than five-fold in 15 years into an operation spanning 112 hectares—almost 30 times bigger than the tiny commercial rice fields commonly found in the area.

“This is simply the consequence of retiring farmers asking me to cultivate their rice paddies for them,” Yokota said.

“I am one of very few full-time farmers in this area, and the people who were retiring didn’t have anyone in the family to continue growing rice. But they don’t want to sell the land.”

While many of Japan’s farmers get by with centuries-old farming methods, Yokota and his colleagues share workload information and data such as temperature and water levels—monitored by sensors installed in each paddy—on their smartphones.

Yokota may be an accidental giant among rice growers, but some are betting that people like him are the best hope for fixing an inefficient system, with wider calls for a shake up of Japan’s cossetted agricultural sector.

Prices have tumbled as Japan’s rice consumption has halved in 50 years, and there are fears the sector is rotting from the inside despite—or some say, because of—decades-old protectionism.

Aging farmers are also facing fresh competition, with the country’s largest supermarket chain Aeon jumping into the rice business.

“The situation is extremely serious—this is the dawn of a very difficult time,” said Yoshito Yamada, a 66-year-old farmer in the northeastern city of Kitakata.

Rice reverence

Whether it is a bed for a piece of raw fish, an essential component of almost every meal, or the key ingredient in making sake, rice is Japan’s unparallelled staple food and enjoys a revered status.

Hundreds of years ago it was a currency, a symbol of wealth and power, and a ritual offering that still forms a key part of the native Shinto religion, as well as tradition-bound Sumo wrestling.

“Nothing gets done here without rice,” said Sachiko Goto, head of the Tokyo Sushi Academy, a chef-training school.

That reverence has translated into strong protections for tiny plots tended by families who inherited land through generations—resulting in a hefty premium in stores.

Tokyo has for decades stabilised prices by controlling supply and penalising over-production to protect farmers—a key voter base—from volatile world markets,

This policy, known as “gentan” and referring to small-scale cultivation, effectively made rice farming a part-time job left to older relatives while younger family members worked in other sectors.

But, as with much of the graying nation, many farmers are now retiring—the average is about 66 years old—with few interested in replacing them. That has left some 400,000 hectares of farmland unused across the country, an area almost twice the size of Tokyo.

“What needs to be done is encourage older farmers to retire and then gather small pieces of land into one big lot for someone capable like Yokota,” said Masayoshi Honma, an economics professor at Tokyo University.

It is estimated that ditching rice tariffs—which can reach 778%—would see local prices fall by about 341 yen per kilogram, according to Japan’s agricultural ministry.

An average five-kilogram bag in a Tokyo supermarket costs between 1,500-2,000 yen, up to three times a comparable bag in Sydney, Bangkok and Beijing.

Despite resistance to change by the powerful agricultural lobby, some older rice farmers such as Yamada blame the subsidy system for a now stagnant sector.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last year said he would end production quotas from 2018 and abolish some cash handouts to rice farmers while expanding other payments—leading to claims the policy was toothless.

Despite his plan to shake up the economy, Abe has avoided taking an axe to rice tariffs that have long been seen as untouchable.

The levies have kept imports of foreign rice to a trickle—77 tons last year against domestic production of eight million—and they remain a key stumbling block in Tokyo’s trade talks, including the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed 12-nation free-trade bloc.

Despite fears the industry would crumble if it has to compete globally, Yokota insists competition might be an opportunity to tap new markets.

“If our supply exceeds domestic consumption, then we will bring it overseas—the TPP wouldn’t be a threat in that sense,” he said.

Link

[dimwit]

And it is the same thing for just about everything Japan is trying to protect from TPP. Japanese cheese, bacon, bread and sausages are some of the lowest quality products on the planet. There are a few people who can and do produce high quality products but the brain dead dominate and market.

[IparryU]

Japanese cheese
Japanese bacon... that's bacon?
Japanese bread... ugh the grain and stuff?
Sausages? Japanese dont put enough of anything in anything. You cant just have meet in a slip without spice/seasoning and call it sausage without giving the wrong impression.

Some of the lowest quality products on the planet. - Yes

"There are a few people who can and do produce high quality products but the brain dead dominate and market." Dont know where, but please do share.


(too lazy to properly quote everything)

[Samurai_Jerk]

If they US wants a free market for agricultural products, we should stop subsidizing our farmers. Until then Japan has every right to tell us to eat a dick.

Japanese cheese
Japanese bacon... that's bacon?
Japanese bread... ugh the grain and stuff?
Sausages? Japanese dont put enough of anything in anything. You cant just have meet in a slip without spice/seasoning and call it sausage without giving the wrong impression.

While I agree with you, your previous comments about food mean you really have no right to judge what is and is not quality food.

[wuchan]

If they US wants a free market for agricultural products, we should stop subsidizing our farmers. Until then Japan has every right to tell us to eat a dick.

This is the real issue. The corporations behind the sugar, corn, fruit and dairy lobbies want free access to the third largest market. The big three auto guys have been after this for years. TPP is a way to attempt to mask corporate greed by saying "wez alls friendsiez".


The US should have some kind of law limiting the amount of money a campaign fund can receive from corporations and lobbies.

[matsuki]

If they US wants a free market for agricultural products, we should stop subsidizing our farmers. Until then Japan has every right to tell us to eat a dick.

This is the real issue. The corporations behind the sugar, corn, fruit and dairy lobbies want free access to the third largest market. The big three auto guys have been after this for years. TPP is a way to attempt to mask corporate greed by saying "wez alls friendsiez".


The US should have some kind of law limiting the amount of money a campaign fund can receive from corporations and lobbies.

Pretty much this...but I think it's been said here before: "First World Farming can eat a dick"

[IparryU]

If they US wants a free market for agricultural products, we should stop subsidizing our farmers. Until then Japan has every right to tell us to eat a dick.

Japanese cheese
Japanese bacon... that's bacon?
Japanese bread... ugh the grain and stuff?
Sausages? Japanese dont put enough of anything in anything. You cant just have meet in a slip without spice/seasoning and call it sausage without giving the wrong impression.

While I agree with you, your previous comments about food mean you really have no right to judge what is and is not quality food.

tru dat

[matsuki]

IPU's usual culinary masterpiece (2am staple) is some sort of tabasco/ketchup/egg/cheese sandwich....how he isn't McTojo-size yet is beyond me.

[IparryU]

IPU's usual culinary masterpiece (2am staple) is some sort of tabasco/ketchup/egg/cheese sandwich....how he isn't McTojo-size yet is beyond me.

hmm... 2 decades of working out everyday, then becoming completely lazy for 2 years... not sure how that worked out either, but it is nice.

I do eat exceptionally healthy on weekends and run/jump/swim/play with my sons for 3 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

[Samurai_Jerk]

IPU's usual culinary masterpiece (2am staple) is some sort of tabasco/ketchup/egg/cheese sandwich....how he isn't McTojo-size yet is beyond me.

hmm... 2 decades of working out everyday, then becoming completely lazy for 2 years... not sure how that worked out either, but it is nice.

I do eat exceptionally healthy on weekends and run/jump/swim/play with my sons for 3 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

You might be genetically gifted or maybe you eat crap but don't consume enough calories to cause much weight gain. You could eat nothing but ice cream and Twinkies and lose weight if you kept it to 1500 calories a day. You'd be killing yourself but you wouldn't be fat.

[kurogane]

I think I took a wrong turn. I see a thread called TPP, I assume it is about that perennial Japanese issue, the Toilet Paper Problem, and here's a bunch of FGs talking about late night grilled cheese twinkies and some crap about rice tariffs.

I need a smoke.

[Wage Slave]

A bit of a sidetrack but I see there is now something called the TTIP starting to cause waves back in the old country.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/what-is-ttip-and-six-reasons-why-the-answer-should-scare-you-9779688.html

In this case though there is no need to negotiate with separate nation states in public. It can all be done behind closed doors with the EU. Which is nice.

[kurogane]

Good link to a good paper, and worth a good read. Interesting take on it, too.

One question: why does the author have a picture of Steve Irwin there beside his name????

So, anyways, BOT: is this TPP as big a problem as the Butter Shortage Russell mentioned a while back or is it more a structural cultural issue related to that notable and largely rather endearing tendency towards grauitous panic evinced by so many here?

[IparryU]

IPU's usual culinary masterpiece (2am staple) is some sort of tabasco/ketchup/egg/cheese sandwich....how he isn't McTojo-size yet is beyond me.

hmm... 2 decades of working out everyday, then becoming completely lazy for 2 years... not sure how that worked out either, but it is nice.

I do eat exceptionally healthy on weekends and run/jump/swim/play with my sons for 3 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

You might be genetically gifted or maybe you eat crap but don't consume enough calories to cause much weight gain. You could eat nothing but ice cream and Twinkies and lose weight if you kept it to 1500 calories a day. You'd be killing yourself but you wouldn't be fat.

Well, I have been trying to put on some weight but just cant do it. I probably put in about 2000 calories a day, but I never eat anything sweet... no chocolate, no ice cream, none of that shit. Pretty much stick to breads, pasta, rice, dairy and cereals.

I do want to try the gluten free diet to see how much energy I will have.

[matsuki]

if you kept it to 1500 calories a day. You'd be killing yourself but you wouldn't be fat.

I dunno if he's under 1500 a day when you consider the booze but somehow I think this is his situation

[IparryU]

if you kept it to 1500 calories a day. You'd be killing yourself but you wouldn't be fat.

I dunno if he's under 1500 a day when you consider the booze but somehow I think this is his situation

cut that down a lot... didn't even have enough cans and bottles to fill up the 40L plastic bags... hell, I didn't even drink a bottle this week.

IPU is trying to kick the bottle a bit, no fun though.

[matsuki]

IPU is trying to kick the bottle a bit

Does not the tree need sun, the river need rain?

IPU needs booze!

[IparryU]

IPU is trying to kick the bottle a bit

Does not the tree need sun, the river need rain?

IPU needs booze!

I said "a bit", not stop completly. that will not work out at all.

[matsuki]

[wagyl]

Now this hardly seems fair.

'Two-speed' TPP deal nears close

Japan has offered the US a compromise on agriculture, as [US] officials grow confident that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is close to completion...

Local media report that Japan has offered to import more rice from the US, in exchange for the US acquiescing to Japan’s desire to maintain its existing rice tariffs for the other member states. This comes as the US permitted Japan to maintain safety standards on car imports.

the rest

Then there are the other concerns about this treaty being negotiated by many nations around the Pacific Rim, its contents secret from their citizens:

the proposed treaty has copped criticism on a wide range of issues: criminalisation of copyright infringement, patent rules that seem to favour the US pharmaceutical industry, and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions that open governments to litigation for local legislation.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/01/29 ... says_ustr/

[matsuki]

Interesting to see how cheap Beikoku rice will be received here...Chinese rice tends to be dismissed as poison but I've heard of quite a few higher end sushi places using/praisingmade in California shinmai

[Mike Oxlong]

Interesting to see how cheap Beikoku rice will be received here...Chinese rice tends to be dismissed as poison but I've heard of quite a few higher end sushi places using/praisingmade in California shinmai

Kokuho Rose was popular with Japanese food fans back in the early '90s in my old stomping grounds...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Interesting to see how cheap Beikoku rice will be received here...Chinese rice tends to be dismissed as poison but I've heard of quite a few higher end sushi places using/praisingmade in California shinmai

Using it in Japan? I've chatted with a few Itamaesan who said California rice was really good based on their experiences traveling in the US but never heard of any of them using it in Japan.

[matsuki]

Interesting to see how cheap Beikoku rice will be received here...Chinese rice tends to be dismissed as poison but I've heard of quite a few higher end sushi places using/praisingmade in California shinmai

Using it in Japan? I've chatted with a few Itamaesan who said California rice was really good based on their experiences traveling in the US but never heard of any of them using it in Japan.

No, I mean higher end legit sushi places in California. One of the guys I talked to was kicking himself for dissing the non-yamato stuff for years without even trying it. Which is why I'm curious how it will be received here.

[Takechanpoo]

Obama said the authority he sought is the same exercised by past presidents of both parties. And the pact he's seeking with 11 Pacific nations would prevent countries like China and Japan from having a leg up in global commerce.

"Being opposed to this new trade agreement is essentially a ratification of the status quo, where a lot of folks are selling here, but we're not selling there," Obama said at a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

He pointed to the various brands of Japanese-made cars filling the streets of Washington compared to a lack of GM, Chrysler and Ford vehicles in Tokyo.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/2882 ... trade-pact

[Coligny]

Did he notice the excess of European cars in Tokyo ?

(At least W was funny...)

[matsuki]

Ehhh, all the new cars I see in the US are mostly KIA and Hyundai. The most popular Toyota and Honda models are made in the US....and I do see US cars here daily. (which tend to sell for some insane markup) Anywhooo, rice protectionism can get fucked...I wonder how Abe would balance things if the major exporters to the US suddenly got hit with high tariffs and the US tripled the size of customs inspectors (I swear I haven't had a package slip through to here without being opened and inspected)

[kurogane]

That Rice vs Cars is sophomoric tit for tat BS. A shame even a non fuckwit like Obama is falling into that trap. Besides, we all know the reason American cars aren't big in Japan: aside from the fact that they're still POS, they're big for Japan. And that's beside the fact that about half the Jpn cars in NA are NA made. My Soobaroo comes from Hoosierville, FFS. It amazes me what a pussy weathervane Obama can be when he's trying to bully people too polite to tell him to go suck a watermelon.

Now, California Jpn rice on the other hand: even the most rabidly Japanese!!! Jpn in Vancouver will grudgingly admit that Kokuho Rose, Tamaki or Nishki is no worse than 1000 yen a kilo Jpn rice, and the ones not butt blinded by their nostalgic immgrant BS will admit it's actually a good mid-range rice for the price. Japan would be insane not to allow imports of that alone even if they reject the TPP as they should. Of course, I would never rule out the rule of insanity..............what they should do is get the Burmese and Vietnamese to grow Jpn rice in bilateral agreements. The TPP is exactly what it seems: a capitalist cabal driven Trojan Horse like the NAFTA, devised by filthy hook clawed replicant overlords looking to further exploit the global proletariat whom, while certainly revolting, deserve better from their own duly elected governments.

Or some such internet conspiratorial Leninist dogma.........................

[matsuki]

Yeah, I don't like the car analogy either. US manufacturers have chosen not to compete in the Jpn market because the oh so popular kei isn't really appealing outside of Japan. That being said, I think a US kei would actually sell here. There have been rebadged ones in the past and while they are the very opposite of anything most Americans want...they had a following here. (Just like many pseudo luxury sedans and SUVs do...especially in the inaka)