Why are Japan's agricultural and food exports increasing?
The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about Japanese agricultural and food exports. Question: I recently saw a TV report
Japanese agricultural and food exports have been on the rise, according to the Mainichi Shimbun. Foreign tourists dining on sashimi and matcha ice cream have helped increase interest in Japanese cuisine overseas. This growing demand, combined with heightened health awareness worldwide, has led to a 10.9% increase in exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products during the first half of 2026, reaching a record 897.7 billion yen.
Green tea saw the highest growth, up 83.5%, while yellowtail tuna ranked second with a 69% increase. Mixed sauce seasonings also saw growth, with exports totaling 39.1 billion yen. However, rice exports faced challenges due to a shortage and price surge, resulting in a record 7.5 billion yen in exports despite a reduced quantity.
To continue increasing exports, Japan may need to diversify its markets, including targeting Muslim markets where its products have been less prominent, and address the issue of imitation products overseas.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
