Tokyo wants experienced farmers to come to Japan (2024)

Politics

Shinzo Abe's government seeks to lift productivity in aging agricultural sector

Tokyo wants experienced farmers to come to Japan (1)

Japan's farming population is shrinking as growers retire.

Nikkei staff writers | Japan

TOKYO -- Japan will begin accepting skilled agricultural workers from abroad in three special economic zones to alleviate a labor shortage and improve productivity as native farmers retire.

Foreigners already pick crops and perform other jobs on Japanese farms under the auspices of a government-approved technical training program. But unlike those farm hands, applicants seeking to work in the special zones will need to have at least a year of agricultural experience.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more

Tokyo wants experienced farmers to come to Japan (2024)

FAQs

Why were farmers important in Japan? ›

During the Tokugawa era, farmers were viewed as the foundation of Japan and granted a social standing just below the samurai class. Yet the government made their lives oppressive and wretched. To keep farmers in the fields and away from urban centers, government forces severely restricted their ability to travel.

Why was it hard to farm in Japan? ›

Japan is roughly the same size as the state of Montana and hosts a population of about 126 million people. In addition, much of Japan is mountainous and unsuitable for agriculture which means that in order to produce as much food locally as possible the country much practice extreme intensive farming.

Can a foreigner become a farmer in Japan? ›

Who can join the program "Farm work in Japan"? You need to be able to get a Working Holiday visa. You need you have Japanese language skills at conversational level to be able to understand job instructions. It is expected that you are seriously interested in and motivated to do the farm work.

Why is so little of Japan's land available for farming? ›

The most striking feature of Japanese agriculture is the shortage of farmland due to Japan's distinctive geography and geology.

What is a person who brought farming to Japan? ›

Entering from the Korean Peninsula around 2,300 years ago, the Yayoi migration brought wet rice agriculture, weaving, and metalworking to Japan (Chard 1974). The effects of this new culture are first seen in Kyushu, and then spread northeastward.

What is the agriculture of Tokyo? ›

The main products grown in urban Tokyo are vegetables (such as Japanese mustard spinach, cabbage, tomato, and broccoli), fruits (such as pear, kiwi, and persimmon), and cut flowers. Tokyo prefecture also contains diverse environments that range from the mountains of Okutama to the subtropical islands of Ogasawara.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5952

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Birthday: 1996-12-09

Address: Apt. 141 1406 Mitch Summit, New Teganshire, UT 82655-0699

Phone: +2296092334654

Job: Technology Architect

Hobby: Snowboarding, Scouting, Foreign language learning, Dowsing, Baton twirling, Sculpting, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.