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Japan Fish Certification Attracts 3,000 Applicants From All Over Japan

May 27, 2010

Japan Fish Certification, so called Totoken, held the very first certification exam on May 23 in Tokyo and Osaka; 3,000 people from all over Japan sat in for the exam.


Totoken was primarily set up to motivate people to obtain knowledge and techniques to enjoy fish and to encourage "tasty meeting" between Japanese people and fish.


Despite the fact that there were only two testing sites available, 2,900 applicants from all over Japan, Hokkaido to Okinawa, faced the exam. The very first fish certification exam was offered at two different levels: the intermediate third grade and the beginner second grade. 44 percent of applicants took the tests for both grades.


A result notice will be mailed out mid July. Every applicant will be informed of the test result as well as his ranking. For those who wish "Totoken's original certificate business card" will be printed with extra charge.


The second exam opportunity is under consideration. The first grade test, which only second grade holders are eligible to take, will be offered next time.


Masakazu Oyama, Representative of the Japan Fish Certification Association, said "We received applications mostly from people 30-40's with the age range of eight to eighty. Most of the times, people 60 years or older show interest in a certification test like this one. Also there is a gap between 50's and 40's, whether they love fish or not. We were pleasantly surprised to see applicants of wide age ranges. For the second grade exam, we saw many applicants from the fishing industry, but also there were ordinary people, like fishing lovers, businessmen, and homemakers with a desire to cook fish. The fish exam successfully generated interest in fish."


The news on the exam was aired on NHK and other private news outlets, possibly leading to the larger number of applications next time. Part of the questionnaire was about seasonal fish and great ways to eat fish, helping buoy up fish consumption.

Image 1: Official Guide Book

The original article was published on May 27, 2010 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.


Kyokuyo's New Bluefin Farm in Ehime

May 27, 2010

Kyokuyo established its second bluefin farming company "Kyokuyo Marine Ehime" on May 21st. The Company is planning to ship out a total of 1,000 tons of fish combined with the yield of another bluefin operation in Sukumo, Kochi Pref. in five years from now. The Company has the ambition to secure the number-three status in scale, following Maruha and Nissui.


Kyokuyo Marine Ehime is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyokuyo. Its office is located at 392-2, Hisayoshi, Ainan-cho, Minamiuwa-gun, Ehime, Japan. Its capital is \30 million; President Kaneshige Ito will oversee the company operations. The company's business includes farm operations of bluefin and other marine creatures, processing and marketing, as well as cold refrigeration. Over the next three years a capital investment amount of \220 million will be used for infrastructures, e.g. installation of pens.


Two pens, 50m in diameter, were positioned on the coast of Ainan, southwest of Ehime Pref. where fries will be released this summer and grow until they reach 40-50kg for two and half years. The first shipment of 150 tons will be made in 2012.


"Kyokuyo Marine Farm" in Sukumo, Kochi Pref. produced a nice yield of bluefin and the first shipment of 100 tons left for market last year. Aquaculture techniques cultivated and accumulated at this location will be aggressively implemented in the new aqua firm in Ehime. As tuna fishing rules become more stringent, Kyokuyo will go for an output increase and reinforce its integrated system of tuna-bonito operations from production to marketing.


The original article was published on May 27, 2010 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.


Maruha Nichiro HD Relocates to Toyosu Next Feb

May 27, 2010

Maruha Nichiro Holdings is scheduled to move its headquarters next February.


The address of the new location will be 3-2-30 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Alongside the headquarters, Maruha Nichiro Suisan, Maruha Nichiro Foods, Maruha Nichiro Meat and Products, Maruha Nichiro Management, and Aqlifoods will be housed at the same place.


The lease of the current building is about to expire, which provided an opportunity for the Company to go for cost curtailment and improvement of its office environment. The Company hopes for improvement in operational efficiency. This subject will be discussed at a shareholders' meeting in June.


The original article was published on May 27, 2010 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.

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