#japan export

[artemusts]

[fatehbaz]

Nothing in the past, moreover, gave any cause to suspect ginseng’s presence so far away. Or even closer by: since antiquity, for well over a millennium, the ginseng consumed in all of East Asia had come from just one area -- the northeast mountainous lands straddling Manchuria and Korea. No one had found it anywhere else. No one was even thinking, now, to look elsewhere. The [...] [French traveler] Joseph-Francois Lafitau didn’t know this. He had been [...] visiting Quebec on mission business in October of 1715 [...]. He began to search for ginseng. [...] [T]hen one day he spotted it [...]. Ginseng did indeed grow in North America. [...]

Prior to the nuclear disaster in the spring of 2011, few outside Japan could have placed Fukushima on a map of the world. In the geography of ginseng, however, it had long been a significant site. The Edo period domain of Aizu, which was located here, had been the first to try to grow the plant on Japanese soil, and over the course of the following centuries, Fukushima, together with Nagano prefecture, has accounted for the overwhelming majority of ginseng production in the country.

Aizu’s pioneering trials in cultivation began in 1716 – by coincidence, exactly the same year that Lafitau found the plant growing wild in the forests of Canada. [...]

---

Since the 1670s the numbers of people [in Japan] clamoring for access to the drug had swelled enormously, and this demand had to be met entirely through imports. The attempt to cultivate ginseng in Aizu -- and soon after, many other domains -- was a response to a fiscal crisis.

Massive sums of silver were flowing out of the country to pay for ginseng and other drugs [...]. Arai Hakuseki, the chief policy maker [...], calculated that no less than 75% of the country’s gold, and 25% of its silver had drained out of Japan [to pay for imports] [...]. Expenditures for ginseng were particularly egregious [...]: in the half-century between 1670s through the mid-1720s that marked the height of ginseng fever in Japan, officially recorded yearly imports of Korean ginseng through Tsushima sometimes reached as much as four to five thousand kin (approx. 2.4–3 metric tons).

What was to be done? [...] The drain of bullion was unrelenting. [...] [T]he shogunate repeatedly debased its currency, minting coins that bore the same denomination, but contained progressively less silver. Whereas the large silver coin first issued in 1601 had been 80% pure, the version issued in 1695 was only 64% silver, and the 1703 mint just 50%. Naturally enough, ginseng dealers in Korea were indifferent to the quandaries of the Japanese rulers, and insisted on payment as before; they refused the debased coins. The Japanese response speaks volumes about the unique claims of the drug among national priorities: in 1710 (and again in 1736) a special silver coin of the original 80% purity was minted exclusively for use in the ginseng trade. [...]

[T]he project of cultivating ginseng and other medicines in Japan became central to the economic and social strategy of the eighth shogun Yoshimune after he assumed power in 1716. [...]

---

China and Korea were naturally eager to retain their monopolies of this precious commodity, and strictly banned all export of live plants and seeds. They jealously guarded as well against theft of mature roots: contemporary Chinese histories, for example, record that the prisons of Shenjing (present day Shenyang) overflowed with ginseng poaching suspects. So many were caught, indeed, that the legal bureaucracy couldn’t keep up. 

In 1724, the alarming numbers of suspected poachers who died in prison while awaiting trial led to the abandonment of the regular system of trials by judges dispatched from Beijing, and a shift to more expeditious reviews handled by local officials. [...]

Even in 1721. the secret orders that the shogunate sent the domain of Tsushima called for procuring merely three live plants [...]. Two other forays into Korea 1727 succeeded in presenting the shogun with another four and seven plants respectively. Meanwhile, in 1725 a Manchu merchant in Nagasaki named Yu Meiji [...] managed to smuggle in and present three live plants and a hundred seeds. [...]

Despite its modest volume, this botanical piracy eventually did the trick. By 1738, transplanted plants yielded enough seeds that the shogunate could share them with enterprising domains. [...] Ginseng eventually became so plentiful that in 1790 the government announced the complete liberalization of cultivation and sales: anyone was now free to grow or sell it.

---

By the late eighteenth century, then, the geography of ginseng looked dramatically different from a century earlier.

This precious root, which had long been restricted to a small corner of the northeast Asian continent, had not only been found growing naturally and in abundance in distant North America, but had also been successfully transplanted and was now flourishing in the neighboring island of Japan. […]

---

Colonial Americans, for their part, had developed their own new addiction: an unquenchable thirst for tea. […] This implacable need could have posed a serious problem. [...] [I]ts regular consumption was a costly habit.

Which is why the local discovery of ginseng was a true godsend.

When the Empress of China sailed to Canton in 1784 as the first ship to trade under the flag of the newly independent United States, it was this coveted root that furnished the overwhelming bulk of sales. Though other goods formed part of early Sino-American commerce – Chinese porcelain and silk, for example, and American pelts – the essential core of trade was the exchange of American ginseng for Chinese tea. [...]

---

Yoshimune’s transplantation project had succeeded to the point that Japan actually became a ginseng exporter. As early as 1765, Zhao Xuemin’s Supplement to the compedium of material medica would note the recent popularity of Japanese ginseng in China. Unlike the “French” ginseng from Canada, which cooled the body, Zhao explained, the “Asian” ginseng (dongyang shen) from Japan, like the native [Korean/Chinese] variety, tended to warm. Local habitats still mattered in the reconfigured geography of ginseng. [...]

What is place? What is time? The history of ginseng in the long eighteenth century is the story of an ever-shifting alchemical web. [...] Thanks to the English craving for tea, ginseng, which two centuries earlier had threatened to bankrupt Japan, now figured to become a major source of national wealth [for Japan] .

---

Text by: Shigehisa Kuriyama. “The Geography of Ginseng and the Strange Alchemy of Needs.” In: The Botany of Empire in the Long Eighteenth Century, edited by Yota Batsaki, Sarah Burke Cahalan, and Anatole Tchikine. 2017. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[heckyeahponyscans]

Rewatching the 90s live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, a nice little touch is that they go out of their way to establish that the evil ninjas are not Japanese (except the Shredder) and that the Japanese-American community has actually been warning the authorities about the evil Foot Clan.

I don't know how many people remember this, but in the 80s/90s in America there was a lot of anxiety / prejudice towards Japan, which was perceived as this mysterious place full of workers who were "too" efficient compared to lazy Americans and thus were going to crush the American car industry or something.

Specifically, I remember an American car dealer (as in he sold American car brands like Fords or Chevys) who ran a local ad urging people to "buy American" instead of supporting "communist Japan."

Shoutout to the journalist back then who covered the story / called him out on his prejudice + pointed out that Japan was not a communist country. No matter the era, there were / are people pushing back against stupidity and bigotry. And you can be one of them. :)

Anyway, TMNT is a great movie.

[caimitos]

saw a post about projecting your ethnicity onto a character and started missing vespa ilkay. so so bad

[xbuster]

Why do so many people think City Pop is this only Japanese musical genre 😭

[elbiotipo]

The 5th Corporate War in Cyberpunk, but it's Playstation/Xbox/Nintendo fanboys

[titenoute]

What do you think about Rayman DLC coming in sparks of hope?

Mixed feelings.

Part of me is like " Oh my god. Is...Is this real life ??". The other is like " yeah it's...A DLC...." I want this to be clear : The devs deserve a kiss on the cheek for putting the effort and try to get us that DLC. And I hope the effort will payoff down the line. But being fan of the bean taught me to be cautious. I can't count it as a come back yet, not until Ubisoft moves it's ass and makes a 3D game. Also, the part I am miffed at is this : This is a game that stars Mario and the Rabbids. All seems to indicate that in this DLC, Rayman and Mario won't meet. Maybe I am wrong and we'll get a short meeting of the two. I hope so. But if they really don't....That's absolutely DUMB. This would have been the meeting of the century. Mario is the king of platform games and Rayman 2 is still quoted today by many as one of the best platform game of all time. It makes too much sense. I refuse to believe nobody ever thought of proposing this to begin with. See how the first Mario+Rabbids game came to life. Ubisoft proposed the concept themselves to Nintendo. You are not making me believe that Rayman meeting Mario hasn't been discussed at least once. But someone has to have said no, and I can only see Nintendo doing that. So yeah, I am miffed about that and hope the future will prove my grumpy butt wrong on that one.

[sins-of-the-sea]

"Hey, Captain. If you hate the Spanish so much, why don't you side with the English? They were in good terms with Portugal at least."

"You don't think I didn't remember what the Brits did to Manila in 1762-1764?"

"Are you Catalan or Filipino?"

"....I'm technically both, given I lived in the Visayas longer than I did in Barcelona."

[icedreamglobal]

Ice Dream Global Pvt Ltd: Leading Shrimp Exporter from India to Japan 

India’s seafood export industry is a powerhouse in the global market, particularly in shrimp production. Among the many companies contributing to India’s reputation as a top seafood exporter, Ice Dream Global Pvt Ltd stands out as one of the leading shrimp exporters from India to Japan. This company has established itself as a reliable, high-quality supplier, consistently meeting international standards and expectations. With a focus on quality, sustainability, and competitive pricing, Ice Dream Global Pvt Ltd is known for providing premium shrimp to meet the demand of discerning markets like Japan. 

Quality Assurance and Premium Product Offerings 

Ice Dream Global Pvt Ltd places a strong emphasis on quality assurance. The company’s production processes are certified and adhere to international food safety standards. Ice Dream Global sources shrimp from sustainable aquaculture farms across India. Each batch is thoroughly inspected to ensure it meets the high-quality benchmarks expected in Japan. By investing in advanced processing facilities, Ice Dream Global ensures that its shrimp products retain their freshness, texture, and taste, making them highly sought-after by Japanese consumers. This commitment to quality is evident in the variety of shrimp offerings, which include Black Tiger and Vannamei shrimp, both popular in Japan for their flavor and versatility. 

Advanced Processing and Freezing Technology 

One of the distinguishing factors of Ice Dream Global Pvt Ltd is its use of state-of-the-art technology for shrimp processing and freezing. The company has invested in high-quality freezing methods, such as IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) and blast freezing, to preserve the freshness and nutritional value of shrimp during transit. This technology allows Ice Dream Global to maintain the delicate texture and flavor of shrimp, even during long shipments. This attention to detail is particularly valued in the Japanese market, where seafood is prized for its natural taste and quality. 

Sustainable Practices and Environmental Responsibility 

Sustainability is at the heart of Ice Dream Global’s business model. The company is committed to environmentally friendly practices, sourcing shrimp from sustainable farms that avoid practices harmful to marine ecosystems. Ice Dream Global partners with aquaculture farms that use responsible farming practices to minimize environmental impact and ensure the long-term health of shrimp populations. These sustainable practices are essential not only for environmental preservation but also for maintaining strong trade relations with Japan, where consumers and regulatory agencies prioritize sustainably sourced seafood. 

Strategic Positioning in the Japanese Market 

Ice Dream Global Pvt Ltd has positioned itself as a leading exporter to Japan through consistent quality, reliable supply chains, and attention to market-specific preferences. Japan is one of the largest importers of seafood, with a particular demand for high-quality shrimp. Ice Dream Global understands the nuances of this market, tailoring its offerings to match the culinary standards and tastes of Japanese consumers. By meeting stringent Japanese regulations and offering traceable, sustainably farmed shrimp, Ice Dream Global has solidified its reputation as a top choice for Japanese importers and distributors. 

In conclusion, Ice Dream Global Pvt Ltd exemplifies excellence in shrimp exportation from India to Japan. Through high standards of quality, advanced processing, and a focus on sustainability, the company stands out as a leader in the Indian seafood export industry, ensuring that Japanese consumers enjoy the best of Indian shrimp. 

[creativemedianews]

Kyoto's former Nintendo factory becomes nostalgia-fueled gaming museum

Kyoto's former Nintendo factory becomes nostalgia-fueled gaming museum #consoles #CoolJapan #culturalexports #Kyoto

[techdriveplay]

The Most Affordable JDM Cars

When it comes to car enthusiasts, Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars hold a special place due to their affordability, reliability, and performance. Whether you’re new to the automotive scene or a seasoned collector, finding the most affordable JDM cars can offer a gateway into a world of unique designs, impressive engineering, and motorsport history. These cars have garnered a global fanbase,…

[agapi-kalyptei]

chotto matte. tsukareta. urusai baka. kawaii desu. krismas presento. wow this japanese is easy

[emmawilliams12]

Japan, famed for tech and culture, surprises in global trade. Celebrated for exports like autos and electronics, its eclectic imports reveal unexpected insights. Exploring Japan's top 10 imports unveils market diversity and invites global ventures and also explore the benefit of  Japan Importers List,  japan buyers list

[anantcreations]

Anant Creations Exporters - Manufacturer, Wholesaler Export and Traders of wide range of Handicraft and Home decor luxurious gifts.

[janebdean-blog]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Animal Save Movement (@thesavemovement)

While Canada won’t export a human back to America if they’re facing the death penalty, they allow the slaughter of innocent animals all for a buck. So maybe that’s the answer. Maybe America needs to pay them so that they will export someone that’s facing execution. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Because obviously, their motivation to allow horrific murder is monetary. 😡