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The return of international visitors to Japan has started to offer glimpses of positive economic activity among the hotel and restaurant industries. Hotels experienced guest stay increases of 32.5 percent year over year, to 42.1 million, up 5.8 percent compared to October 2019.

Japan is updating its transport biofuel standards, which will expire in March 2023. In May 2022, Japan pledged to take all available measures to double demand for bioethanol by 2030. Boosting domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), including alcohol-to-jet SAF, is Japan’s primary focus for meeting that commitment.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 5 agricultural chemicals (Acequinocyl, Isofetamid, Methoxyfenozide, Pyriproxyfen, and Mosapride) for various agricultural commodities.

Japan will require importers of U.S. products containing mackerel, Pacific saury, sardine, squid and cuttlefish to submit a newly approved Catch Certificate issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The requirement extends to all seafood originating from these species if the marine product is harvested after November 30, 2022.

This report provides the latest status of consumption, regulation, public perception, research, development, production, and use of agricultural biotechnology in Japan. Japan uses a science-based process for evaluating and granting approval for import and production of genetically engineered products.

Japan confronted its second year of the COVID-19 pandemic with continued disruptions to the Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional food service industry. In 2021, total sales from the hotel, restaurant, and institutional food service industry totaled $231 billion (JP¥24,621 billion), a decrease of nearly four percent from 2020.

Japan’s Ministry of the Environment opened public comment period on proposed revisions of the Basic Policy of the Green Procurement Act. One proposed change includes greater emphasis in government procurement decisions on the greenhouse gas emission value of goods and services. Comments must be submitted in Japanese by December 6, 2022.

On March 30, 2022, Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) released guidelines, which provides examples of an improper use of “No Food Additive Used”. The present report contains a provisional translation of the guidelines.

Japan imports approximately 2.6 million metric tons of forage annually, primarily from the United States, Australia, China, and Canada. Japanese importers have diversified suppliers and sought new products to help meet challenges posed by surging international prices and ongoing logistical challenges.

Japan continues to confront elevated levels of inflation on food and beverage products as prices experienced the fastest pace of increases since 1991. Inflation, coupled with a weakened yen, has left producers with no alternative but to pass on price increases to consumers. Among the 217 products included in the daily consumer price index, more than one-fifth of food related products experienced price increases.

FY2022 agricultural exports reach record levels.

Fluid milk production will be up slightly in 2023 as a greater number of heifers enter milk production. Demand for dairy products in the hotel, restaurant, and institutional food service industries will be pushed by an influx of foreign tourists, although surplus drinking milk will still be diverted to further processing into butter and non-fat dry milk for which ending stocks will finish higher in 2022.