The recent scare over pesticide-tainted "gyoza" dumplings made in China and the rapid price surges of flour and other food products across the world have aroused serious anxiety among millions of Japanese consumers over imported everyday foods.
But one government body has been encouraged by the alarming news concerning imported food — the agriculture ministry, which champions weak Japanese farmers who are struggling in the face of global price competition.
Now is probably the best chance in recent years to promote the ministry's policy of protecting Japanese farmers, as consumers have finally started turning to domestically grown food products.