BEEF NEWS
Opposition to U.S. beef heats up in Japan
by Pete Hisey on 6/14/2006 for Meatingplace.com
Leaders from opposition political parties decried a pending decision by the Japanese government to allow the import of beef from the United States. Leaders of the four parties claimed that such a decision was made on the basis of politics, not food safety.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi meets in Washington with U.S. President George W. Bush on June 29, and opposition parties charge that a decision to end the ban on U.S. beef will be made before then, as a gift to a major ally. "Politics that would prioritize loyalty to the United States over the lives of Japanese people are wrong," Kazuo Shii, head of the Japanese Communist Party told Kyodo News Service.
"Prime Minister Koizumi ignores people's concerns so as to please the president, and such an attitude is a major problem," said Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa at a meeting called to protest the ban's end.
Meanwhile, Daiei Inc., one of Japan's largest food retailers, said it will start selling its own brand of domestic beef to appeal to consumers opposed to beef imported from the United States. The beef, branded Satsuma Himeuishi, is produced only from cattle raised on the chain's own ranch, and will retail at prices lower than premium wagyu beef from third parties, although considerably higher than imported beef. The company expects to sell about $17.5 million worth in the first year.