Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met with his Philippine counterpart, Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., in Manila on Thursday. During the meeting, Koizumi encouraged the Philippines to begin importing Japanese grapes, especially the premium Shine Muscat variety.
Afterward, in an online press briefing, Koizumi explained that Secretary Laurel responded positively and even expressed willingness to hold technical discussions regarding the proposed grape imports.
Moreover, Koizumi’s push aligns with recent requests from Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, who urged him last month to focus on expanding Japanese grape exports. The governor emphasized that boosting exports should take precedence over developing a licensing system for producing luxury grape brands abroad.
In addition, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture is currently reviewing the creation of such a production license framework. This move stems from concerns that premium Japanese grape varieties, such as Shine Muscat, are being cultivated overseas without proper authorization.
Consequently, the discussions between Japan and the Philippines could mark a significant step toward strengthening agricultural trade ties while also protecting Japan’s luxury fruit industry.
