World Food Day is an international event celebrated annually worldwide on October 16th to commemorate the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. This year's theme focused on water-related issues.
As part of our research project, we examined the challenges Japan and East Asia are encountering in relation to water-wise issues. In the past, China used to purchase seafood from Japan, but they ceased doing so. Consequently, they now source seafood domestically, although even Chinese seafood is experiencing a decline in popularity within the country. The quantity of seafood imported from other countries has decreased by 67% compared to the previous month. In response, the Japanese government is actively encouraging citizens to consume more Japanese seafood. Additionally, they have introduced the "Food Security Reinforcement Policy Framework" on December 27, 2022. This initiative aims to reduce Japan's reliance on imported goods and enhance the domestic production of essential items such as wheat, soybeans, feed grains, hay, and fertilizer.
The root of this issue can be traced back to China's sudden claim that the Japanese ocean is polluted, citing the 2011 incident of the massive earthquake and the subsequent nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima (3/11). It is evident that both Japan and other East Asian countries are grappling with food-related challenges linked to water. Researching problems not commonly encountered in daily life provided me with the opportunity to gain insights into the diverse issues and challenges faced by many countries. This project was a valuable learning experience for me.
