TOKYO: Japan’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry exports have soared to a new record in the first half of 2025, rising by 15.5 percent year-on-year to 809.7 billion yen (approximately $5.5 billion), the government announced on Monday. This significant increase is credited largely to growing demand in the United States and expanding interest in Japanese cuisine worldwide.
The Ministry of Agriculture highlighted that an uptick in the number of Japanese restaurants operating abroad, paired with a continued boom in international tourism, has enhanced global appetite for Japanese food products. International supermarket chains have also broadened their Japanese food offerings, fuelling the rise in export figures.
This milestone marks a promising step towards Japan’s target of reaching 2 trillion yen in farm and seafood exports by the end of 2025. In 2024, exports had already touched a record 1.51 trillion yen, reflecting a 3.6 percent annual increase.
Experts believe this steady growth demonstrates the growing soft power of Japanese culture, as well as the international shift toward healthier food options. The government is expected to continue supporting exporters through trade agreements and promotional initiatives.
