Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, as well as foods, in 2015 rose 21.8 percent from a year earlier to ¥745.2 billion, hitting a record high for the third straight year, a preliminary government report showed last week.
The government’s interim target of expanding annual exports to ¥700 billion was achieved one year earlier than expected, thanks to the growing popularity of washoku (Japanese cuisine) abroad.
Exports to other parts of Asia, the United States and Europe were particularly brisk, according to the report, released by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry.
The government aims to raise the annual export figure to ¥1 trillion in 2020, and the focus now is on how much earlier the target will be reached.