Japan to Promote Open-Air Farmers' Markets to Stimulate Economy

Tokyo, May 25 (Jiji Press)--The government will launch a project to
financially support open-air farmers' markets as part of measures to
stimulate Japan's economy.

The "Marche Japon Project," aimed at improving farm producers'
income and revitalizing regional economies, will cover direct-sales markets
of farm products and other foodstuffs that are open year-round in the
centers of big cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will select
about 10 candidate market operators, which could include nonprofit
organizations and private companies, and fully shoulder costs such as
expenses to procure sites and tents.
In Japan, open-air markets like the "marches" in France and the
Union Square Greenmarket in New York are not as popular as in Western
countries.
The Japanese agriculture ministry is hoping to discuss various
ideas unique to Japan, such as evening-time markets targeting office workers
on their way back home or small markets at building entrances, a ministry
official said.