Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology worked with the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Brazil from 2011-2016 for a grassroot technical cooperation project “Rural Income Enhancement and Environmental Conservation and Rehabilitation in the Amazon through Dissemination and Certification of Successional Agroforestry Systems” that initiated an effort to gain geographical indication of cocoa produced in Tomé-Açu The Brazilian Intellectual Property Office (INPI) approved “Indication of Provenance "Tomé-Açu" for the Cocoa Product” on January 29 when development of the Amazon rainforest began in Tomé-Açu in order to form cocoa plantations that would accept a large number of Japanese immigrants After many years of crisis such as poverty and tropical disease outbreaks during the early period cocoa-based agroforestry was developed by the Japanese immigrants and spread among local farmers from early 1970s Tomé-Açu became officially recognized as a famous place of cocoa from the Brazilian government after 90 years of its foundation It is the second geographical indication of cocoa in Brazil only next to South Bahia approved last April the high-quality cocoa beans sustainably produced in the Amazonian environment will contribute to regional development with their higher added value Contact Masaaki YamadaProfessor Division of International Environmental and Agricultural Science Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tokyo The world is fascinated with Japanese products, not just for their ingenuity but also for their slick, modern designs and sheer cuteness. Our nominees this year make up a varied list; in it you'll find 2017's hit products, cool fashion trends, functional items you never thought you needed, new toys and delicious treats. Photo: oodesignThese Japanese paper fans are made from rattan and traditional Japanese paper (washi). A modern take on the traditional Japanese craft, the fan is a beautiful outcome of the 'Tokyo Teshigoto' project, which is a collaborative effort between traditional craftspeople and spirited designers. Built with only three pieces, the clean structure is minimalist in design, which makes the fan exceptionally lightweight and very light-permeable. Perfect for those camping trips out in the wild, this SolarPuff lantern is a priceless item you'll pack every time without a second thought. It's collapsable into a compact size for easy carrying, it's light, and it's rechargeable using solar energy. What's more, it's completely waterproof and can withstand extreme weather conditions, making it particularly useful for disaster management. Enter &ne's diatomaceous umbrella stand to end all your rainy day woes diatomaceous earth is a nifty natural substance that absorbs water easily and is therefore often used as a drying agent coasters and other items made from this water-absorbing mineral started becoming popular in Japan last year but this umbrella stand is a first in its triangular simplicity It doesn't take up a lot of space: You can place it on the floor in any convenient corner and it will absorb all the water that drips from wet umbrellas Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebook twitter pinterest instagram About us