The revival of Japanese hemp breeding

The import of hemp products will be the first step in creating a domestic hemp market. One of the signs that the hemp market is reviving in Japan is the “appearance of advertisements for CBD products,” as well as approval by country officials of the possibility of conducting clinical trials of the CBD Epidiolex medical brand.

Despite the fact that hemp breeding in Japan goes back centuries, until recently, government officials strictly adhered to the concept imposed after the end of World War II by the leadership of the American occupation authorities, according to which a regulatory framework was created on its territory that impeded the development of the industry.

Stakeholders of the Land of the Rising Sun are launching the nationwide Campaign to Re-Open Japan for Hemp, aimed at reviving ancient culture and bringing innovation to the country's modern agriculture.  

In particular, according to the director of the Hokkaido Industrial Hemp Association (HIHA) “Our goal is to change the current situation in hemp breeding in Japan. In a country where the population is rapidly aging, hemp is a promising product necessary to maintain the good health of the nation’s population. Given the lack of production capacities necessary for this, a powerful company is needed to increase the import and domestic distribution of food products, cosmetics, hemp fiber products, etc. Another goal facing HIHA is to create opportunities for cultivating several thousand hectares of industrial hemp industrial crops in Hokkaido Prefecture.

The upcoming ASACON international conference, which will be held October 11–13 in Asahikawa, is the first big step in HIHA’s efforts to restore hemp breeding in the country. Representatives from Japan, the USA, France, Germany, Slovakia, Thailand, Mongolia and Poland are registered as speakers at the October ASACON Conference, which will examine the potential of various sectors of hemp breeding in Japan.

One of the leaders of the Japanese consulting company Riki Hiroi, specializing in research in the field of modern hemp breeding, claims that “the country's businessmen are starting the process of demonstrating to the Japanese government what hemp is. Through various actions, Japanese cannabis growers are informed by government officials that it is necessary to support Japanese entrepreneurs in order to establish themselves in the innovative fast-growing global hemp market. HIHA is actively pushing Japanese hemp growers to massively develop innovations through which hemp products from Japan can become a competitive product both in the Land of the Rising Sun and abroad. 

Commentary of the Ukrainian Technical Hemp Association

The history of Japanese hemp breeding dates back more than 10,000 years. In the 40s of the twentieth century, over 80 spinning mills operated on bast fibers in the country. In 1948, after the adoption of the Cannabis Control Act, the industry was almost completely destroyed. Currently, no more than 10 hectares of hemp are grown in Japan with the aim of obtaining hemp fiber, as well as the fiber from which clothes are made for traditional Shinto rituals.

The Japanese market has huge potential in the field of hemp food, health products, cosmetics, various products of hemp fiber, etc. Most likely, the import of hemp products will be the first step for the formation of the domestic hemp market. One of the signs that the hemp market is reviving in Japan is the “ appearance of advertisements for CBD products, ” as well as approval by country officials of the possibility of conducting clinical trials of the CBD Epidiolex medical brand.