Production output of the farming industry in Japan 2018, by type

In 2018, vegetable production generated the highest output within the Japanese agricultural sector, reaching over 2.3 trillion Japanese yen. The production value of rice was the second-highest figure during the same year, followed by the output generated through dairy cattle farming.

 Farming in Japan

As the largest employer in Japan, the agricultural sector was vital for the economy post World War II. However, like most industrialized countries the number of commercial farmers has since decreased drastically and more than half the farmers today are over the age of 65.
Japans geography further complicates farming. Only about 20 percent of the land is suitable for cultivation and the land regularly suffers damages by natural disasters, such as earthquakes or typhoons, costing billions of yen every year.

 Vegetables in traditional Japanese cooking

  The Japanese diet is well-known for its health benefits, including a variety of fresh, seasonal vegetables in most meals. Vegetables are oftentimes served steamed, deep-fried, or boiled. Tsukemono (pickled vegetables) are a more traditional way of enjoying vegetables in the Japanese cuisine. Typically, vegetables like Japanese radish, ginger, or cucumber are pickled in brine and served as a side dish with rice or as a small snack accompanying alcoholic beverages.