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The number of Japanese restaurants opened overseas increased to 187,000

 The number of Japanese restaurants opening overseas continues to increase. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in 2023, the number of stores in China and other parts of the world reached 187,000, an increase of about 20% from the last survey in 2021. The number is more than three times that of 55,000 in 2013, 10 years ago. Delicious and healthy Japanese food "washoku" has been favored, restaurant chains have gone to sea, and the popularity of Japanese anime in Central and South America has also helped. From a regional perspective, North America was affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, which decreased by about 10% from 2021 to 28,600, while Asia 122,000 and Europe 16,400, both increased by about 20%. Hopes are growing that restaurants will spread Japanese cuisine to the rest of the world, driving exports of Japanese agricultural and aquatic products and ingredients. Japan's restaurant giants have also gone out to explore the m...
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IPEF Ministerial Conference aims to reach basic agreement on three main areas

 Fourteen countries, including Japan, the United States and South Korea, which are continuing negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) for a new economic circle, will hold a ministerial meeting in San Francisco, West of the United States, on November 13 and 14 and are expected to reach a general agreement on three major areas, including fair economy, according to sources interviewed on November 11. Launched in May last year with the idea of counterbalancing China, the US-led framework will produce its first comprehensive results. The ministerial meeting will be held on the same day as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, which starts on December 12. Chief negotiators from each country are in the final stages of negotiations. Some topics, such as digital trade, have been postponed, and the parties have stepped up efforts to formulate international rules conducive to the economic development of the Indo-Pacific region to the extent t...
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Russia will lift the ban

 Russia, one of the world's largest diesel exporters, introduced a fuel export ban on Sept. 21 to address high domestic fuel prices and shortages, Reuters said. The Russian government eased restrictions on Oct. 6 to allow diesel exports through pipelines, but retained restrictions on gasoline exports. Russia's Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said on October 8 that Russia was considering lifting the ban on the export of certain grades of gasoline. "They told producers they will start opening up for exports next week," said a Russian oil company source. Another industry source also said the ban would be lifted next week. Russia's Energy Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Another source said Russia already had a surplus of domestic gasoline supplies due to previously enforced restrictions. The Russian government announced last week that it would maintain its previously announced crude oil production cuts. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Al...
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Where do the raw materials for lithium batteries come from?

 In the 2022 production of lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel and manganese, the main raw materials for lithium batteries, China shows a prominent presence. As a power source for mobile devices and pure electric vehicles (EVs), lithium-ion batteries are indispensable. While Japanese companies such as Panasonic Holdings (HD), which makes car batteries, and AsahiKasei, which makes insulators (insulation layers), are internationally competitive in products and components, Japan is a small resource country that relies on imports of raw materials. Which countries are making a presence of themselves upstream? The survey by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that China shows a prominent presence in the 2022 production of lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel and manganese, the main raw materials for lithium batteries. China has come to dominate supply chains not only by producing at home, but also by acquiring interests in mines abroad. How to get rid of its influence has become ...
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