Despite having a landscape where only about 11% of the land is arable, Japan's agricultural sector is highly productive, heavily subsidized, and protected by the government to ensure a degree of food security. Farms are typically small but intensely cultivated, yielding high outputs per hectare.
Rice is the paramount crop, dominating rural landscapes with terraced paddies and serving as the staple of the Japanese diet. Other significant crops include green tea, soybeans, wheat, barley, and an array of high-quality fruits such as apples, mandarin oranges (mikan), and melons.
Japan is also world-renowned for its premium livestock, most notably Wagyu beef (such as Kobe and Matsusaka), known for its exceptional marbling. Additionally, the fishing industry is one of the largest and most advanced in the world. Seafood is fundamental to Japanese cuisine, and the country operates massive domestic and deep-sea fishing fleets, alongside extensive aquaculture (fish farming) operations.
