Iwatani Camborough Co. Ltd. (ICC) has announced its first shipment of PIC breeding pigs to Okinawa prefecture, a chain of sub-tropical islands at the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago.
Local pig producers and authorities have for many years restricted imports to safeguard the health of the islands' 300,000 pig population. They recently concluded, however, that farm performance was lagging behind other parts of Japan and badly needed a shot in the arm with the finest swine genetics available. The shipment of PIC grandparent and terminal boars, which traveled by air from Osaka to Naha, was delivered to Mr. Ganaha, Vice Chairman of the Japan Pork Producers Association, who farms 500 sows.
ICC holds the exclusive PIC franchise for Japan. Hitoshi Mizukami, Sales Director (pictured), commented: "We believe this is the first time that so-called 'hybrid company' breeding stock has been introduced to Okinawa. Further shipments are planned to improve production efficiency and carcass and meat quality for the Okinawa market which prefers leaner pigs."
People in Japan live on average for longer than anywhere else in the world; and Okinawa boasts the highest life expectancy of all the Japanese prefectures. Thirty four of every 100,000 people reach the age of 100, compared to ten in the US. That means there are upwards of 400 centenarians in the resident population of 1.3 million! One theory is that longer lives are linked to the traditional diet on the islands and yes, you guessed it, pork is a big element of the Okinawan diet, probably originating with the centuries long ties with China. Okinawa's population is swelled by 5 million tourists each year, adding to the appetite for high quality pork.
