Japan's Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro says the country will step up efforts to export products made from rice. The move would be in line with a plan to increase production of the staple.



Koizumi on Friday attended a ministry event that showcased rice products for export.



They included frozen sushi, sold at supermarkets and online shops in the US. Frozen fried rice on display used soybeans instead of pork to meet regulations in some markets.



Koizumi said Japan's population is aging and declining, so eventually there is no choice but to seek global markets even though there are hurdles to overcome.



Japan aims to increase its annual exports of rice and products made from the crop to 350,000 tons by 2030. That's up more than seven-fold from last year's figure.
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Quiz 1:
Question text: Which country's Agriculture Minister recently attended an event showcasing rice products for export?
A. United States
B. Japan
C. China
D. South Korea

Quiz 2:
Question text: What is the goal of Japan's plan to increase production of rice?
A. To reduce domestic rice consumption
B. To meet the growing demand for rice in aging populations
C. To lower the price of rice in global markets
D. To decrease Japan's rice exports

Quiz 3:
Question text: What is the estimated increase in Japan's annual exports of rice and products made from the crop by 2030?
A. More than seven-fold
B. Two-fold
C. Three-fold
D. Four-fold

[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3: A