TOKYO, April 24 /PRNewswire/ --

JTB Group will distribute real-time information about the rice-farming
process of one farmer in Tome City, Miyagi, from April 25 on the JTB-operated
site, "JAPANiCAN.com", which is the English travel website designed for
foreigners visiting Japan.

URL: www.japanican.com (i) It will be posted on the top page of
JAPANiCAN.com

On JAPANiCAN.com, many activities have been conducted in cooperation with
local governments to contribute to the revitalization of local communities.
Partnership with Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, was established and a
collaborative campaign with Kyoto City was implemented in 2007. "JapanQuest",
in which foreign travelers introduce the Hokkaido / Tohoku region and Kyushu,
was also issued. This time around, for the first time, real-time information
will be delivered through the blog of people living in the area. The aim of
this blog is to broadly distribute information on each area in Japan to the
world and to facilitate deeper understanding of Japan.

The Tohoku region, in particular Sendai City, has actively worked on
inviting international visitors. The number of tourists to Tohoku in 2007
showed an increase of 0.7% over last year. This project expects to expand the
number of foreign travelers to Miyagi and the Tohoku region by enhancing
interest in Japanese rice-farming and local life.

In Tome City, the site of this rice-farming blog, there are many
sightseeing spots such as "Izunuma (Izu Marsh)," which is the designated
wetland under the Ramsar Convention and to which many migratory birds such as
swans and ducks come flying, "Miyagi Meiji Village / Toyoma Area" in which
there are precious buildings such as an old elementary school house and a
police station building of the Meiji era (1868-1912), and the historic site
of "Clandestine Christians" which arouse foreigners' interest. The city is
also the hometown of "immigrants to Canada" who crossed the Pacific Ocean by
a migrant-smuggling boat during the Meiji era.

This rice-farming blog tells real-time stories from rice planting to
harvesting with the cooperation of one farmer. Sightseeing spots of the city
described above, local events such as festivals, and other features of
people's lives involving farmers will be included accordingly.

(i) Outline

Period: From April 2008 to September 2008 (the rice planting to
harvesting season)

Contents: The rice-farming process in real time. The description of the
process of growing rice and agricultural work, and photo images will
constitute the main contents. Also introduced will be products made from rice
(such as rice cake and Japanese sake).

Next Step: Tours to experience rice-harvesting, opportunities to
communicate with the local community through food (food-tasting events of
local rice, etc.), and the mail-order sale of harvested rice will also be
organized. Information on accommodation, events and sightseeing facilities
outside Tome City (such as Sendai, Akiu, Matsushima, Naruko, Ishinomaki and
Kesennuma) will also be introduced.

[Writer]
    Mr. Seikoh Sasaki (Toyoma-machi, Tome City / Tome Internationalization
    Promotion Supervisor)

    [Farmer]
    Mr. Kanichi Onodera (Towa-cho, Tome City / Tome City Council member)

    Contact:
    Tomoe Suzuki
    Corporate Communications
    JAPANiCAN Inc.
    Phone: +81-3-5796-5668
    Fax: +81-3-5796-5686
    E-mail: suzuki@japanican.jp
    URL: www.japanican.com



Web site: http://www.japanican.com